General Glass roof - anyone actually open it?

Greg123 · Nov 5, 2012

Reason I ask is not because it's broken (it is, but I can fix that) but when I did open it, it kinda just stuck up out the car still partially in the way as it goes up and over rather than sliding inside like a sunroof so it looks a bit odd. BUT here's the thing, I thought it would be nice to have some wind in the hair but over 25mpg I just had a load of drumming/resonance that was pretty deafening and horrible, it was not good to drive with open.

Also there is some wind noise and some creaking if hitting corners hard or coming off a high kerb as the screen moves against it's seals, I hate to hear the overhead creaking.

So my question is.... does anyone like it open? Anyone actually use it? Because I'm heavily tempted to take the mechanism out, sit the glass flush with the roof and replace the seals with adhesive structural bonding adhesive and bond it flush with the body, making it rigid (no creaks) and no gaps/seals (no wind noise).

Thoughts?

By the way I love the sliding blind and looking up to the stars a lot, just not convinced about the roof sliding out....

Greg.

tarquin1867 · Nov 5, 2012

Greg123 said:
Reason I ask is not because it's broken (it is, but I can fix that) but when I did open it, it kinda just stuck up out the car still partially in the way as it goes up and over rather than sliding inside like a sunroof so it looks a bit odd. BUT here's the thing, I thought it would be nice to have some wind in the hair but over 25mpg I just had a load of drumming/resonance that was pretty deafening and horrible, it was not good to drive with open.

Also there is some wind noise and some creaking if hitting corners hard or coming off a high kerb as the screen moves against it's seals, I hate to hear the overhead creaking.

So my question is.... does anyone like it open? Anyone actually use it? Because I'm heavily tempted to take the mechanism out, sit the glass flush with the roof and replace the seals with adhesive structural bonding adhesive and bond it flush with the body, making it rigid (no creaks) and no gaps/seals (no wind noise).

Thoughts?

By the way I love the sliding blind and looking up to the stars a lot, just not convinced about the roof sliding out....

Greg.

I`ve got one Greg, but dont use it for driving about . When you have had it going into "somebodys trapped mode" while closing it when its about to rain you tend to be once bitten twice shy!!
I love driving with the screen open and roof closed.
The looking at the stars bit would have been worth its weight in gold 40 yrs ago ;-) it would have made a great sh---gin wagon! All that room! stars ! music! steamy windows, jumpers for goalposts!!
Tells you a lot when I bought the car because it easily swallows my fishing tackle!!

dave · Nov 5, 2012

mine came sealed in middle, was going to sort it this summer but car was in the body shop for most of it. if you do remove bits send them to me if you don't want to keep them, i'd like mine open at shows

Greg123 · Nov 5, 2012

I had not thought of passion aspects... I bought it because it's tall enough for me to sit in it ;-) So, one vote for don't bother opening the roof....

Doofer · Nov 5, 2012

Mine creaked and rattled, so I took off the roof rails and trim and gave all the tracks a really good clean with WD40, kitchen roll and cotton buds, followed by a good squirt of white grease. I also hoovered out then polished all the surrounding areas (before greasing). It's been pretty quiet ever since, and also slides much nicer. Although it still needs a gentle manual assisting pull when it's closing.

I wouldn't seal it shut unless it leaks. The worst case would be to glue it shut and then find it still rattles. Then you're stuck.

I agree - driving with it open is horrible. I only tilt it (the first click) when the car's been parked and is really hot, just until the air con shoves all the hot air out of it. The tilt works great, it's only the sliding that sounds a bit strained.

Looking at the mechanism, it's obvious why it struggles. There are no rollers or bearings etc, just lumps of plastic getting shoved along a metal track. It was never going to work well.

halilson · Nov 5, 2012

If you spray silicone on the runners and rubber then it should open and close properly - unless the motor is on it's way out. As for the ear pounding noise, just drop the rear windows half an inch and it disappears!! Wind noise is quite loud above 60 but mine doesn't rattle or creak at any speed. I hope this helps.

Doofer · Nov 5, 2012

I put some tyre shine on my seals (which is probably silicone), which seemed to moisturise them and stop the wriggling noises.

Mine had a new motor while it was still under warranty (allegedly, although I don't know whether I trust the dealer who did it). It still struggles a bit while closing, but it's generally fine.

evo-number-one · Nov 5, 2012

Had mine open a few times (when it was warmer

) - but not any great speed.

I am not sure how fast it should open and/or close - doesn't seem that slow, but as I don't know, I'll follow Halilsons lead and give it a good siliconing when I get the chance

BrianMcL · Nov 6, 2012

I too have opened mine when it's been hot and it's OK driving with it open but after a few difficult experiences getting it shut in a hurry (when it would close some of the way and then open again) I mostly just leave it closed now.

