Having also become a Porsche owner after my 40th in the form of a 924 I love reading threads like this. Mine had the same level of bad repairs and showed general signs of un-loved life but after many hours mostly consisting of remove, clean, refit it's now in great shape.
Keep going, it's amazing how all the little changes soon turn a car around!
It looks like someone has done a bodge in the past to keep the sunroof clamped down as the arms didn't work, that's not factory, even an early clip in/manual sunroof didn't have bits like that on.
There should be runners in the panel for the arms to go into.
As for the workings of the switch, that is a bit complex to set up if its gone out of sync.. on key position 1, the switch should move the arms in and out about 20mm, allowing the roof panel to be secured or released. Key position 2 should allow the arms to continue another 70ish mm to raise or lower the roof in tilt mode. On this key position the arms should not return the last 20mm as this keeps the roof secure when closed. I think the job I did most at RS cars was sorting sunroofs, its far too complex to explain how to fully set one up on here, but have a look at the motor in the boot on the passenger side, you will have the rail type motor on this car, see if the cable is present and moving when motor is operated, unfortunately the bodgers usually start here.
It looks like someone has done a bodge in the past to keep the sunroof clamped down as the arms didn't work, that's not factory, even an early clip in/manual sunroof didn't have bits like that on.
There should be runners in the panel for the arms to go into.
As for the workings of the switch, that is a bit complex to set up if its gone out of sync.. on key position 1, the switch should move the arms in and out about 20mm, allowing the roof panel to be secured or released. Key position 2 should allow the arms to continue another 70ish mm to raise or lower the roof in tilt mode. On this key position the arms should not return the last 20mm as this keeps the roof secure when closed. I think the job I did most at RS cars was sorting sunroofs, its far too complex to explain how to fully set one up on here, but have a look at the motor in the boot on the passenger side, you will have the rail type motor on this car, see if the cable is present and moving when motor is operated, unfortunately the bodgers usually start here.
Thanks Sumpcracker - It seems shocking that someone would just seal it up as it didnt work. Parts are so cheap. I have just ordered a used removable section with all parts, motor, arms for £40. I guess back in the day it would have been Porsche only and buck$!
I will start of by replacing the motor and see where i get to. I have a day planned on the car today!
So i got a few hours on the 944 today. Thanks to shin2chin i managed to find the rear drain tubes for the sunroof. I poured really hot water down the tubes and all four are clear!
I have ordered a new sunroof but wanted to get the old one back in place to get the car useable. When I removed the old one and pulled off the seal, part of the roof itself came away - damn! So i had to get busy with the P38.
A couple of the screw holes in the roof were also broken, so P38 in there too!
Drill out and a self tapper - Bob is indeed, ones uncle!
Whilst playing, I took a couple of snaps of the inner sills through the vents on the B Post.
and
Can anyone reccomend what to squirt down here to ensure no future rot? Is WaxOil still something people use, or is there better now?
Cleaned up the plugs and let her run for a while. But noticed that 1. The fans don't seem to kick in. Any ideas? and 2. There is a squeeling noise coming from the belt housing.
Help! I am fast loosing the releationship with my car.
Today - I thought it would be an idea to get the sunroof sorted..... My previous motor doesnt work at all, so I bought a new one and the associated bits.
So, out with the old and in with the new. One issue is that i need to transfer the sunroof cable from one to the other?
Here is the complete setup....
How do i remove this cable?
Thanks - I am quickly starting to consider a boxster........
It appears you need to unscrew the whole thing... Luckily my sunroof works so far. Good luck and: Don't even think of a Boxster! I do somtimes, too - but not for long!)
Last Edit: Apr 17, 2016 12:51:43 GMT by Volkswrencher
"When you fix something with your hands it gives you a sense of accomplishment and a sense of self worth" -Jay Leno
So i managed to remove the cable as per my last post. Well actually tell a lie. My wife out and sorted it out. She managed to remove the cable as well as attaching the new cable and then also mounted the motor.
It seems that the old unit was ex Porsche 924 and the new motor I have is Porsche 944. We pressed on and when we operated the switch, there was noise and movement!!
