Here you can get Fitting a Sunroof. Installing a sunroof in your vehicle can increase its value and make the driving experience that far more pleasant. However, installing an aftermarket sunroof is an thorough and extensive job that needs specialized skills and tools, so it’s going to not be a viable option for many hobby mechanics.
Remember that cutting a hole in your roof may end in leaks which will cause damage to the inside of your vehicle. Installing an aftermarket sunroof also will void any warranty you’ll wear the vehicle.
What Is a Sunroof?
A sunroof may be a panel on the roof of a car that either slides back or are often taken bent allow light, air or both to return into a vehicle.
According to a sunroof was traditionally an opaque panel that matched the colour of the car’s body. Drivers could tilt it open or remove it completely. But, an opaque, movable sunroof isn’t commonly sold on vehicles anymore, MotorTrend says.
Fitting a Sunroof to Your Vehicle
Choose a type of sunroof to install
There are a number of different options in aftermarket sunroofs. you’ll got to choose a kind of sunroof so as to determine the size you would like and therefore the budget you’ve got to figure with. crop up sunroofs are often the least expensive, while fully automatic sunroofs usually cost the foremost.
- crop up sunroofs cannot slide open. Instead, the rear of the sunroof pops up with a hinge on the front.
- Some sunroofs are often slide backward by hand without having to get an upscale electronic sunroof.
- Electronic sunroofs use motors to open and shut and may be purchased to slip open, pop open, or both.
Measure the flat part of the roof of your vehicle
The size of the sunroof you’ll purchase depends on the amount of completely flat space on the roof of your vehicle. Measure from left to right until the roof begins to curve down towards the windows, then measure from front to back within the same manner.
- While it’s possible to mount a sunroof that extends into the curved area of the roof, it would require custom bodywork to accomplish.
- Write down the size of the flat area of you roof to assist you choose a sunroof kit that might fit.
Purchase a sunroof kit that would fit on your vehicle
Armed with the maximum dimensions for a sunroof your vehicle could support, go online and find a sunroof kit that mixes the type of sunroof you would like with the size you need to suit on your vehicle. Choose a sunroof that’s a minimum of an in. smaller than the maximum dimensions to make sure you’ve got no issues with fitment.
- you’ll find sunroof kits for many vehicle applications at www.Webasto.com, www.TGautomotive.com or www.summitracing.com
- search for an entire kit that has weather proofing, template, and wiring if you buy an electronic sunroof.
Cover the top of your roof with masking tape
Masking tape will protect the paint on your roof from being damaged as you position the sunroof template over it and start the drilling and cutting process. The tape will keep the paint from cracking or tearing as you narrow through it. this may prevent you from having to repaint the top of the vehicle upon the completion of the project.
- Painters tape also will work for this purpose.
- don’t use tape or the other strong adhesive tape or it’s going to leave a residue or damage the paint when removed.
Place the sunroof template over the tape
The sunroof kit will come with a rubber template you’ll use to determine where exactly you would like to possess the sunroof positioned once installed. Center it on the roof on top of the masking tape. Measure the space from the front, back and every side to ensure it’s perfectly centered.
- Use a tape to make sure the template is equal distance from all sides of the car.
- counting on the dimensions and style of your vehicle, you’ll want the sunroof closer to the front than the rear of the roof.
Cutting Space for Your Sunroof
Use a razor blade to trace the template
With the rubber template in place, use a razor blade or exacto-knife to trace the template into the masking paper on your roof. Trace it slowly and carefully to make sure you create an exact outline of the template within the tape. you are doing not got to press the blade down hard enough to penetrate the paint through the tape.[6]
- If you press through the tape into the roof, be very careful to not make any mistakes which will damage the paint which will remain after the sunroof install.
- Tracing with a blade rather than a pen will create a groove which will make it easier to chop along the road .
Drill four holes in the roof
Use a 4 millimeter drill bit to drill four holes into the top of the roof. Make each hole about five inches from the corner of the sunroof outline along the traced line you already cut with the razor blade. take care to not get the drill caught within the cloth headliner inside the vehicle.
- Drill these holes very careful to make sure they’re on the road and to not either side of it.
- Remember that drilling holes through the roof is that the point of no return. Once you drill the holes, the roof will leak unless you complete the installation of the sunroof.
