Sunroof questions

[TrentSC 0]

OK, I do know this has been covered in consummate detail before (and I've spent the last hour looking through the search results), but I wanted to ask a couple of questions before I attempt to stuff up a third sunroof on my '92 valver...

 

My problem's pretty common - the sunroof has tilted up fine and is now stuck on the passenger side. The small sliding chrome doohicky has snapped, in a similar fashion to this pic I found elsewhere:

 

 

The original sunroof had the same problem, and a friend helped me cannibalise another 'roof, install and fit it, and it worked perfectly. Once. Cue a sickening snapping sound and the same problem recurred.

 

1. Is there a definitive thread on the process for fitting the official repair kit? I've looked around for quite a while, and from the look of this excellent forum someone will have written a guide which even I can follow!

 

2. Equally importantly, what's the story on getting the roof aligned correctly? This seems to be a slightly hit-and-miss affair, and I'm be grateful for some guidance.

 

3. Motor alignment: After the second 'roof died, we removed the headlining again and closed it, then unplugged the switch so I wouldn't stuff it up again, but later that day when I locked the door, the bloody thing opened automatically! The electric windows close with the central locking, so I guess the 'roof does the same, but I wonder whether the motor needs to be aligned properly for it to know which is the closed position? Again, is there a definitive thread on this which explains how to do this to a real Corrado novice?

 

4. Lastly, I've seen a few references to the Passat moonroof. Is this a more reliable sunroof, and is it relatively straightforward to install? Again, if there's a sticky on this one, I'd be grateful.

 

Many thanks for your patience. I'm well aware that there are a lot of threads on the subject, and if someone could point me in the right direction, that would be great.

 

Cheers.

 

TrentSC

92 2.0l 16v jobbie.

[TrentSC 0]

Apologies to the mods for starting a separate thread elsewhere. This new boy stands corrected!

 

OK, given my sunroof is jammed open (the cable guide's snapped), how do I close it manually? An allen key in the motor appears not to work, as it does the same as the electric motor, which closes one side but not the other.

 

I'd like to get the damn thing closed so I can at least get it out of the garage during this typical rainy English Spring, so any advice which hopefully doesn't involve removing the headliner would be much appreciated.

 

Many thanks.

 

TrentSC

92 2.0l 16v jobbie.

Cheap 'n tatty, but I'm working on it!

[VR6 0]

Yep the actual allen key you need (shaped like a crank handle) is clipped to the motor housing, very kind of VW to supply that.

 

On the motor is a little black plastic cap which you slide across, revealing the emergency crank hole, into which you insert the allen key. Turn clockwise to tilt and anticlock wise to slide back. The plastic cap has a microswitch in it, so you must close it again in order to use the motor again.

[TrentSC 0]

I finally managed to close the sunroof with the headlining in situ, but the lower panel remains out of place, so I'm going to have to deal with that before too long.

 

I have also found that as the sunroof motor doesn't "know" where the roof is positioned: it needs to be told that it's closed before you put it back, otherwise you'll hit the same problem as I described earlier. The easiest way of doing this is to close the sunroof, take the motor off its mount and, keeping it plugged it, lock the door so the windows close. The motor will whirr away for a moment, at which point it will think it's in the closed position and you can remount it.

 

As an aside, if there isn't a definitive/sticky thread on the subject, I would be happy to contribute to one (especially the "what NOT to do" section!).

 

In the meantime, could I nudge the other question about a Passat moonroof? My thinking is that this is a good option to pursue, unless there's advice to the contrary. It seems to me that even the official repair kit can be fraught with problems.

 

Ta muchly.