Sunroof open stuck parts plastic cover cables FAQ

[Loren Todd]

Does anyone know where I can get number 13 in this diagram?
I'm also looking for all the plastic covers except the left corner one.
Thanks.

[matt94gt]

[SGKent]

pull the handle off and the gear out from below. Push the sunroof open somewhere between about 6 - 24 inches open until it feels like it is sliding freely. Then put the gear back in. That will tension the cables evenly. Then read Bentley on how to adjust sunroofs if it doesn't close all the way properly.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[matt94gt]

[SGKent]

[matt94gt]

[bdanzansky]

Seeking any suggestions to find 241-877-375 Part. It's the top cover for the sunroof crank for a 1970 Type 2. Any thoughts or suggestions.

[SGKent]

[matt94gt]

[chimneyfish]

[SGKent]

the three pieces that are outer are reproduced by EIS. Same as the cables - EIS. The center piece has several variants although I think BUT AM NOT SURE the late one will work on all. The center piece is made of several parts. There is also the lower part which is plastic in some early bays and metal in later bays. The link in a prior post is to the metal bottom part, not the cover. I have not found a good enough center piece to send to EIS to be reproduced. The one I have is warped. If i can find the time to heat it slowly maybe I can straighten it. The problem with reproducing these pieces is that they cost a lot to make and the piece being replicated needs to be near new because any flaws get reproduced.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[matt94gt]

[dionski]

I have some vanagon sunroof questions--hope they are not out of place here.

I've been having problems for a while with one of the rear corners of the roof not coming up all the way when closed. I've messed with the adjusters as per Bentley but haven't gotten much satisfaction. It's almost as though I need to tighten the cable on that side. But I don't know how to access the the crank/cog cable interface. Do I need to pull out the headliner to get in there? I can't find this addressed in Bentley. I think that the cog is worn so there seem to be a couple of reasons I need to get in there. If I do get in there, will it be obvious how to tighten the cable? And is there a manual for the Vanagon sunroof like the one that was linked earlier in this thread?

My rear drain are completely clogged. When I bought the van it had sat in the woods in oregon an entire winter with the roof partly open so the rear space that the roof slides into when opened if pretty much full of debris. I plan to remove the entire sunroof assembly and was hoping that I could scarf everything out with a broom handle or something but a VW mechanic that I talked to said that I would need to remove the headliner and then drop the tray which forms the bottom of the space that receives the open sunroof. True? I wasn't aware that this tray existed. Again, I don't find mention of it in Bentley.

Thanks in advance for any help, even if it's just letting me know that I'm screwed.

[SGKent]

[dionski]

on a bay the gear comes out downwards inside the bus. On a bay if the cable is stripped you have to take the gear out then use your hands to put the roof back as someone lightly hits the back of the sunroof so it drops as it slides back. On a bay you then part the front of the inside slider with the outer slider and take out the clips for safe keeping. Then on a bay the inside panel slides back and you can access the outer panel to remove it. Once it is off you can access the rails and cables. On a bay if you pry on the inner panel, especially the sides, you are in big trouble as that will jam everything very badly. It is the equal of putting rocks around skateboards and expecting them to roll.[/quote]

Thanks for that! Just to confirm, "bay" sunroofs are essentially the same on vanagons and buses? Unfortunately the crank is not located in the same place on vanagons as it is on buses.

In order for the gear to be removed downward inside the vanagon, the headliner would have to be removed first, yes or no?

I think I know what you're referring to when you say "rails" and "sliders" but I don't have a clue what you mean by "panels".

On the vanagon I seem to have good access to everything except where the cables disappear into the roof at the front of the sunroof opening. Bentley gives good directions for removing the sunroof and the frame it operates within--I just can't workout how to get to where the cables interface with the crank mechanism. I'm guessing I have to remove the headliner but I sure don't want to do that until I'm certain I have to.

[SGKent]

On e bay there is a plastic cap (middle of photo) over a screw that pops off. Then the screw (next to cap in photo) comes out. Then the handle (bottom of photo) pulls off. Then a plastic cover (left of photo) that fits over the gear screws comes off, then two screws and the gear (second photo) falls out downwards. Then a stuck roof can be opened by hand. The gear prevents that from happening when a cable is stripped so the gear has to come out first. I don't know if vanagons are the same but most Golde made sunroofs are similar unless they are electric.

_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[dionski]

Right you are. Thanks for being patient with me. When I had previously removed the plastic piece under the crank handle, the hole in the headliner was only big enough for the splined shaft to jut through so I never saw the gear screws. Pealing back the fabric a bit revealed everything exactly as you depicted--I guess all bays do share most of the same components. Now I can seriously lube the cables and then restore their proper alignment with the gear; I think the left one must have slipped a groove. Yay! After I put on a new seal and clean out the rear drains I should have a working sunroof again. Many thanks!

[arm_big_GUNS]

can anybody here tell me what is the easiest way to just remove the sunroof. i want to take it completely off do it do it from the outside edges or something im new on this site and im new to owning a vw bus. please help thank u again guys.

[arm_big_GUNS]

78 BUS I JUST WANT TO REMOVE THE DAMN THING. ITS OPEN ONE INCH AND I JUST WANT IT OFF THE GEARS ARE NOT WORKING NOTHING IS OPENING IT. CAN I POP THE EDGES OFF OR BREAK IT OFF SOMEHOW. THANK YOU GUYS FOR HELP

[dionski]