Sunroof cable repair and new seals 87 911

[vytenis]

Installed part #43 both ways. No change in roof action. I can push roof up by hand as the sunroof closes, but it won't go up without my assistance. I suspect the clutch is bad.

Still not sure which way P/N 43 is supposed to go, but when installed with the flat toward the rear, it makes no contact with anything.

"V"

[Uwon]

Originally Posted by vytenis

Installed part #43 both ways. No change in roof action. I can push roof up by hand as the sunroof closes, but it won't go up without my assistance. I suspect the clutch is bad.

Still not sure which way P/N 43 is supposed to go, but when installed with the flat toward the rear, it makes no contact with anything.

"V"

If you suspect the clutch, or, transmission for that mater, it's easy to check just by hand cranking the transmission if you still have the standard issue Porsche handle or, just use a large flat end screwdriver. BTW, in my case the trani kept slipping internally-when I turned the input shaft by hand, the output cog would not work as soon as I put hand pressure against it. Easy to take out and check. Bought a used replacement one a few weeks ago from a fellow Pelican.
Hope this helps.
Johan

[vytenis]

Transmission good. Cluth slipping. Thanks.

"V"

[83_Silberpfeil]

That looks like the internal 'tubing' inside the felt seal/liner that goes around the sunroof. Jsut removed my roof panel now, similar stuff exposed.

Originally Posted by teamfee3

Just did it, very simple. A few things I ran into on my '86;

1. I didn't have 3 screws to remoce the track, I had 2 and a rivet which I simply drilled out and it likely will not be missed. When I took Screw #1 & #2 out of the retention plate the rivet was underneath.



2. Also be careful, the delicate plastic hinges for the wind deflector will break easily and I broke one. Make sure you take the two screws out that hold it and it's metal plate base first and just get it out of the way.

.

The sunroof headliner comes out easy with the bent putty knife, just be careful not to tear the headliner which can be old and dry around the edges, use some tape to protect it. The sunroof headliner goes in easiest with the sunroof partially open.

3. My cable did not pull all the way out, only partially. It's easy to spot because the outer spiral cable should meet the little pulley device that receives it. I had to pull it all the way out and it was a bit chewed up on the end so some nips and twisting cleaned it up enough to get it back in. I used a lot of degreaser and even a drill bit to clean out where the cable goes in so the JB Weld would work. Be careful crimpig it back in, it needs very little pressure or it will just come apart.

4. Because mine was partially out me screwing with the sunroof while it was failing mis-alligned the two cables and when I set the sunroof in to re-install it I couldn't, the 4 bolts didn't line up. I simply turned on the car and retracted the sunroof (mine was stuck closed) a tiny bit and they re-alligned

5. What the hell is this thing? It came out when I pulled the passenger side track from within the roof.



Other than to tools I had all I bought was some JB Weld, degreaser and some grease. I would say the whole thing took an hour or two but take more time and watch every detail, tape everything (I did not), it's an easy job.

[KDRGibby]

Originally Posted by jhubs

I was very hesitant to start this project, but found that it was quite easy with the help of fellow Pelicans and Wayne's 101 Projects. Thanks Bill R. as your idea of bending a thin 1" putty knife to pry down the sun roof interior headliner panel at the front corner of the passenger compartment... genius.

I tried starting at the center of the panel and found that to be impossible, so I took Wayne's advice and started at the corner above the passenger side. The headliner piece is simply pressed into place by spring clips and this tool pulled the corner of the headliner panel down disengaging the corner spring clip. I proceeded across the front of the panel and pulled down all 7 clips. Once the clips were all pulled out of their holes, I slid the panel back toward the rear of the car and proceeded to take out the small bolts that held the roof down.

The Sunroof was stuck closed, so this was the only way to get the panel out of the way to access the underside of the sunroof.

Anyone know the color of this headliner? Is it marine blue or navy blue?

[chasrb]

Great thread and was a thorough guide! So I was able to repair my drivers side with the JB Weld trick, put all the parts back together again, noticed when I opened sunroof, the drivers side seems to pull first then the passengers side does. When I closed the sunroof, it did so as it should. However, when I tried to open it it would not.