The feeling of elation was short lived though as it seems that the arms are hugely differnt between 924 and 944. FFS!
I am loosing the desire to have this car and am seriously contemplating a Boxster S. I havent even started on the oily bits of this car yet. I donthave the tools or knowledge, time or space. The Boxster S will be instantly useable and I can poilish it and change seat belts and head units. Yes, i am a pretend mechanic. Ed China makes it look easy!!
Track car calling?! Pop rivet a panel over the hole in the roof, strip out all the redundant gubbins / cr4p that doesn't work & isn't worth fixing, and enjoy!
I went out today with my business clothes on, so i couldnt do anything, but that was the idea. It gave me a chance to think about what to do, rather than feeling pressured to do anything.
So - the issue now is the sunroof arms side. Here are the arms:
The metal cable seems to connect to the arm itself:
But on the parts i have bought, the cable goes through the sunroof arms mechanism.
What is going on?
I will put the roof ack in today and just use the car. That is the best bit as you say.....
Not the correct attitude when working with a 944! Trust me I have felt the deep pain and fury when something just doesnt go right. My sunroof caused me so much grief I got rid of the motor and electrics all together then fitted manual latches haha.
944s are good at making a supposedly simple job last 4 years and cause a lot of frustration in the process. Eventually after much perseverance you'll be at a point where you can start buying nice things instead of make-car-worky things . I've got to that point now. And to be honest when stuff goes wrong i'm so much more calm and collected now after working on this thing. Trying to fit my door handles left me a week climbing in through the passenger side with taped up doors, and I still have no door cards. I think its more funny than annoying. I like people looking at me thinking 'wtf'. My car is far from perfect but I still love it no matter what state its in or how much it annoys me. I almost sold it at quite a loss a while ago and now I don't think I could get rid of it!
The point I guess I'm trying to make is that its far too easy to give up and throw the towel in. The things 30 years old, it requires someone with a level head, which is why we are the people who own these stupid old cars and not 90% of the Nation with modern tat.
Oh, and my mum had a boxster s 3.2 auto for a couple of years and I thought it was pish compared to my 944 despite obviously being quicker. Plus they don't turn heads....
As for the sun roof, i've never seen those arms before. The arms I removed from mine were the ones like you've bought with the cable into the arm itself with gears. Not an option to just switch EVERYTHING over to the other setup?
I have booked an inspection at JMG garage (Wimbourne) for my 944 this weekend. They are 944 specialists and certainly know thier stuff.
After buying the car and struggling for time, space, tools and knowledge, I finally admitted defeat. Ed China makes this restoration look so easy. But it really isn't.
The car was in worse condition that I had expected and I quickly ran out of skill and knowledge. I have learnt that I want a car to be proud of and I don't think that my car will ever fall into that league - it might just be too costly to restore to a standard that I would want the car. Instead I am toying with the idea of selling up and pushing funds back to my daily car and getting something to use as a daily that will bring a smile to my face. Exactly what - I have little idea.....
So, this Saturday is D-Day for the 944. Jon will take a look over the car and give his verdict. I am hoping for a quick and easy discussion - a. Worth keeping and x,y,z needs doing, or, b. Get shot of it mate, It will cost you loads to get it road worthy (it has a MOT, but I am not 100% sure I trust that).
Car dropped off at JMG Porsche in Wimbourne for the inspection on Tuesday and it made it all the way there without missing a beat! I left home at 08:45 and was there by 10:30 and do you know what? I fell in love with the car during the drive. It was so special. Not the fastest, not the comfiest, but it felt like a dog that just wanted to please me. The smell, the noise.....fantastic!!! I drove out of Marlbourough, towards Salisbury and then down towards Ringwood. Not many places to pass other traffic, except a small 1/2 mile stretch as you leave Salisbury - foot to the floor - WOW!!!!
A few quirky things noticed - i think the discs might be warped and the speedo shows your speed +/- 20mph....... I did manage to stretch her legs too - 100 ahems on a clear stretch of country road too. It made me feel like a million bucks and I have really bonded with the car now. You will probably laugh at me, but since i bought her, I havent used her at all. This was the first outing in two months. I wasted all that time....idiot.
