Sunroof help

Exclaim · 04-16-2011, 07:56 PM

I've checked alot of different sites and still dk what to do :l

Okay, i've my 1989 Porsche 944 for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. When I got it I knew about the sunroof problems, thought it was no biggy. But now, lately it's getting hot I decided to poke around. The problem was ORIGINALLY the button worked, the motor moved, but didn't move the latches or anything. I heard the motor, but no movement at all.

Today I decided to remove the whole sunroof motor, I removed the bolts, and to my suprise the cord I guess wasn't being fed through it was just bunched up through the back. I fed it through, I figured hey it'll work now! Wrong, I pressed the button and it made a little movement by the rear latches but not enough to 'tilt' it (which is what I want it to do) I ended up getting a screw driver and pulled the rear latches up enough to where it'll stand up, but only the left latch came up but it wouldn't hold the sunroof up for some reason. I managed to get the right and left latch up but it wouldn't hold the sunroof in that position.. I'm not sure whats going on, maybe somethings aligned wrong?

The sunroof as of now is completely latched down and won't budge. Sorry if this made no sense, help please? Also apologize if this is the wrong section. Thanks in advance guys!

edit:
Okay I'm still confused, it says to raise the sunroof put it in Position 2 (ON) then push the button down to raise it up. When I push the button down, nothing at all happens. No sounds nothing. But this is because the drive cable is fed all the way through, should it not be fed all the way through?

968 GUY · 968 GUY's Garage

Go to Clark's garage. You may have a mess. I have done the roofs on all 3 of my cars, it is not fun. You have to play around, you probably have to spend some money, but you need some info on the system so ypu know where to start.

Exclaim · 04-17-2011, 08:44 AM

Okay, well I checked the gears on the sunroof lifting arms, they don't looked stripped at all. Neither one. I tried pressing the button to see what happens since I haven't been able to see, the drive cable runs through the gears just fine. I'm just not sure why the arms aren't raising up when they should be. I have a picture i'll upload in a minute.

Exclaim · 04-17-2011, 08:48 AM

Okay heres the picture.. the gears look fine to me? Maybe I'm wrong?

plyhammer · plyhammer's Garage

gears look stripped to me. Not the gears at the bottom (top) that attach to the metal but the gears that move the arm?

Exclaim · 04-17-2011, 09:11 AM

Maybe, I can't tell if there stripped or not..

Exclaim · 04-17-2011, 09:12 AM

I just want the sunroof at a tilt for today, I got it raised up, but it won't lock in that position.. if I say shut the door it'll fall down.

normoto911 · normoto911's Garage

You have worn gears.This is what your gears should look like.....

Exclaim · 04-17-2011, 09:20 AM

So i need to purchase new gears.. I'm not 100% sure but that's what mine looks like.. I guess there worn though. Thanks. Do you have any idea on how I can get it to sit at a tilt just for the day until I get new gears? I guess the gears not holding the arm up. Am I correct?

normoto911 · normoto911's Garage

yeah if those middle gears are missing then the lifting arm is just going to slide up and down. this will sound kind of cheap but if you have the front clipped in you might be able to get some clothes pins or something to prop the back up.

Exclaim · 04-17-2011, 09:48 AM

I put it at the very top and it seems to stay kinda well, took it down the road did 50 and didn't fly off. It concerns me though, I think if you put pressure on it will fall down. How would the clothes pins thing work? It is clipped in in the front. I like the look

Just need gears now.

normoto911 · normoto911's Garage

Yeah it looks really good with the roof up! HA the clothes pins were a half serious way of propping it up until you get the parts you need.

Shoot at least yours is a quick fix. I'm still trying to figure mine out.

Exclaim · 04-17-2011, 10:02 AM

I would like a real serious way haha (if you have any ideas im open to suggestions.. seriously) :P and yepp I love the way it looks like this! Whats all up with yours?

normoto911 · normoto911's Garage

Ha sorry. well i've gotten a lot of input from other people and i've come to the conclusion that i either need a new motor, microswitch or, both. And my sunroof cable might have been broken by the previous owner. after i manually feed the cable back in it barely went passed my passenger side gearbox....

968 GUY · 968 GUY's Garage

May as well order 4 gears. The smaller gear is stripped, it operates the lifting arm.
The lifting arms have to be timed so they open and close evenly.
The operating cable has to be set at the correct position for open and closed.
The clutching mechanism has to be set so that the motor will stop/slip/ if there is too much torque.
The 3 switches have to be set to stop at the right point.
The cable cannot be kinked.
The guides for the gears and lifting arms are notorious for cracking and breaking the mounting ears off.
I have been through all these scenarios, finally got all 3 working as they should. Make sure to clean and lube.

951 Scott · 951 Scott's Garage

Check out this link.......it pretty much matches the Clark's Garage instructions with photo's

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-924-944-968-technical-forum/578273-sunroof-gears-replacement-photos.html