Sunroof issue

Sankekur

///Member
So this morning when I got to work I press the button to close the sunroof, the sunroof closes to about three quarters way closed then it stops and goes back a bit, press the button again and it closes properly.

So I open it again, and then press the button close it again, same issue except this time it doesn't want to close properly at all, it closes a bit stops then opens a bit again every time I press the button to close is.

I remember reading somewhere (or someone told me, can't remember) that the sunroof senses the load if it is closed more than halfway, probably for protection of both the user and the sunroof. Either way I pull slightly forward on the sunroof and press the button to close it and I get it to close properly.

So it would seem that there is to much load on the sunroof causing it to not close properly (or it might be something else), either way it looks like I will be removing my sunroof so I can clean and maybe re-grease all slidey and movey bits, maybe these bits have to much resistance in them causing the increase in load.

Anyone else ever have a problem like this, and have any info to share?
 

msm

Well-known member
Happens periodically on mine. Just need to find some time to strip and regrease in the near future.
 

Coisman

Administrator
Staff member
:pimp:
I agree with msm, check your tracks, must be dirt in there,
hope its a cheap fix :thumb:
 

Epoc

New member
I had the same problem on mine and the sunroof shade / liner was causing the problem. The liner clips were failing thus getting stuck on the rails and making it too tight for the sunroof to close properly and then eventually the liner clips broke and had to be replaced. I have had the liner clips replaced about 3 times already when it was still under MP.
 

Sankekur

///Member
Yup it seems that the shade thing is the most common of the e46 sunroof problems, and also the subject of all the DIY's, though I am not really sure if it is the cause of the problem with mine as it doesn't match any of the symptoms. Either way I will see when I get to start removing stuff, hope I don't have to remove the entire thing, but I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to remove, clean and re-grease it in anyhow.
 

JustNN

New member
Yup remove it, its not a big job, takes about 10mins to remove the sunroof and shade. Goodluck:thumbsup:
 

rocketracer

New member
i had the exact same problem on my Ti. i would simply hold the button forward and it would close. tracks were greased, no visible blockages, so i learned to live with it. it happened maybe about 1 out of 20 times. so very intermittent.
 

frikkieh

///Member
Sankekur said:
Yup it seems that the shade thing is the most common of the e46 sunroof problems, and also the subject of all the DIY's, though I am not really sure if it is the cause of the problem with mine as it doesn't match any of the symptoms. Either way I will see when I get to start removing stuff, hope I don't have to remove the entire thing, but I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea to remove, clean and re-grease it in anyhow.

I tried to be clever with this one and now it is totally not so lekker. As you can see, the top cable is pretty much screwed up (litterally). Next round I will consult sunroofboyz.

Sunroof.jpg


May I recommend that you do the same.


 

Sankekur

///Member
I don't really trust anyone else to work on my car, so I will probably go the DIY route.

At least if I do something wrong I know what it is and can fix it, rather than someone else doing it and covering it up, either way I will end up being the one to take responsibility, guess I am just paranoid, but that is just me. (Oh and I really can't afford to pay someone else)
 

frikkieh

///Member
Sankekur said:
Nah, the pro's outweigh the cons :)

If you can DIY this - very good :thumbsup:, but I burned my little fingers with this one. I did my own vanos seals, so DIY is like falling out of a tree - let go of the branch. I just could not get the sunroof adjusted perfectly. The stealers wanted 12k incl fitment. They just replace the entire roof as a unit. I think SRboyz does cabro roofs as well, but I have no experience with them. But after my fun Saterday, I am considering this option.
 

Sankekur

///Member
I am just going to take it from a point where I have tutorials and rule out possible faults, but if need be I will consult my service manual and TIS.

Hopefully I am able to fix this problem :)
 

frikkieh

///Member
Sankekur said:
I am just going to take it from a point where I have tutorials and rule out possible faults, but if need be I will consult my service manual and TIS.

Hopefully I am able to fix this problem :)

Youre the man - let us know how it goes. This may help:

0Dsc_0093.jpg


1Dsc_0093-1.jpg


2Dsc_0094-1.jpg
 

Sankekur

///Member
Thanks man, first I will just remove the actual glass bit and the sliding screen, as is seem there are a lot of problems wit these stuff, so while I am at it I might as well check and replace the necessary stuff, if this isn't the cause of the problem I guess i will tackle the remove of the sunroof assembly, but I will keep you guys posted and maybe do a write-up as well if I get the time.
 

frikkieh

///Member
Sankekur said:
Thanks man, first I will just remove the actual glass bit and the sliding screen, as is seem there are a lot of problems wit these stuff, so while I am at it I might as well check and replace the necessary stuff, if this isn't the cause of the problem I guess i will tackle the remove of the sunroof assembly, but I will keep you guys posted and maybe do a write-up as well if I get the time.

So Sank, How did it go with your sunroof repair? Any luck?
 

Sankekur

///Member
Ooops :fencelook: :mmm:


Never actually got my lazy ass to look into this further.....but the sunroof is working pretty well at the moment.

If I actually do something about this the clips would be first thing to look at.

Frikkie, you having issues with a sunroof?
 

frikkieh

///Member
Sankekur said:
Ooops :fencelook: :mmm:


Never actually got my lazy ass to look into this further.....but the sunroof is working pretty well at the moment.

If I actually do something about this the clips would be first thing to look at.

Frikkie, you having issues with a sunroof?

Yes, Mine is totally buggered. The driving mechanism completely failed (it looks like a coil spring with fibres inside.)

You can see it in the picture above
 
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