Technical Sunroof mechanism

[peterp]

Hi all
I tried to shut the sunroof earlier today and must had tried too hard.
The top that covers the spindle(?) on the mechanism snapped off.Now the round handle thing under it that turns the internals that close it will only go so far before the top pops out again..if you know what I mean!


I ran out of daylight tonight to try and carry out a repair,but does anyone know if these units are easily available if I need to replace the whole thing?

Just hope it doesnt rain tonight!!

Cheers
Pete

 

[alexGS]

I think that Unos in the UK were often fitted with a sunroof at the dealers/importers, which is not the same as the factory sunroof.

I'm not quite following your description, unfortunately, since I can't understand the reference to the 'top' that pops out.

So - a few quick questions - are the interior lights two separate units? Is the sunroof a glass panel fastened with four screws? Is there a folding handle with square-ish shaped knob (at the front, near the rear-view mirror)? Is there a sliding louvre panel inside the car?

If 'yes' to all of these, sounds like a factory sunroof. As I recall the handle was held in place by a single Phillips screw. The handle has a prescribed amount of slackness which works in an interesting way. Changing the handle with one from a wreckers may very well fix the problem you are having, where the panel tends to pop 'up' and not stay closed.

jjhepburn and I tried replacing all parts of the sunroof mechanism, and in the end we found it was the handle that made the most difference!

Another fault that I recall is that the aluminium rails that the sunroof runs on are pop-riveted to the baseplate. These can work loose, and the panel loses its tension against the seal. In a naive attempt to stop the sunroof leaking, it's quite easy to re-fix them using a pop-rivet gun. This is, again, for the factory sunroof (made in Holland).

If the one you're working with is not a factory sunroof, then please see this thread: https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/43177-replacement-sunroof-mechanism.html?highlight=sunroof+handle

-Alex

 

[Chas Uno]

I think that Unos in the UK were often fitted with a sunroof at the dealers/importers, which is not the same as the factory sunroof.

As far as I'm aware, all UK mk1 Uno's and some early mk2's all had the factory sunroof fitted, if the option was available, from new. They are the tilt and slide type as show in the Haynes manual, and can only be ordered from new. The roof has bolts around the sunroof aperature as well as the aperature having a pressed lip, therefore it is NOT possible to fit this sunroof to a non sunroof Uno unless you swap the whole roof over!

The description Alex gave is spot on for a factory fitted sunroof. The giveaway is the interior lights. One central light and it is not a genuine factory sunroof. Two pillar lights at the edge of the headlining (adjacent to the B posts) and it is a genuine factory fitted item.

And of interest, I forget the link but someone posted up a link elsewhere on the forum to a site that showed a Lancia Y10 being converted to Delta Integrale 4 wheel drive! The Lancia Y10 fitted with a factory sunroof appeared to have exactly the same sunroof as fitted to the Uno. Worth remembering if you find a Y10 in a scrapyard

Oh, and I have the tilt and slide factory sunroof fitted to my Uno

Later mk2's reverted to a pop up sunroof with a simple hinged handle at the rear. No idea why Fiat did this, as the earlier design was better as long as the sunroof seal didn't leak.

PeterP, can you elaborate a bit more on what the sunroof problem is? Like Alex, I don't quite understand what you mean!

 

[peterp]

My apologies-I'm not surprised by my description.

Firstly the interior light is a single unit which sits just behind the sunroof unit-Alex-theres no sliding panel to cover the glass on the inside,so I guess it's an aftermarket one.I know the 'handle' version and its not this one..
The best description I can offer is that the mechanism is at the back of the sunroof and is operated by a round flower shaped handle which turns anticlockwise.This turns a spindle inside which lifts the sunroof up.Opposite way to close(screw/unscrew effect)...
The plastic piece I refer to snaps onto the top of this mechanism I guess to gain a sort of clamping effect when closing.
Its this piece that has snapped off when I tried to turn the round handle to tighten the seal upon closing it.

Probably still no better off with that description,but your help is appreciated!!

Cheers
Pete

 

[SuperUno]

I had this problem with my current Uno when i got it, however it wasn't a problem as i replaced the glass with a sheet of ali and bolted that in place (rally rules = no glass roof's).
However i have been told that a MkIII fiesta sunroof handle will do that same job and is better built. I did manage to repair mine with use of a zip tie wrapped around the ain body but it was only ever a quick fix.

 

[gaz.d]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/gaz_wrexham/77b005a7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/gaz_wrexham/6ba63fc9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/gaz_wrexham/b0bd905f.jpg

i snapped many in my ex '93 Uno hobby , worst design ever , i searched through various uno's and all had different ones but not the one i wanted

i eventually found mine in Skoda Favourit's the boxy type ones , i grabbed as many as i could

 

[Louie Bee]

MK2 Sunroof mechanism

I thought my closer was going to snap the other day. A bit of UK warmth, and Crack (they’re history). I had to leave it slightly open .

That would be number 3 – last 2 were new .

 

[tonyfurnell]

Later mk2's reverted to a pop up sunroof with a simple hinged handle at the rear. No idea why Fiat did this, as the earlier design was better as long as the sunroof seal didn't leak.

Yeah, by the sound of things PeterP's sunroof is one of these -- i.e. it is an officially fitted Fiat sunroof, but it's one of the newer, naffer ones. The same thing happened to mine a few months back, and the conclusions drawn were thus:

https://www.fiatforum.com/uno/43177-replacement-sunroof-mechanism-post506690.html

Seems there are a couple of different possible cars around with the same mechanism, if you can find them in your local scrappy. :slayer:

Good luck!