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Malfunctioning Sunroof Switch

7134 Views 12 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  spanners
I took my 1990 560 SEC our for a drive today and discovered that the sunroof switch is acting up.

The sunroof is operating.
From the closed position I can open the roof (slide back) and tilt it, but I cannot close it from either position the usual way.
From tilt open I have to turn the switch backwards (slide open) and time the release of the switch for when the sunroof is in the closed position.
Same for closing the sunroof from the open (slid all the way back) position; turn the switch upwards (tilt) and release it when the sunroof is closed.

Has anyone encoutered this problem before?
...and is the an easy fix?
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It sounds as if the motor needs resetting. This is quite an easy job, but very few people know how to do it.

I learnt years ago after spending ages on a faulty roof.

It's not very easy to describe either but here goes:

The roof needs to be in the fully tilted position.

Remove the panel in the boot (trunk) so you can access the motor.

As you look at the motor you should see a white coloured plastic gear sticking out. Pull this out it should click twice (this puts the motor in neutral so you can adjust it without moving the roof).

To the right of the gear as you look at it, there should be a small hole in the black metal frame. Find something like a drill bit or small alen key that will fit into it.

Spin the white gear with your fingers and the alen key/drill bit will eventually line up with a hole inside the motor and you will be able to push it through alot further.

Once the alen key/drill bit has located its hole, keep turning the plastic gear. There is a little cut out in the side of the gear which needs to be lined up with the alen key/drill bit (the gear may kepp clicking as you turn it at this point but don't worry).

When it is lined up, push the plastic gear all the way back in and remove the alen key/drill bit. The motor should then be reset and hopefully working from the switch correctly.

Hope that makes sense.
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I appreciate the reply.

I will get to it this weekend and report back.
I have the exact same problem. Axel, were you able to fix it as per Spanner's suggeston?
I couldn't wait so I went ahead and did it.
Like a charm, it worked.

I would also note the following.
One revolution of the white plastic gear does not amount to one revolution of the gear with the hole to be lined up. It's more like four revolution of the white gear brings the holes to align every once.

Also, it's a lot easier to have a good source of light to see into the hole and visually align the holes prior to sticking an allen key or a drill bit.

Once the holes are aligned and object stuck in the hole, turn the gear whichever way that does not meet resistance to align the notch on the gear with the hole.

Be sure to pop the gear back in after you're done.

The proper switch operation sure takes the guesswork and "did I close the sunroof properly" anxiety out of the equation.[:)]
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Glad to hear it's fixed naomilla, I was wondering if what I had typed mad any sense.[8D]
As you look at the motor you should see a white coloured plastic gear sticking out. Pull this out it should click twice (this puts the motor in neutral so you can adjust it without moving the roof).

I tried pulling out the white gear and it just came off with no clicking. My sunroof goes up and down but will not slide back. I believe that I might need to just relube my sunroof.

Any suggestions!
Thank you Mr.Spanners,
yesterday I followed your instruction and fixed my sunroof problem and I was so happy about that.
I am very much appreciated your knowledge.
Prochambers - 6/22/2005 1:02 PM

I tried pulling out the white gear and it just came off with no clicking. My sunroof goes up and down but will not slide back. I believe that I might need to just relube my sunroof.

Any suggestions!
prochambers, I think (hope) you may have pulled the wrong part.

Is it the plastic adjuster that is used for operating the roof manually that you pulled?

If so, you're OK it is supposed to come off[:)]

If isn't and it is the plastic wheel with the notch in then you are stuck[xx(]
kuksuldo - 6/23/2005 1:33 PM

Thank you Mr.Spanners,
yesterday I followed your instruction and fixed my sunroof problem and I was so happy about that.
I am very much appreciated your knowledge.
No problem kuksuldo.

Anything is easy when you know how.

What's annoying is when you have to pay someone fortunes to fix a fault that you could do easily yourself if you knew how.
spanners - 6/23/2005 6:11 PM
Anything is easy when you know how.

What's annoying is when you have to pay someone fortunes to fix a fault that you could do easily yourself if you knew how.
The really unscruplous mech in Norwalk, CT (PM me if you want to know which one) tried to charge me a fortune (something like $1200) to repair the sunroof. The thing about that mech is that after $1200 in repairs, he probably won't have a clue how to fix it.

Much belated thanks to you, Spanners.
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Hi Spanners. I've attached some pictures of the switch you're referring to. It seems to be the same one. I'm going to try again this evening.

Attachments

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Prochambers, where did you gets those pic's are they from a repair manual?

The gear with the arrow is the one you need to pull out two clicks.

I hope that wasn't the one you pulled off[:0]
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