It closes more easily if there's someone outside to give it a push but that's not so easy when you're driving along.

I just thought that the big sunroof thing was a good idea poorly implemented and hadn't given any thought to fixing it.

How difficult is it to remove / repair?

halilson · Nov 6, 2012

Mine was the same when I got it. It just needs regular maintenance like any other mechanical part of the car. Spray the runners and rubber with silicone lubricant, it will transform the operation. It lasts far longer than WD40 etc. Mine opens and closes at a constant speed now. When I notice it starting to slow down I spray it again. I have used the sunroof on a daily basis (dry days), right up to the cold spell last week and only needed to spray it twice this summer

BrianMcL · Nov 11, 2012

Took the chance of working on it this morning in the late Autumn sunshine. I gave it a good clean with cotton buds and sprayed about a tin of Halfords silicone lubricant (only 3.99 so no great loss). It's defintely improved it - still not perfect and judders a bit when it's nearly closed but a vast improvement. Not bad considering it's been totally neglected since I bought the car 5 1/2 years ago.

rat20v · Nov 13, 2012

Interesting Reading, i have the stilo with the skyroof and mine was fine till the weekend, when i got to exeter 350 miles away from home, parked up started to close almost got there and then clicked opened again, try for a while and it just kept re-opening, so i was forced to wind it in with the supplied allen key now it just clicks if i turn the knob, so i think i need to take your ideas here, and open it manually and then clean the runners and every moving part i can get to, then use the silicon spray on it then re set it using the hold the button for 10 seconds whilst car is running and hopefully this will sort me right out if not i dunno what to do with it, i love the sunroof open for those slow drives around town on a hot day so see where this takes me

BrianMcL · Nov 13, 2012

Good luck hope you get it fixed OK. You might want to be a bit more sparimg with the silicone than I was - it's rained a bit and now my drive looks like an oil slick. Haven't had the chance to see if it's still working OK but the annoying squeak has gone so it was worth it just for that.

halilson · Nov 13, 2012

Robin, I used about half a can the first time, then I just top it up periodically when I notice it slowing down.

BrianMcL · Nov 14, 2012

I got quite carried away and used almost all of it. The side of the car is so slippy that if I was in a crash I think the other car would just slide off!

rat20v · Nov 14, 2012

Thanks chaps, i don't think it is actually broken as if the wires were knackered it would not of shut at all and did shut ok slightly squiffy but once fully closed using the wind it it straightend right out, so fingers crossed it will work, i even found a car for spares (engine gone) and was gonna buy a whole car for the roof but after asking them there roof doesn't work either so i must fix this lol, i would be gutted to lose it my kids love it lol, and i have only had the car 5 months,

Doofer · Nov 14, 2012

For the Croma at least, there is a learning procedure in the manual - it needs to be taught where the fully open and closed positions are, as for the windows. It can sometimes fail just because it's got stuck and now thinks the stuck position is either the open or closed position.

dave · Jul 11, 2013

dave said:
mine came sealed in middle, was going to sort it this summer but car was in the body shop for most of it. if you do remove bits send them to me if you don't want to keep them, i'd like mine open at shows

i opened mine manually, now its stuck open, just clicks like its jumping teeth when i tried to close it manually, silicone grease and duck oil don't help, tried pulling with hand same time as i turn the opener, still stuck, it will go back an forth about an inch but that is all

Am i going to have to remove all the roof lining? i tried with just the back hanging down and plastic behind the light removed but cant see a lot apart from 1 motor and 2 disconnected plugs

dave · Jul 11, 2013

I removed roof lining removed motor that has never been connected since i got the car. (motor has webasto written on it) roof still would now push open and a little closed then got stuck, i removed the metal tubes that hold the opening and closing wire, it seemed one was twisted and wouldn't go back into its tube, so i cut it it off roof is now shut, looks like it will stay tiger sealed for ever now.

If any one is wondering what under the roof lining looks like here are some photos.

this is the plastic bit under the rear interior roof light, the motor was under that, the round hole is where the key or male hex goes to open an close manually (when the motor is in.

the bit i cut off

evo-number-one · Jul 11, 2013

Sorry to hear the roofs a no-go Dave

The shots of the lining down are very handy

and will hopefully come in useful for a spot of retro fitting that I am planning..........

General Glass roof - anyone actually open it?

Currently reading: General Glass roof - anyone actually open it?

Member

Member

******

Member

Established member

Established member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Established member

******

******

Similar threads

Currently reading:
General Glass roof - anyone actually open it?