North American Turbocoupe Organization

Full Version: moonroof doesn't slide back....
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
So my new 88TC has a few minor issues I'm trying to fix, one is the moonroof will not slide back into the roof. It will open into vent and close back with the switch, but no sliding back. I took the switch assembly out and cleaned the contacts as best I could, now I can here the motor "click" when trying to slide back with the button, but it doesn't move. Tried tapping on it with a hammer to free it, but no luck. You think the motor is shot, or can it be taken apart and cleaned/fixed? Thanks
Not very familiar with the moonroof as my old Tbirds dont have them. My guess is some piece of nearly 30 year old brittle plastic broke off and jammed the track. If the motor operates it in vent, my guess is the motor is good.
Most electric roofs have an option for manual operation. Have you tried this? I'm assuming the TC's roof has this.

I've also not owned one with an electric roof. One has no moon roof and the other is manual.
Good idea on trying the manual open. I did not think of that. It could be something jammed in there.Thanks for the suggestions.
So, I took the glass out, I had to redo the seal anyway, and found the pass side lifter arm out of it's track. Looks like it has been that way for awhile as there was metal shavings in there from it. With the glass out the assembly moves fully aft, so motor is good, but it looks like the pass side lifter arm may be shot, I cannot get it to re seat in the slot and match the drivers side. Anyone have an extra lifter arm they want to get rid of? Thanks
In case you can't find someone with a tbird one, I found that many of the sunroofs of the same era are similar and use the same parts. I rebuilt my motor with one from a fwd Continental ( aka a fancy taurus). Some of the town cars and probably many others may be a source for the part you need.
update, I disconnected the track from the lift arms and found the pass side track out of sync with the drivers side. Could not align them up with the motor, so had to remove that. Then used a vise grip on the gear to turn the track through it's path. When pushed all the forward, ie vented, I had to turn the vise grips beyond, heard some clicking and saw the pass track move forward while the drivers side remained at full forward. Previous owner must have had an issue with the lift arm out of the track, and either moved the motor passed or manually moved it passed alignment. So now, I have some final adjustments to make, but it opens to vent, closes, and retracts back fully and closes back. Small steps to success
Congrats on the progress.