Manual sunroof stuck closed

[tgingrich]

I know I should be happy that at least it is in the closed position, but...
83 TD, I tried searching, but everyone seems to have an electric roof and the skinnerbox site begins..."open the sunroof" Therein lies my problem. The "t" handle latch will barely move down at all so I don't want to force it. I was looking to remove the headliner to see whats going on, but the first step is again, open the sunroof..... Any suggestions?

[JimSmith]

tgingrich,

There are a couple of possibilities. The T-handle sits in a neatly shaped depression in the roof liner when "stowed" in either the open or closed position. This little shaped depression shell is held in place with a screw if I recall correctly. If the screw has fallen out or is about to fall out, the whole shell can fall down and interfere with the operation of the handle pivot. In that case you will need to push it back up into the roof liner so the pivot can work freely. Right at the pivot I believe the shell has a plastic collar that makes seeing the pivot joint difficult. It is this part that causes the problem I just described.

There is also the possiblility that the pivot joint detent pin and spring are worn out and have been caught in the play from that wear. To fix this you have to remove the T-handle, and to remove the T-handle you have to drive a pin out of the pivot joint. Be ready to catch the spring and ball or pin that clicks to hold the T-handle folded up or pointing down. I am on travel at the moment and cannot go look at my 1982 240D, but I think this only works with the T-Handle folded up, inside the recessed shell. In any case it is not complicated but can be a little frustrating. I imagine the factory uses some special tool to assemble or disassemble the pivot joint, but you can manage if you look carefully. Good luck and I hope this helps. Jim

[tgingrich]

Thanks Jim,
I'll try driving the pin out ( the chrome recess bracket seems normal) and see how it goes.

[leathermang]

Roll your windows up before driving that pin... then you will at least know the spring is still inside the car with you when you start looking for it....

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by leathermang

Roll your windows up before driving that pin... then you will at least know the spring is still inside the car with you when you start looking for it....

OH yes.....please do that.....I spent hours looking for valve retainers when valve spring compressor slipped several times.........anything that can contain the possible dispersment zone to as small an area as possible is prudent thinking. If and when the inevitible happens.