It is raining like cats & dogs here now for 2 solid days. Sunday, however, it was 74 F, and bluebird skies. I had my sunroof open all day sunday and part of the day Monday.

There are really two ways to close the sunroof on my 98 e300 (3, including the wrench that closes the roof manually through the driver's side light): 1. push on the sunroof button towards the hood in a horizontal motion, or 2. push up on the sunroof button towards the sky.

If you choose # 2, and keep pressure on the button past closure, the roof will open 'up', jacking the rear portion open about 4 inches, but leaving the front closed. I routinely use this option, for some unknown reason related to laziness, when I close the roof.

When I got in my car yesterday for the first time since monday, there were beads of water surrounding the rear of my sunroof opening. I had kept upward pressure on the close button, past the point of closure, and had slightly raised the sunroof. Of course, this wouldn't have happened if I had used the horizontal option like the manual recommends.

I know this post is not technical and may seem obtuse, but it is raining and I am bored, and hopefully I can save someone a waterstain or worse in the future.

I have the same car. Two days ago I tried to close my sunroof, but could not get it closed by pushing the button forward. However, by pushing it up, I closed it. I'm waiting till weather is better before I try to find out what was wrong, and whether the forward button needs to be repaired.

Wonder if others has experienced the same problem.

turnne1: yes, the fourth way to close the sunroof is as you described, is with the key. it is just kind of a pita. in the summer, when i attempt to open all windows and roof via the key on my approach tto the hot, black, car, it takes several tries, and i am usually at the car by the time i get the maneuver accomplished. i changed the battery in my key, but the sensor is just not as reliable as the one in my Jeep.

richhunters: back in the summer, the button forward option started acting weird--the roof would move 4 inches and stop, then 3 inches and stop, ect....worried the hell out of me and i posted the problem. at least one other person responded with the same issue and several members suggested greasing the tracks. i didn't think this would work, but was about to grease the tracks, when the roof began working perfectly, and i haven't had a problem with it since. one thing is for sure--if you are having problems with your roof now, and you aren't already familiar with the emergency closure mechanism in the driver's reading light, you better read your manual with regard to that subject!!

in conclusion, i have no constructive advice regarding the sunroof on this car, other than if it works, i recommend closing the thing with the horizontal forward stroke of the button!

Can you not hold the "door lock" button on your keyless remote and have it close all the windows and sunroof also?
Same effect as using the key in the door and holding it in the down position


Warren
1992 300SD 160K
Columbus Ohio

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narwhal, how did you post (at 3:18pm) a reply to turnne1's question, which was not posted until 3:41pm?? heck of a trick

I don't know, but it probably means my computer is about to crash or is being monitored by the government.

I will re-boot and flush all of my drugs down the toilet right now just as precaution!

The server (whatever it is) sometimes gets the posts out of order, I don't think anyone knows why. It can be confusing in a long thread.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

I believe the sunroof, like everything else on the car is computer controlled. And like everything else, the computer sometimes gets confused. I have had the same symptoms as narwhal, where the sunroof refuses to operate except in small increments. I believe that means that it has lost track of where the full open and close positions are. The cure for that is to run the thing through the full range of motion a few times until it figures everything out again. I've had the same problem with the express up/down windows and the cure is the same.

narwhal - I don't have my car with me, so I can't test this, but I think you can also close the sunroof by holding the button down instead of up. Then it would end up in the correct position. Try that. And regarding the remote, your post makes it sound like might not know that the window function operates from the infrared portion, not the radio frequency portion. So you have to have it aimed right at the IR sensor and at at fairly close range.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
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