I took the sunroof headliner out and monitored the actions of the sunroof. It looks like the slide, has a pivot point that stands up or down. On the passenger side I had to push up on the sunroof and then using a tool, move the pivot backwards before the sunroof would open.

I am not sure if this is a cable adjustment issue or what. Note: When I re-installed the sunroof, I placed the slides all the way forward to where they stop.

Anyone else have this issue?

Chasman

[Steam Driver]

I have followed this thread implicitly, but when I installed the sunroof with new seals yeasterday it would not close all the way. The issue is that the seals interfere with each other too much at the rear, preventing the back of the roof from going up into position. This is operating the roof by hand from under it. That being the case there is obviously no way the hand crank or motor could ever pop it into place.

Anyone else run into this issue? I’m thinking trim some seal off of the sunroof on either side, but if I do it will not be coming “around the corner” of the roof as far as the ones in the Images here, nor as far as I marked my roof before I took the old seal off.

[Uwon]

It would be helpful if you posted a few pics of the seal at the rear as well as the “push up bracket” from underneath.
Johan

[Steam Driver]

“Push Up” Bracket? You mean the end of the cable or on the roof itself?

[KDRGibby]

well, that back bracket was never bolted down on my sunroof... I hope I can get this all put back together.

[Steam Driver]

Got off the project for awhile. Here's another question:

It appears that in addition to curling the trailing ends of the front seal under the body, that the forward ends of the rear felt seal are also bent downward some. Is that correct? If so do you leave the seals (both of them) uncut as far as length goes?

[autojack]

I need to replace the sunroof seal on my car. It operates fine otherwise, but the felt has split and the rubber is coming out. Do I need to follow jhubs' directions to remove the roof panel completely? I guess so if I want to replace the seal that attaches to that panel. I hope I can get everything back together without messing up the sunroof mechanism.

[Steam Driver]

There’s really not much chance of damaging the mechanism. Just follow the instructions and it will work fine.

[autojack]

I see, it sounds like jhubs had to use the putty knife to remove the headliner because his sunroof was stuck shut. I guess since mine can open I can crack it a bit and then pop the liner free. Or try anyway.

[spoke]

Great thread! Thanks to all who posted pictures and helpful tips.

The cable came out of the driver side trolley. Did the cleanup, JB weld, and recrimp. Seems to be working fine.

Thanks again.
Spoke

[calidude]

This was a great how to as just replaced the front, rear felt seals and rubber seal too. I left the deflector in on the job I did.

[Kool-aid-82]

Awesome thread, used it to refresh, repair and adjust the sunroof mechanism in my 1981 SC.
One add,
I had lost one of the felt pads toward back of the sunroof. (laying at the back of the sunroof compartment.)
Took a 1/8" thick felt pad and cut to size, used a leather punch to get the holes for the small metal teeth that hold the pad down. Plus the 3M glue.



Worked Perfect.

[hotaru]

Hi, a lot of good info here before i start my sunroof thanks

question:
anyone has photos of where these felt stips should go - one long one and 2 short ones:

[hotaru]

anyone has idea??

[bweiss1]

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

That looks like the internal 'tubing' inside the felt seal/liner that goes around the sunroof. Jsut removed my roof panel now, similar stuff exposed.

Thanks to all for these great tips. I have been working on my 87 sunroof which open-end fine but got stuck when it was ALMOST closed. I've taken it apart and cleaned it.
I'm wondering two things.
1- where are the plastic "sticks" seen in pic 5, which are still inside the roof, supposed to go? Do they actually fit in the "track" on the side of the long metal pice seen in pic 1? Right now, on the passenger side it is sticking up and the track is under it?
2- also confusing, I cannot get the drivers side long metal piece to lay flat when the mechanism is in the middle slot as it should be. When i dont put the mechanism in, it fits fine. When i put the mechanism in (on the drivers side only) it pushes the front end of the piece up away from the roof.
Weird....


Any help appreciated