Sunroof opens; won't close!!
 

Posted on tech help too....
85 300DT
electric sunroof opens fine with button; but won't close .
It makes a loud clacking noise; sounds like gears slipping.
It does close with the manual crank in trunk.
I have a sunroof repair kit from Kent Bergsma at **************. nut it doesn't seem to address this problem...
Anyone know what is wrong with it????
Transmission ; motor; gears; grease....?
Thanks, AA

Sounds like either your have bad gears or a weak spring or something keeping the gears from staying engaged...

I would pull the tranny and check it out (the one in the trunk...not the one behind your engine ;))

Have you run into this before???
1 How would I know if there are bad gears from pulling it??? or a weak spring???
2. If I do....what is next ??? Find a "new" one, or fix this one????

Its been my expereince, if the sunroof is STUCK the motor will stall (instead of the gears slip) so it would lead me to believe you have issues with something slipping (a gear or something of the sort)

SInce it is winter, I would attempt to remove the unit and have a look inside. Wrecking yards often have parts.

My first 300DT's sunroof motor failed. Until i repaired it I found that the sunroof could be manually cranked open and closed using some of the tools that were included in the minimal tool set with the car. If u just want it closed, this may be your answer.

On my w123 300DT the crank was located in the trunk on the right hand side up near the trunk hinge. Check it out.

Austin

Where is the noise coming from? Is it in the trunk or in the roof of the car?

I imagine that some sunroof seldom get used, or get any attention. Have you tried helping it to close while using the button?

I had exactly the opposite problem, Mine wouldn't open with the switch, but once opened manually, it would close like a charm.

Button was nasty inside....replaced it and then cleaned it to keep as a spare.

Working great now.

Sounds like in the car....

Yes tried it. It didn't help....(but it works on my rear passenger window...)

sunroof noise
 

It sounds like it is the sunroof cable. The screw type gear on the cable may be partly stripped. I had that on mine (only it wouldn't close all the way) and a new cable solved the problem.

Another thought is: I think there is a clutch in the motor; maybe it's slipping. But it's more than likely the cable. Just pull the cover, take out the pin and you can remove the cable and look at it.

Rev. Dr. G.
Church of the Sub-Genius

Austin

Do check this "sunroof" link in the DIY section. Nice photos and probably all the information you will need to locate the problem

http://207.210.95.34/~boostd/Sunroof/