Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
- AndysMK3Cav
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- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:30 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Hi
My sunroof tilts up, drops down to retract but then doesn't slide back more than a few MM. It did this when it was manual crank to open and still does it now that I've converted it to electric.
I can get the glass out (had to rip some cosmetic trim off that was covering bolts ) but I can't see what the problem is. Reading through other threads on here I've been trying to locate the lock out catches but I don't understand what I'm looking for or they might be obscured.
Everything looks clean and well lubricated. I can't force the glass back by hand while keeping finger on the switch, something is definitely keeping it from sliding back.
Any ideas?
My sunroof tilts up, drops down to retract but then doesn't slide back more than a few MM. It did this when it was manual crank to open and still does it now that I've converted it to electric.
I can get the glass out (had to rip some cosmetic trim off that was covering bolts ) but I can't see what the problem is. Reading through other threads on here I've been trying to locate the lock out catches but I don't understand what I'm looking for or they might be obscured.
Everything looks clean and well lubricated. I can't force the glass back by hand while keeping finger on the switch, something is definitely keeping it from sliding back.
Any ideas?
- Cavalier342
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
I would have suggested some oil but it sounds like you're properly looked at it and if it's not in need of a lube-up, then yes the lock-out catches are your next step..
planetc on here described how to do it before, I'll see if I can find the thread..... I can't remember exactly how it's done.
Edit: Here is the thread I was on about:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5348&start=300
It's half way down the page, he said a hammer and nail punch tool sorted his out... Maybe the same case for yours... Hope it helps.
planetc on here described how to do it before, I'll see if I can find the thread..... I can't remember exactly how it's done.
Edit: Here is the thread I was on about:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5348&start=300
It's half way down the page, he said a hammer and nail punch tool sorted his out... Maybe the same case for yours... Hope it helps.
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
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Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Once you have the glass out wind the handle gently so you can see the carrier drop down and start to attempt to move backwards. If you look at the front of the carrier both sides there is a little see saw lever arm that the carrier pushes on as it drops down, which raises the front of the see saw clear of a small square cut out in the runner. The fix is to rework the edge of the cutout so that the see saw clears it properly when the carrier lowers. Hopefully that will help. There is a thread by Deeksin that contains photos, but they aren't very clear.
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
- AndysMK3Cav
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:30 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Thank you for the replies
I'll have a look early next week and see if I can spot it
Would be great to have working again with the recent nice weather
I'll have a look early next week and see if I can spot it
Would be great to have working again with the recent nice weather
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
It's really simple, just hard to describe. I don't have a cav anymore to photograph. You'll kick yourself when you see it
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
- AndysMK3Cav
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:30 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
I'll first kick myself for not spotting them, then my Dad who I got around to try and help me locate the catches, then myself again because I had another look a different day and still couldn't see themplanetc wrote:You'll kick yourself when you see it
If/when I find them I'll try to get a good photo to help others
- Cavalier342
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
That's the spirit! The Cavalier spirit!!!
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
'Like'
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
I think we should make a how to using that photo actually
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
- Metallicav
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
How far should the sunroof be able to go back? Mine goes back about a couple of inches.
Glacier White 92 16SV Cavalier L
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Right back
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
- Metallicav
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- Location: Flintshire
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Cheers I'll have to do this at some point then
Glacier White 92 16SV Cavalier L
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
I will take more pics at the weekend if neededplanetc wrote:I think we should make a how to using that photo actually
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Try to get a photo of the little see saw lever Deeks, that's the bit everyone gets lost on, between that and the nice clear photo above we would have the topic nailed.
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
- AndysMK3Cav
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:30 pm
- Location: Portsmouth
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
I should be able to get some pictures of the see-saw lever arm when I do mine (I hope!)
Just to be sure, is it the recessed area highlighted in red that I'm looking for and to adjust?
Just to be sure, is it the recessed area highlighted in red that I'm looking for and to adjust?
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Yes, if you watch the mechanism as you operate it you'll see a little hook on the end of the 'see saw' that hooks into that hole. It doesn't rise far enough to clear the back of the hole (shiny bit in the pic) and stops the assembly from sliding back. The fix is to hit the shiny bit with a punch, reducing the height a mm or two.
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Planetc spot on mate a would also clean and re grease the runners
- Cavalier342
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
All the way back to the roof skin, now what I found is my on old pre-facelift Cavalier, the sunroof slid back all the way inside the roofskin in one move. On my other 2 Cavaliers, both facelift, it slides back to about 2 inches short of the roof skin, then I push the button and wind again and it slides back further... Not sure that was anything to do with lock-out catches but it may be that on your Cavalier mate.Metallicav wrote:How far should the sunroof be able to go back? Mine goes back about a couple of inches.
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
The locking mechanism that takes care of that element is built into the sunroof gearbox, the part that the handle attaches to
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
- Metallicav
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- Location: Flintshire
Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Just tried this with mine, after a few times and with being hard to wind, the sunroof went fully into the roofskin. Must be down to the extremely worn sunroof winder, which will soon be replaced with an omega electric one.Cavalier342 wrote:All the way back to the roof skin, now what I found is my on old pre-facelift Cavalier, the sunroof slid back all the way inside the roofskin in one move. On my other 2 Cavaliers, both facelift, it slides back to about 2 inches short of the roof skin, then I push the button and wind again and it slides back further... Not sure that was anything to do with lock-out catches but it may be that on your Cavalier mate.
Glacier White 92 16SV Cavalier L
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
- Cavalier342
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Ye, sounds like a grease-up is in order. It should be effortless to wind the sunroof back and forward, if you struggle manually, the motor will struggle also....
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
- Metallicav
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
Was also going to redo that at the same time, any particular grease you would recommend?
Glacier White 92 16SV Cavalier L
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
Glacier White 95 16V Cavalier Sri
Jungle Green Vectra b Sri Estate Daily
- Cavalier342
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
I just use multi-purpose grease, Carlube is the brand. Your local autofactors would probably have it or similar...
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE
Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
- planetc
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Re: Sunroof tilts but doesn't retract/slide back.
General purpose grease can degrade the fluffy bits on the cables, the recommended stuff is petroleum jelly.
"No the temperature gauge doesn't work........
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"
we've driven 150 miles today........
the heater went cold last Thursday........
they check the level when it's serviced don't they?"