TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu May 15, 2003 10:07 am

Does anyone know where i can get help fixing a sunroof on a 71 beetle? I can't ffind any diagrams on how it is supposed to be assembled. The roof is stuck open with both cables disconnected at one end? Any assistance is appreciated.

Fri May 16, 2003 3:22 am

The sunroof is easy. Here's what you do. Since it's already open start by removing the middle plastic cover right on top of the crank(It's above the lip of the headliner opening).Now grab something to put all the parts in cause if you lose anything you will be screwed. Where you removed the cover you should see both cables running past a gear. Remove the clip on top of the gear-DON'T LOSE THIS. Now remove the little clip holding the gear down - same as before DON"T LOSE THIS. pull the gear out. Replace plastic cover.now you should be able to slide the sunroof closed. It will be kind of hard to move. Close it about half way. reach up between the sunroof and the headliner -on the sunroof not the car. There are 4 or 5 clips holding this together. Now pull the headliner part away from the sunroof, just pull straight down. once the clips come loose you can slide this lower section into the roof. With the lower section out of the way you can see where the cables mount to the sunroof. There should be 2 bolts and a screw holding each cable to the roof. sometimes the screws come out. If any of them are missing check in the lower section. Now tighten everything down. Don't worry if you have to pull the cables into place.Take the lower part and replace it - it will snap back in like a door panel would. Push the sunroof back open all the way. It's VERY important that the sunroof is completely open. Now take the crank and turn it like you are opening the roof. Keep going until it stops.
This is where most people screw up. They think the crank will keep going and going but it was made so you can't open the roof too far and pop the cables out of the track. This is also why on some cars the roof won't completely open or close.
OK now remove the plastic cover again. replace the gear - keep turning the gear not the handle until everything slides together. replace the little clip then the larger clip and then the cover. Now everything should work correctly. If not you will have to replace some of the parts. If you go to close the roof and it opens instead, you turned the crank the wrong way before you replaced the gear.
Let me know if this helps

Fri May 16, 2003 6:36 am

The sunroof was in the condition that it is now, when I bought it. I believe that I have all of the parts to it, at least the ones that you mentioned. I can see where the cable cross each other and the gear in the middle and it looks like the after they are fed through the gear they go back into the bottom of the two holes on the part where the sides of the sunroof slide. Do the cables connect to anything after they go into the holes? Is this the part that connects to the double bolt and a screw, or is that the other end? I really appreciate all your help so far. Thanks again.

Fri May 16, 2003 5:15 pm

I would appreciae a diagram if anyone knows where to get one for a '66. I'm not even sure what parts I am missing other than the cables.

Sat May 17, 2003 12:32 am

The one end of the cable is blank and the other connects to the sunroof by the metal piece attached to the cable. There are only a few parts to the sunroof. It works very simply - the cable attaches to the sunroof on the upper tract of the steel runners while the lower tract is just a hole for the cable end to go in. The cables wrap around the lip of the sunroof opening in the plastic guides, When the cables go by the crank the wrap around from the upper tract to the lower tract. The gear just grabs onto the cable and pulls it around the tract (there is a decent amount of pressure where the gear and cables meet - thats why the larger clip is there - it just holds everything in place) ALL of the parts must be in good shape and in place or the sunroof will not work. If the cables are bent - it will not work. If ANYTHING is broken - it will not work. The good news is the cables can be removed and straightened most of the time. Dixon - try doing what I posted above and let me know if it works.

Sat May 17, 2003 11:10 am

Jeremy is on the $ . The recent Hot VWS tech/resto guide has an article as well as all the diagrams you will need. Bently also does a decent job as well. I have all the cables guides rails etc from a 69 same stuff. if interested email off sight.
todd

Mon May 19, 2003 10:41 am

What issue of HOT VWs? May?

Mon May 19, 2003 3:37 pm

Hi, I need to know if anybody in the L.A. area wnows where I can take my 64 beetle in to have the rubber and weatherstripping installed on the sunroof? I have all the parts. Just looking for an experienced person to do it right the first time. Any help would do! Thanks