Sunroof Issue, thoughts would be welcomed!

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I have not been in Wife's 993 in some time but when I tried to open the sunroof there were some issues. The motor ran backwards but did not move the roof

I opened everything up and started sorting through. I could manually crank the sunroof but it was binding a bit. I took off the motor and transmission and there was alot of fiber build-up where the transmission would connect the cables.

I took out the tubes, wiped the cables down and removed the loose fibers. The cables look in good order, nothing broken or apparently damaged.

The transmission turns easily after cleaning. I did not see how to easily open it up but I did spray it down with PB Blaster. Turned more easily after PB. There is no apparent wear or damage to the gears where the transmission engages the cable.

The motor will readily run in the open direction but did not want to operate all the time in the close direction. It did engage about 20% of the time. The motor easily drives the transmission with zero load.

The rubber clutch appears as if brand new, good rubber look without any patina.

I cleaned out the tubes and added lubrication.

Push the cables back into the tubes, they go in easily and the tubes fit back in place nicely.

Manually I can move the cables, one cable does not move as freely as the other but the free moving one is VERY easy to move.

I can also push and pull the cables fairly easily from where the transmission engages the cables.

Install motor and transmission and the transmission turns but does not move the cable.


Is there any chance of fixing/repairing the motor so it will work both directions or am I missing something such as an internal stop and switch for direction change?

Is it possible the channel where the transmission engages has become too wide? Can these points move? I would take a measurement but Wife has the caliper so I cannot do that until she comes back home.


Man, $700.00 is more money than I can throw this period into a sunroof motor....

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

The caliper, uhm, Wife came home! I measured the distances three times and all three times showed the gear was slightly larger than the measurement I received on the cables. This would be consistent with the gear "seating" against the weave on the cable.

Now I wonder, is it possible I did not get the gear properly seated against the cable?

Of course, I still have the issue of the motor moving one direction all the time and the other direction about 20% of the time. Rats. Looking for motors....

Any other thoughts? Have I run my gambit and just need to toughen up and spend for the cupcakes????

[Green993]

Sunroof stuck in open (SF Bay Area) - Rennlist Discussion Forums

See posts #5 & #9.

It may be a bad switch.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Thank you! I will try that in the morning!

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Hmmm, not so good. Swapped the relay, no change. Fuse was good. All wire connections looked good.

Went to the switch with jumper, runs one direction, does not run the other direction.

I should mention the reverse direction, when it does engage, does not engage as vigorously as the opening direction.

Guess my issue points to the motor more than anything else? I will add some more grease to the rails and see if I can turn up a good used one. I have some leads right now....