Possible sunroof trouble - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

The Warden · #1 08-15-2002, 04:23 AM

Uh oh...

I was driving home from a buddy's tonight, and my girlfriend went to close the sunroof. It got to the point where it was about 2" short of closing completely and stopped. I wasn't paying attention (was too busy watching the road

) but she told me that it was moving slowly when it was moving. She eventually got it closed, but I'm worried...could the motor be going out? What can I look at?

Thanks in advance! I've gotten used to using it, and would like to continue doing so unless fixing it will cost a fortune...

gsamuelson · #2 08-15-2002, 02:06 PM

When I first got my 300CD the sunroof did the same thing. I usually had to help it along to get it to close the whole way.

I then found that I could get it to close a bit more if I rocked it back and forth ( ie open and close with the the control switch). Eventually, after much use, it started working better and better on its own. Perhaps you might try opening and closing it repeatedly, while parked, to see if it loosens up??

Corby · #3 08-15-2002, 03:39 PM

I have a '81 300SD that had a similiar problem. The roof would close if I helped it along. After I clean up the rails and lubed them it still had problems closing. The bottom line is I had to tighten up the clutch just a little. It has been working fine for about a year now. In case you don't know.... on my car anyway, the motor and clutch assembly is mounted in the trunk in the front left corner. You may have to pull back some of the liner to see it. I would be sure to clean up the slide rails before adjusting the clutch.

Phil

#4 08-15-2002, 05:05 PM

Pretty much the same here as Corby had with his. When I bought my 78 300D a several years ago the seller was a great self proclaimed wonder of the Mercedes mechanical world. He told me the sun roof closed slowly because it needed cleanup and oil.
I was exploring the car later that day and located the electric motor in the trunk, behind a panel on the left side. I turned the bolt there and the sunroof closed as the bolt turned. When it closed completely I kept turning it until the bolt was tight. In the years since then it has continued to close nicely.

clarkb7306 · #5 08-15-2002, 07:43 PM

My 85 300D does the same thing. How do you clean the rails?

bob
300D 157K

psfred · #6 08-15-2002, 07:57 PM

Get the MB sliding sunroof paste, it's the best. The rails are accessable with the roof open, obvious chrome rails. Wipe all the crud off and smear on some paste, then clean off underneath. If you pull off the liner, you can also lubricate the pads on the sliding portion.

Check the condition of the lifting angles if you have a tilting sunroof, too -- the early ones (through 87) are far too weak and break -- and if you don't replace them when one side is broken, the sunroof becomes inoperable, bit hassle.

The cable can also get dirty, it can be removed from the top, cleaned, lubed, and replaced.

Peter

clarkb7306 · #7 08-19-2002, 05:57 PM

How do you take the headliner off. DO you just take the sunroof part off. I need to get to the rails to the rear.

bob
85 300D 157K

The Warden · #8 08-19-2002, 06:16 PM

I was wondering where this had gone off to...

I tried opening and closing it; it seemed to get a hair better with repeated use, but not much. Note that it opened and closed just about perfectly, before.

Is tightening up the clutch just a matter of tightening that bolt?

Also, while I'm thinking about it, that little deflector at the front doesn't flip up at all, unless pushed by hand (and wind resistance usually pushes it back down). How difficult is this to fix?

Thanks in advance! BTW, my sunroof does not tilt up, except the little bit to close cleanly.

gsamuelson · #9 08-19-2002, 06:25 PM

There should be a couple of springs to push up the deflector, they are little coils at either end of the deflector and wraped around the part that acts as a hindge, have a look to see if they are busted. While there see if there is an abundance of crud around the sun roof? the deflector, the rails, drains etc? Sounds like lubrication is needed, if nothing is broken.

I hope soneone mentions how to take the head liner off!!

The Warden · #10 08-19-2002, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gsamuelson
While there see if there is an abundance of crud around the sun roof? the deflector, the rails, drains etc?

