Does anyone know of any preventative maintenance, or cleaning that can be performed on a sunroof's mechanical portion to keep it working well? I hadn't ever opened mine since my car was purchased in January, 2011. I had read somewhere that you should use things on a Jaguar, rather than not.

I drove it last Sunday, and pulled over and tried everything to be sure things were working. I got lucky, and in the future I will be turning things on to keep them operational hopefully.

Thank you for your time, Louis

 

I'm not sure about the Jags sunroof but I know with my other sunroofs on my other cars I use white lithium grease. I open the roof completely, inspect the cable, apply the white lithium grease on the cable closest to the opened roof. Afterwards I open and close the roof a few times to get the grease spread on the cables. So far it has not failed me yet. Good luck Chris

 

One piece of advice I picked up from a veteran specialist in convert tops and sunroofs was to apply liquid silicone to the exterior lining of the sunroof and to never open a roof when the interior is cold.

He also was not too keen on white lithium grease on the tracks. He said lubricating the weatherstripping was far more important.

for what it's worth.

 

As a general rule, whether for the sunroof, windows, exterior mirrors, seats, or any motorized items the best preventive maintenance is simple: use them regularly.

This means even if you don't use them "as intended." Some never use any of these things and are amazed when they freeze up, which is the most common type of failure. If you at least open/close, raise/lower, adjust them quickly once a month they tend to keep going and going and going.

In the case of the X308 the whole "adjusting the mirrors and driver's seat and steering" routine is even more simple than in other cars since simply locking and unlocking with the fob sets all of these back to where you actually want them.

 

I have a 2000 Mustang that I purchased in Oct. 1999. I took it directly to my tops guys who put in a Webasto aftermarket sunroof. I have yet had a mechanical failure with the electronic switch, opening or closing. So, I can only speak for my personal experience of having the sunroof for 13 years and still functioning. I have an '06 Chrysler 300C, purchased it in Nov '05. No issues with that sunroof either. My '01 BMW 740i, same story. I can only say that the white lithium grease has worked for me. I will contact my tops guy tomorrow if I get a chance and see if there has been a new school of thought on the maintenance and upkeep of the roofs. Guyslp was absolutely correct in the key is to keep using the roofs and other moving electronic products to avoid freeze ups.

 

As with anything....it always works better with regular exercise....including us ;o))
The sunroof along with all electric windows should be used at least once week.

I have found the best thing to use is clear silicon spray with the plastic tube attached, a well aimed spray at the pivot points and slider tracks.
I spray some silicon into a litle cup and use an artists brush to dab lube in hard to get areas.

Pivot up the roof which gives you access to all the pivot points.
Then open roof fully and clean and lube the slider tracks and anti buffeter mechanism.
Using a strong torch and looking into the rear of the opening you can see the opening cables and pointing the plastic tube in there will lube them as well.
Spray silicon onto a cloth and wipe all around the roof seal.
While you there, make sure the drain tubes don't have any foreign matter in them.
Little bit of regular maintanance and a work out will see it last for years ;o)

Same applies to windows, including lubing the window runners with silicon.
I used a specially chopped of screwdriver with a cloth wrapped over it to run up and down the runners to clean them and lube as well.
It's always the drivers window that wears out first because the others are raerly used.

As an aside, you will find the same silicon spray ( I use CRC ) is good to wipe over the door seals....which should be like a dog's wet nose to feel.
Also helps to stop seals sticking in very cold weather.