Sunroof problem in hot weather

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Cromp85
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Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:24 am
Location: Dudley, West Midlands

Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Cromp85 »

The electric sunroof on my 1994 220 plays up whenever its a hot day.
When i used the sunroof yesterday it kept on cutting out as i tried to open or close it using the switch,
today it wont move at all.
I can hear a relay clicking in the roof when i press the switch, and the fuse looks ok

Anything else to try before i take out the headlining and check the motor? :headbanging
My Rovers to date:
1995 Rover 216 Coupe in Nightfire red
1994 Rover 220GSI in Tahiti blue
2002 MG ZR 105 in Solar red
1995 214i in Nightfire red
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GTiJohn
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Location: Midlands

Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by GTiJohn »

Have you tried winding it manually to check it's not sticking?

There's a round plastic cover near the rear-view mirror that gives access to a square/hex drive. You may be lucky enough to still have the winder in your car toolkit in the boot. If not you'll have to find something else to do the job.

If it moves easily then it maybe the motor that's not got enough torque or maybe the relay isn't working properly
I like Twin Cams, Single Cams, Turbos and 5-cam VVCs :cool
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Johnny 216GSi
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Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Johnny 216GSi »

As John said, try a manual wind. This will at least allow you to close a partially open sunroof, and if you wind it the other way it will get the roof past the point it's sticking at.

It's a current cut-out - the sunroof is jamming. There was an article in The Viking a few editions ago where someone showed the pertinent grease points, but you could start with the runners. Hot weather caused the same problem with mine until I reached for a lithium based grease.
Rover 216GSi K reg. Flame Red over Tempest Grey

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Mr Teddy Bear
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Location: Bristol

Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Mr Teddy Bear »

Might be the black rubber seal around the edge of the glass. It can swell in the heat if some one has previously greased it. Try washing the seal with hot water & washing up liquid.
Teddy Bear

216 Sli SRS Charcoal Met 1996

214Si Silver? Tempest Grey 1993
alviseven
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Location: North Warwickshire

Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by alviseven »

If it is temperamental and its a power issue try the power plug where it connects to the underside of the fuse board - mine came loose several times giving me the impression that the switch or the motor was dead. However it would often open full one way but then never shut. Manual wind is wonderful in these cases. You can also have the dash rocker switch apart carefully and clean the contacts but it does not sound like hot weather would affect this.
You should have some grease or similar on the spring operation "rods" accessible from the open back roof and standing in the door apertures to access.
Twin G reg Red 216GSi Rovers
Cromp85
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Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:24 am
Location: Dudley, West Midlands

Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Cromp85 »

Thanks for the replies.
Now ive got a few ideas i will have a good look at it over the weekend. Hopefully next time i post it will be fixed :)
My Rovers to date:
1995 Rover 216 Coupe in Nightfire red
1994 Rover 220GSI in Tahiti blue
2002 MG ZR 105 in Solar red
1995 214i in Nightfire red
Rover GTi
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Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Rover GTi »

Hi Cromp85,
I Just wondered if you ever managed to get to the bottom of your sunroof issue or not, as mine does exactly the same thing. It works fine in cold weather, but it wont move when its been sat in the hot sun. I did think it might be the sunroof motor relay sticking when it gets hot, but i'm reluctant to take the headlining out to get access to it :)
Montegoman
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Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Montegoman »

It's the UV protection sensor. It's to stop you getting sunburn!
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214GSi G79XKV (R8 No.1) (10 yrs of ownership)
25GSi 2.0TD KX56KXM Owned from new.
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Cromp85
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Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:24 am
Location: Dudley, West Midlands

Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Cromp85 »

I finally got round to fixing it this weekend. After opening the sunroof with a ratchet i cleaned and greased the runners and closed it back up manually.
It did seen smother than when i opened it, but when i tried the switch all i got was the same clicking from the roof. Id had enough by now so left it for another day.

Yesterday as i was about to start pulling out the relays, i tried the switch and it worked :clapping
Two bloody weeks of just clicking and now it decides to work. Im still none the wiser as to why it stoped but at least now it seems ok.
My Rovers to date:
1995 Rover 216 Coupe in Nightfire red
1994 Rover 220GSI in Tahiti blue
2002 MG ZR 105 in Solar red
1995 214i in Nightfire red
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Johnny 216GSi
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Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 10:17 pm
Location: Birmingham - the home of Rover!

Re: Sunroof problem in hot weather

Post by Johnny 216GSi »

Cromp85 wrote:I finally got round to fixing it this weekend. After opening the sunroof with a ratchet i cleaned and greased the runners and closed it back up manually.
It did seen smother than when i opened it, but when i tried the switch all i got was the same clicking from the roof. Id had enough by now so left it for another day.

Yesterday as i was about to start pulling out the relays, i tried the switch and it worked :clapping
Two bloody weeks of just clicking and now it decides to work. Im still none the wiser as to why it stoped but at least now it seems ok.
I think it was just a lack of grease. Just takes time to work itself in. Pretty sure it's a current cut-out on the sunroof motor - unlike the window motors which keep going even if they hit the top of the door frame...
Rover 216GSi K reg. Flame Red over Tempest Grey

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