There was a little bit of crud on the rails, and I got it off with a paper towel, and it seems to be moving better now. I certainly need to lubricate the rails, though; the parts that didnt' have crud on them were/are dry as a bone. Would a thin coating of marine-grade wheel bearing grease work, or what should I use?

Also, I looked at the springs that are supposed to hold the deflector up, and they're definitely in very sorry shape. I couldn't tell if they had actually broken or not, but they likely have. How difficult is it to replace 'em? What exactly's involved (obviously stuff needs to be removed, but what and how)? And how much are the springs?

Thanks!

psfred · #11 08-19-2002, 07:03 PM

Use MB sliding sunroof paste, go to a dealer if necessary, but most indies will have it. Nothing else works as well, it is very high detergent. DO NOT use wheel bearing grease, it eats the pads.

Lube the rails and pads before adjusting the clutch. Don't know the adjustment for your car, it is different than mine (tilting roof).

Peter

gsamuelson · #12 08-19-2002, 07:30 PM

Getting the hinge of the deflector up was a bit nerve racking. The metal rod is held in place by plastic hindges that grip the rod, I pried it out, very carefully, you don't want to break the plastic or scratch the paint etc. Watch how the springs fit in the plastic, it should go back together the same. You may have to move the deflector by hand to be sure it is in a position to come out. Take your time and look at everything. I am not sure how much the springs cost, mine were OK. Oh and there is also a clip in the middle of the dflector just to make things more interesting.

The previous note about the lubricant should be heeded. I would think that any other type of grease might melt too easily or migrate to your head liner and stain it. The MB stuff is probably some high temp silicon grease but go buy the real thing just to be safe.

I still want to know how to take that liner off!!!!!

Mine has water stains on it and if I can get it off maybe I can clean it.

psfred · #13 08-19-2002, 10:20 PM

Greg:

The headliner on the W124 is just clipped to the front of the lid with four snap clips, and there is a tube that goes around the cable at the rear. I think the W123 is very similar.

To remove, run the sunroof all the way back, and slide a putty knife or similar between the headliner and sunroof. You will be able to locate the clips and pry them off. Remove the chrome rails (don't unscrew the front screw, phillips if the others are straight bit or vise versa, I don't remember) as that is the height adjustment and doesn't hold the rail down. Remove rails, and gently pull headliner off the cable and out from the top. It won't fit down into the car (although it can be removed this way if the roof won't move -- usually seriously damages it, though, and it certainly won't go back in easily).

To reinstall, guide headliner back in from the top and hook the tube over the cable guide. Slide headliner back and re-engage the clips. Re-install rails and close roof, check for height in the front. If incorrect, loosen the rail screws and turn the front screw clockwise to lower, counterclockwise to raise, then tighten the attaching screws.

Peter

The Warden · #14 08-20-2002, 12:21 AM

Went to the dealer for the springs (roughly $2.50 apiece

) and the grease. I didn't buy the grease.

Why? The smallest can they had cost $52.00!!!

Is there any other way? Given the application, I don't need that horribly much (maybe an ounce, maybe two; the can they had was slightly smaller than "standard" grease cans), and at that price, I'll stop using the sunroof first. It might actually be cheaper to go back to the dealer and ask the service types to grease it, as much as I prefer doing my own work.

Ideas appreciated. Thanks!

*still trying to recover from the sticker shock*

gsamuelson · #15 08-20-2002, 12:34 AM

That is crazy beyond words!!!! Buy a can of it, open it, stick your finger in it, close it and bring it back for a refund!

Seriously, the guy at the parts counter must be kidding right!!! Surely they must sell a small tube of it? If not, go get some silicon grease and apply it very sparingly.

$52.00, hahahaha, yeah right!!!!! Should of asked how many cans of that they sold in a decade????:p :p

Maybe we can make a group purchase, divy it up and ship it in empty film canisters.

I'll call my local MB guy and see what he has. Lets see $52USD X 1.63= $84.76 CDN, oh yeah!!! ship me 2 of those, NOT!