Stuck Sunroof
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
I have to say, I'm impressed with your motivation to dig in.
I would try to find a hulk in a junk yard and gut that sunroof assembly out. I looked on eBay, too much $$. Re-lube it... DONE!!
I'm looking for my own personal hulk to gut, but nothing close to me.
Good luck
I would try to find a hulk in a junk yard and gut that sunroof assembly out. I looked on eBay, too much $$. Re-lube it... DONE!!
I'm looking for my own personal hulk to gut, but nothing close to me.
Good luck
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: MICHIGAN
Under the heading of ANSWERING MY OWN QUESTION...
On a Mercedes forum, it was suggested that the sunroof rails be cleaned and a very thin coat of lithium grease be placed on the rails and that a dry spray lubricant be sprayed on a rag and applied to all rubber seals. Numerous Mercedes owners said this worked well. Any thoughts?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 956
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
I ended up having to tap the plastic "slider" piece that is attached to the cable with a hammer and tool. I managed to tap it all the way to the very end and then it just would not move any further. Unfortunately in the end what I found was that the cable was somehow stuck in the copper tubing. Eventually the slider and cable broke apart. At that point the cable was useless. I went so far as to remove the copper tubing on the end that was stuck. I was still unable to remove the cable. I even straightened the tubing and still am unable to remove the cable. I have not idea what possibly could be stuck inside the tube that a grown man using every thought he has cannot pull it out.
So now not only do I have no cable but I have lost use of that portion of the tube (the part which is welded to a mounting bracket). To top it off it appears that my year of RX300 (99) along with all 99-03's do not have replacement cables. From 2004 on there are replacements but not for my version. I haven't actually looked at the parts for the newer models but I have seen the diagram and my guess is they are compatible. For now I manually closed the sunroof and reinstalled everything. If and when I wish to tackle this problem I will probably buy a used sunroof and start from there.
So now not only do I have no cable but I have lost use of that portion of the tube (the part which is welded to a mounting bracket). To top it off it appears that my year of RX300 (99) along with all 99-03's do not have replacement cables. From 2004 on there are replacements but not for my version. I haven't actually looked at the parts for the newer models but I have seen the diagram and my guess is they are compatible. For now I manually closed the sunroof and reinstalled everything. If and when I wish to tackle this problem I will probably buy a used sunroof and start from there.
thanks.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Shark13 you are not alone!
Yesterday, I thought you were crazy to remove the entire sunroof....today I suspect I'll have my on the lawn pretty soon.
My end-game will be just to get the arm lowered so I can seal in the glass and remove the motor to avoid anyone ever messing it up!
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 126
Likes: 3
From: Hawaii
I can understand that many here thought it a bit overzealous to dig into the sunroof to that degree but the issue was not with simple track debris. There was I believe significant rusting and buildup inside the tube. This would explain why when I tapped the cable down the tube it eventually got trapped inside.
One piece of information that was never conveyed, and is completely apropos to the situation, is that I live on the wet side of the Big Island. For those who are unfamiliar with the degree of rain we get, it makes Seattle, WA look like Phoenix, AZ. A typical year is around 180 inches (that's not a typo) a year of rain. It corrodes, destroys, rusts, tarnishes, mildews, etc everything in site. It's the downside and the blessing to living in a rainforest jungle. That and the volcanoes which I have gotten national news of late.
I believe rain, even trace amounts over an extended period, was getting into that side of the track and rusting out the inside. It's probably not a situation most would have to deal with but such is life in Hilo. Perhaps silicone grease may have helped but in the end anything left outside is eventually taken by the rain.
One piece of information that was never conveyed, and is completely apropos to the situation, is that I live on the wet side of the Big Island. For those who are unfamiliar with the degree of rain we get, it makes Seattle, WA look like Phoenix, AZ. A typical year is around 180 inches (that's not a typo) a year of rain. It corrodes, destroys, rusts, tarnishes, mildews, etc everything in site. It's the downside and the blessing to living in a rainforest jungle. That and the volcanoes which I have gotten national news of late.
I believe rain, even trace amounts over an extended period, was getting into that side of the track and rusting out the inside. It's probably not a situation most would have to deal with but such is life in Hilo. Perhaps silicone grease may have helped but in the end anything left outside is eventually taken by the rain.
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10th Gear
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
From: fl
I had the same problem in mine. This is what I did.
Took out the glass and start un greasing all the roof mounting, including the wiring that moves the glass. Use open and close to keep moving (not tilting) to be able to clean all, using a brush as well. After cleaning all, re grade with a silicone base lubricant. All is working well now except that is not closing well. I mean, when you close the sunroof, does not climb to close position. Now I am figuring up how to reprogram the auto closing.
But I have moonroof again.
Took out the glass and start un greasing all the roof mounting, including the wiring that moves the glass. Use open and close to keep moving (not tilting) to be able to clean all, using a brush as well. After cleaning all, re grade with a silicone base lubricant. All is working well now except that is not closing well. I mean, when you close the sunroof, does not climb to close position. Now I am figuring up how to reprogram the auto closing.
But I have moonroof again.
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owenstrawn
RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003)
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Sep 1, 2021 05:12 PM
