2000 Outback rear Sun roof Shade off Tracks

[lmdew]

The sun roof works but the shade is off the tracks.  Can I get it back on without dropping the headliner?

 

Thanks, Larry

[gbhrps]

Larry,

 

Having totally removed and repaired several sunroof assemblies, including the dual one in a 04 OBW LTD, I know of what you speak. It isn't hard to remove the headliner and the sunroof asembly from any car, but it is a lot of work.

 

You may find that you can get the headliner down enough to get at your problem, if you remove the following.

 

Pull both front and rear opening moldings.

 

Remove the overhead assist straps, center overhead courtesy light, and the 4 flat push plugs from the center steel frame between the front and back sunroofs. (From up top of the car, when both roofs are open, look down on the metal section between them for four oblong flat push plugs,pry up their center pins and pull the entire plug up and out.)

 

Pull down the weatherstripping on all four doors from across the top of each door opening to about halfway down the sides of the door openings.

 

Pull the B pillar moldigs straight out towards the center of the car until they release their spring clips. That will allow you to get behind them with a T55 Torx bit to ondo the top seatbelt loop from the B pillar and then toally remove the moldings. You may have to pop the lower B pillar moldings partway off as well.

 

Pull down the round overhead headliner plugs behind the rear sunroof opening.

 

All of this may allow you to pull the headliner enough to get at the sunroof rails and see what you need to do. If not, you only have the other A and C pillar mouldings, sunvisors, front overhead courtesy light, front mirror, rear top tailgate opening moulding, rear tailgate opening courtesy light, and the rear center seatbelt ceiling mount, to pull to entirely remove the headliner out the rear of the car.

 

Some wiring connectors, and about ten 10 mm nuts allow the entire sunroof assemblies to come out of the car, after you disconnect the two scissor assemblies from the front tilt sunroof (their plastic covers over the nuts simply pop off. Don't lose any shims under the bolts.). The front sunroof stays on the car, and doesn't go with the rest of the sunroof assembly.

 

Tip: Keep your hands clean or you'll mark the headliner with dirt and grease. After you clean it off the headliner, the damage to the nap will show up. good Luck!