Dual Moonroof Problems

[cousinphil]

My 2003 Legacy with dual moonroof (forward roof tilts/ aft roof slides) has developed a small problem. The forward roof no longer tilts when I hit the button. It does unlock however, and I can push it up manually and hold it up with a wooden wedge. But I would like to repair it.

 

I have pulled off the two plastic trim pieces and removed the two 10 mm nuts at the rear of the tilt roof. Now I can tilt the roof up about 5 inches. But the forward edge is still solidly connected and I have been unable to figure out how to disconnect it. I think if I could get the roof all the way off I'd be able to fix the problem.

 

How do you get the tilt roof off? The solution must be fiendishly clever.

 

Wouldn't it be elegant if there was some sort of sliding catch so that when you removed the rear nuts the roof would just slide off to the rear? No such luck. Right now I am stuck. Any ideas?

[Steves72]

I have the same problem on my 2000 Outback. See this thread.

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=79390

 

I chose to live with the problem. One of my biggest regrets was buying the car with the moon roof. Between the leaks, clogged drains and now broken front moon roof - what a mistake.

 

Steve

[CNY_Dave]

I've looked into the repair, and have decided I'll live with using a small rubber doorstop.

 

 

Dave

[gbhrps]

Depending on where you buy the parts, the repair is relatively cheap. (I've seen $83 - $210 for the lift mechanism)

 

It is a DIYer for someone who is patient and has done some wrenching, and who can afford to have his car down for the time the repair takes. Been there, done that, on my last OBW LTD an 04.

 

What has gone south is the track mechanism that operates the 2 scissor lifts at the rear of the front sunroof. Nothing else needs replacing. The parts are plastic and attach to the 2 geared whips that pull the sunroofs open and closed. The only way to replace them .... is to drop the headliner and remove the entire sunroof assembly from the car. Its not hard, or even challenging, but it is time consuming.

 

Rather than retype the procedures all over again, search under sunroof, or for my signature, and you'll find several posts explaining the step by step.

 

If you need more help, I'd be happy to oblige. Good Luck!

[cousinphil]

Thanks a lot for all the replies. I had no idea it was so involved. Looks like I'm going to live with the wooden wedge for a while.

Phil