I left the car at JMG garage and they were kind enough to give me a quick tour around. Plenty of modern stuff kicking about - nice but boring. A 'graveyard' out the back full of Porsche exotica - more 944 turbos than you can shake a stick at, an out of place Bentley S1, 928s, racing 924 and a couple of early 911s.
I exchanged the keys to my new best freind to those of a 2000 Mercedes A class and this was the parting shot until next Saturday.
I miss her already and the garage is empty without my freind......
I times have that feeling with my 944 but you just have to keep plugging on with it as I did want a Cayman before I brought the 944 and I can say the 944 gets more looks than a Cayman or a Boxster would get and when you drive it it's more of a occasion aswell. Trust me once you get into driving them you'll start to enjoy it and it's all worth it in the end. My sunroof gives me grief aswell it's already on its 3rd set of plastic sunroof cogs as it just eats them but it's trial and error I suppose. My sunroof is different to yours though as its 85 onwards but my sunroof was bodged too as it had the arms screwed into the roof when I brought it. Have you read the Clarks guide on how to sort the sunroofs on 944s?
Thanks for the interest. G60pops - I am intrigued by your location. Talk to me about free accomodation in the Seychells! :-) Edd944 - Thanks for the kind words - I will persist with the car, but it is ruinious to ones wallet!
Inspection returned a horrificly long list. But studying it, it seems not to be overly bad. I have to roll my sleeves up and get dirty though, otherwise i will not be able to afford the car. It was bought as a project though. So, the list: -ENGINE & EXHAUST -- - HEAVY WEAR IN BOTH FRONT AND THE REAR GEAR SHIFTS - BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKETS OUT OF ALIGNMENT - VIBRATION - AIRBOX INSECURE - DAMAGED FIXINGS - HEADER TANK SWELLING AND HAS GONE MILKY IN COLOUR - COOLANT PROTECTION LEVEL NOT HIGH - AUXILIARY BELTS SOUND NOISY - EXHAUST BLOW PRESENT FROM THE CENTRE SILENCER - CENTRE SILENCER HEAVILY DETERIORATED - REAR EXHAUST SECTION HAS A PIN HOLE BLOW PRESENT - IN-TANK PUMP FITTED BUT IS NOT CONNECTED - EXHAUST BACK BOX HEAT SHIELD CORRODED - HEAVY REAR OF ENGINE OIL LEAK PRESENT - DRIPPING - FRONT OF ENGINE OIL LEAK PRESENT - ENGINE MOUNTS HEAVILY DETERIORATED - FUELLING REQUIRES CHECK & ADJUSTMENT - REAR CORK GASKET ON THE CAM TOWER LEAKING OIL -- TYRES, BRAKES & SUSPENSION -- - HAND BRAKE FEELS STIFF IN OPERATION - PLAY IN THE STEERING SHAFTS UNIVERSAL JOINTS - POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL LOW - BRAKE FLUID CAP TOP MISSING - WHEELS BEARINGS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT - EXCESSIVE PLAY - REAR TYRES ARE 12 YEARS OLD - 6 YEARS PAST LIFESPAN - POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING FLUID - BRAKE VIBRATION PRESENT - REAR BRAKE DISCS CORRODING ON THE INNER EDGES - TRACK ROD END BALL JOINT BOOTS PERISHED --- BODY/COMFORT --- - HOLE IN THE REAR SECTION OF THE SILL - WIPER OPERATION IS VERY SLOW - TAILGATE DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE - AIR CON PUMP FITTED BUT NO PLUMBING WORK IN PLACE - HEADLIGHT WASHER ARE NON OPERATIVE - CRACK IN THE WINDSCREEN - WINDSCREEN WASHER ARE NOT OPERATIVE - N/S WINDOW DOES NOT OPERATE FROM THE O/S SWITCH UNIT - TAILGATE NOT FULLY SUPPORTED
So, considering all that - I will need to pick out the tasks that are related to saftey and/or i couldnt fix at home. Running classic cars isnt cheap - is it?
Thats a long list, but there is nothing on it that scary really. Just a case of working through it. You can do it mate, and you will feel really good when you have.
