While driving my STR on a beautiful spring Texas day, I decided to open the Sun Roof. It opened fine! When it was time to close it, it cycles shut then went to the open in the pack position. While it was doing this I heard all sorts of crunching sounds. When it stopped in the position where the panel was all the way up in the back, it would no longer move.

I immediately ran to my lap top and searched all references in this forum to stuck sun roofs on S-types. Lots of good information about resetting the sun roof, but nothing helped to get it closed.

This morning I pulled out the glass panel and investigated what might have gone wrong.

Turns out that the plastic slides in the runners have their slide tabs broken off. It looks to me like cheap crappy plastic parts, that have gone brittle and broken!

I was able to get the slides into the closed postion, and bolt the glass panel back in place.

The big question is. Are new plastic pieces available to repair assembly?
I read in the forum that you can only purchase a complete new assembly or purchase a used one. True? I don't want another used one because it will probably have the same problem in the not so distant future.

Ideas?

 

The parts are not available.

See the X308 section for multiple threads about this. Well known problem for X308 owners.

 

Whoa that sucks. Is there a way to prevent it then?

 

Probably keep the rails clean but lubricated. Lots of grit gets in there.

 

Yet another reason not to regularly open the moonroof. The harmonic distortion in the cabin at speeds over 35 mph has always been extremely annoying in our 2005 S-Type whenever the moonroof is open, so we just leave it closed. I open it to clean the tracks and check for proper rainwater drainage, but that's about it....

 

usually I will have it to where the back is up as it seems to help draw air from the cabin

 

I wonder if the Ford side could provide parts?

Just had another thought? When I was in the SHO world Ford stopped suppling any Moonroof parts. We found out that Webasto was the original supplier and also supply Moonroofs to many different manufactures. Someone contacted Webasto and we were able to get the lifter arms (Which I think is what broke on you?).

Might be worth a call?

http://www.webasto.us/home/en/html/homepage.html
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Hey Man I Have A 03 Str Parts Car With A Damaged Roof ...Give Me A Shout..

 

That's a BIG +1 to tbird6 - same deal here with my 2000 S Type - I experienced a broken sight shield and I was told "no parts are available" and the entire assembly will need to be replaced - $1,500+ I ordered a replacement sight shield from Webasto via their online order form for $10.69 + shipping. It took 2 weeks to get it but it was an exact fit!

Check this service part listing below - it's worth a try:

http://www.techwebasto.com/sunroof_m...04300-5300.pdf

 

Abonano! Fantastic link to the service part listing for the sunroof. I'll look into trying to order some parts ASAP.

Thanks.

Joe

 

Thanks for that link, I'm going to add this thread to the "How To" section so it doesn't get lost.

 

That's great news!!

How did you figure out which model was installed in the S Type? I did not know how to find the correct unit.
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I searched the Webasto web site for an online order form, or a way to order spare parts from them and couldn't find anything.

I wrote them on their contact form and they wrote back to contact one of their authorized dealers/installers.

Can you post the link to the way you ordered your parts?

Thanks.

 

tbird6 - I wasn't going to accept the fact I would have to shell out big $$$ to replace my entire sunroof assembly. I know that many of the major auto outfits (GM, Ford, Chrysler) sub out certain parts to other manufacturers for installation in their vehicles.

I performed extensive google research last year (I put the ford part number in for the sight shield) and found out about Webasto - dug further in Webasto with the part number - minus the Ford prefix and found that this is the sunroof model that the S Type/Lincoln LS has - even when the replacement part arrived - the actual part number was the same - minus the usual Ford "prefix" and like I said before - the part was an exact fit.

I guess Ford cannot "stock" the parts under the Ford label since the sunroof assembly is actually not a Ford part... Such as "Hurst" parts installed on GM vehicles...but then again, why stock parts when you can force an unsuspecting owner to dump $ in replacing the whole assembly... not us!

 

UPDATE - Found it!

You have to order the parts through the "Sunroof Doctor" - They are an authorized Webasto service parts provider:

http://www.sunroofdoctor.com/

Use their Fax Order form - Here:

http://www.sunroofdoctor.com/orderform.htm

Be sure to list Lincoln LS as the vehicle type and Webasto as the sunroof brand - if they give you issues - just tell them to send you the part you listed.

List the part number and description as listed from the PDF - leave the price blank - they will fill that in.

Be patient - it will take a few weeks to get the part(s) but you'll save $$$ in the end...

Hope this helps....

 

I ordered a track repair kit. They show exactly all the parts I need! About $130 with shipping. What you need is listed under the Lincoln LS sunroof.

Once I receive the kit, I am dreading the work it will take to remove the head-liner, remove the sunroof assembly and rebuilt the unit.

Another project for another day...

 

Has anyone actually done this yet. I just ordered a kit also for my 2001 S Type.

I may document the procedure when I get ready to do this later in the summer.

 

Please do if you can!! Pictures are always great.

Maybe you could just drop the head liner down and not remove it from the car? Of course you could kink the head liner that way too.
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I purchase the parts, but taking on this project is very low on my list ofr car repairs. I am not looking forward to dropping the head liner

 

Hi Abonano,
have the same problem with my (ex-US) 2005 S-Type. Tried to get parts via Webasto in Germany and from the Sunroof Doctor, but both without any result!
Can now buy a complete sunroof from a pre-2002 car, but the partslist shows a different number for the early S-Types.
Do you know/think it will fit, or can I exchange the slider components?

Appreciate your advise in this.