Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

I have a 1991 944 S2 with an electric sunroof. As the weather has been glorious this weekend, I thought I would attempt to remove the sunroof panel for the first time. The handbook instructions are a little on the brief side suggesting that you depress the rocker switch to release the actuators, undo the hinge clips and simply lift out the panel. Unfortunately, the panel won't budge and will do nothing but tilt. I have heard the process can be tricky, but can anyone be a little more specific than the Porsche handbook? - Marcus

It confused me at first too!

Essentially the operation of the sunroof is dictated by the position of the key in the ignition. Turn it a single notch so that the electrics activate, but not so that the engine tries to start, then press your rocker switch and, all things being equal, you'll see the arms retract out of the sunroof retaining clips and then you can unclip the sunroof and lift it out. Obviously, when you want to put the roof back in, the ignition will need to be in the same position as when you released the roof. If the ignition is all the way on, then the sunroof tilts.

Hope that this helps.

Hi,

I've had the roof panel out on my car on a couple of occassions now, and each time it's been an absolute dog job to do.

Elevate the roof to it's highest position using the rocker switch. I find this is a good point to unclip the roof panel from the actuating mechanism on both sides. Once you have got the roof panel off both sides of the mechanism, it should move up and down freely. Then unclip the panel from the front.

It is quite easy for the mechanism to become damaged if a previous owner has been a little careless when carrying out the procedure.

You might want to check the following: -

Actuation problems can also be caused by a faulty microswitch operated by the central metal tab projecting forward from the underside of the panel. It can be this that prevents the two lifting racks becoming disengaged from the roof panel properly.

The sunroof motor is located behind the carpeted trim panel on the left hand side of the luggage compartment, should you need to find it.

When the roof panel is out, check the plastic mouldings into which the lifting arms sit. If the plastic is cracked, this can have a bearing on how well the mechanism works.

Replacement roof panel seals etc can be purchased through Forest Fine is required.

http://www.forestfine.com

My roof panel seems to stick on the right hand side. I need to check the plastic mouldings to see if its cracked.

Hope this helps,

Ben

This is incorrect! You don't take the roof off when it is open. The ignition should be in position 1 & you rock the switch closed (I think) &the arms retract. Then remove the panel, replace panel & then rock the switch & it'll relock. They are also intended to lock if you drive above 5MPH but mine doesn't & I know of others that don't.

There are different inner & outer roof seals dependent on year of car, mine came fromBert at Berlyn,fitting is a 10minute job. Whilst it is out check the four drains are clear

Many thanks for the advice. Am I right in thinking that to release the actuators the sun roof rocker switch needs to be pushed away from you (ie closed)? If so, I think this is where the problem lies. If you press the switch away from you, the plastic arms that raise the roof don't retract. Any ideas? - Marcus.

I think so, when I have a mo (later today) I'll get the handbook out of mine & scan it.

Normally, you push the rocker switch one way to open your sunroof and the other to close it, right?

When you have the ignition in position one (electrics on but not the engine) then the same switch should also pull the wee plastic arms all the way out of the sunroof—past the closed position and retracting them all the way into the bodywork.

Then you can unclip the sunroof at the front and lift it out, raising it at the back by hand and then sliding it towards the rear of the car, off the connecting deflector flap at the front.

If your problem is that the arms aren’t retracting, and you’ve definitely tried the rocker switch in both directions with the ignition in position one and the engine off, could it be a problem with the controlling relay in your fusebox?

mine's really easy.

1. with roof closed, unclip at the front.

2.with key in it's first position (elec on but no ignition) press the rocker switch to retract the arms out of the sunroof.

3. bingo, whip it out!

if this doesn't work you're microswitches on your motor might be out of position?

http://www.clarks-garage.com/ have fun!

Thanks guys, a couple of things to check out there. At least I now know what should be happening...the handbook is a little vague.

Marcus

If you want to see whats going on remove the head lining that goes along the rear of the sunfoof panel. Should only be 4 screws unless it's been sealed in place. Then you can see what the arms are doing so you don't strip the cogs. (Clutch may not be correctly adjusted.)

Also "when" the arms go back in to release the roof listen out for a clicking sound, if you get this release the button straight away as it will strip the teeth on the cog's.

If your around next Monday we are having a monthly meet at Whittlebury Hall Nr Silverstone 19:30ish

Ah. Maybe this is where I'm going wrong then. Will try your method and see what happens.

Cheers, Ben

If you coming to Gaydon for either AGM or TIPEC 2009 then shout & we'll show you.

Hi Jim,

Just been out to check the operation of the sunroof. It is exactly as you have written. Thank you very very very much. You've managed to save me from completely trashing my sunroof. And its a damn sight easier than my incorrect method. You've got a fantastic knowledge of the 944 - I applaud you!

The problem with your sunroof could possibly be the microswitch as I mentioned on an earlier posting. Roll on the summer for some open top motoring - yippee.

Cheers, Ben

the key should be turned in the ignition to the first position, ie no dashboard lights on, then the rocker switch pushed in the closed direction until the arms move back into the roof, then the clips at the front unclipped, then the roof lifted from the underside at the rear, preferably by two people as they can be awkward and hinged on the wind deflector and lifted off