Pierce holes in the headliner using the supplied probe
The sunroof kit will come with a supplied 4 millimeter probe to use to penetrate the cloth headliner beneath the roof. Press the probe down through the drilled holes then through the headliner. These holes will serve as your guide when cutting the headliner within the next step.
- If your kit didn’t accompany a supplied probe, use a sharp object to pierce the material of the headliner.
- take care to pierce the headliner rather than tearing it.
Cut a hole in the headliner
Use a sharp pair of scissors or a craft knife to cut the headliner inside the vehicle, using the four holes as a guide. take care to not tear the headliner while doing so. Once there’s a hole within the headliner, remove any sound proofing or insulation between where it had been and therefore the metal of the roof.
- If you tear the headliner, it’ll need to be replaced.
- you’ll got to use a razor blade to cut any sound proofing or insulation above the headliner also .
Enlarge one of the four holes in the roof with a drill
Using a larger drill bit than previously used, enlarge one of the four holes within the roof enough to fit a sheet metal nibbler tool in. you’ll also use a file to enlarge the opening . take care to enlarge it without drilling or filing past the surface of the traced template for the sunroof, otherwise that portion will leak after the sunroof is installed.
- Use the nibbler tool to assess how large you’ll got to make the opening so as to suit it in.
- don’t drill or file past the traced outline of the sunroof.
Cut along the traced line with a nibbler tool
Insert the sheet nibbler tool into the enlarged hole within the roof, then slowly and careful cut along the traced line within the roof. Keep the blades of the nibbler precisely within the groove you created with the razor blade, but it’s okay if you narrow into the middle portion of the outline.[11]
- Cut very slowly to make sure you stay along the traced line. The lines must be straight so as for the sunroof to mount properly.
- Take breaks if you would like to so as to make sure you’re ready to still cut slowly and carefully.
Remove the cut out metal and clean up the edges
Once you’ve got cut along the outline entirely, put on a pair of heavy duty gloves and take away the sheet that you simply cut out from the roof. Be very careful, as the metal could also be quite sharp. Inspect the hole you cut and make sure you removed all of the metal inside the traced area.
- If there are any small portions of metal left inside the traced area, use the nibbler tool to trim them off now.
- Be very careful when trimming the sides to not dig the roof beyond the outline.
Installing the Sunroof
Remove the masking tape and file down any rough edges
With the cutting complete, you’ll now remove all of the masking tape you layered onto the roof of the car. Once done, inspect the opening you cut and use a metal file to file down any jagged edges sticking out as a results of the cutting. take care not to damage the remaining paint with the file.
- File the sides until the hole’s lines are all straight and free from burrs or jagged bits of metal sticking out.
- take care to not damage the paint on the roof of the vehicle now that the masking tape is removed.
Apply primer and clear coat to the newly exposed metal
The metal surrounding the opening you cut in the roof are going to be susceptible to rust with none form of protection. Purchase a small bottle of primer and apply it to any visible metal in and round the hole. Allow the primer to dry completely, then do the same with the clear coat.
- The primer and clear coat won’t be visible once the sunroof is installed, but it’ll prevent rust from forming beneath it.
- Check the label on the primer and clear coat to know how long to let each dry before moving on to subsequent step.
Apply weather sealing to the frame and drop it in place
Remove the weather sealing trim from the sunroof kit and put it on the sunroof frame if it doesn’t close . The weather seal are going to be adhesive, so peel the duvet off of it then stick to around the perimeter of rock bottom of the frame. Then place the frame into the newly cut hole in your roof, weather seal down.
- If the weather seal came attached to the frame, simple drop the frame into place.
- take care to not move the frame around once in situ or it’s going to damage the paint on the roof.
- Electronic sunroofs may contain the sunroof itself as a part of the outer frame.
Slide the inner frame into place
From inside the car, slide the inner frame into place with the outer frame. Use the supplied screws to secure the two together. Screwing the inner and outer frames together will secure the front hinges and the rear latch on non-electronic sunroofs. If your sunroof is electronic, you’ll got to run the wiring from the inner frame above the headliner and into the A-pillar to succeed in the fuse box near the driver’s side seat.
- If you would like to run wires above the headliner, you’ll likely got to remove it completely. you’ll got to purchase and install a replacement headliner.
- Once you’ve run the wiring down through the A-pillar of your car, wire it into the fuse box the same way you’d wire during a car stereo.
Apply adhesive to the headliner where you cut it
To make sure the headliner doesn’t hang loose around the new sunroof, you’ll got to glue it back to place. Apply the adhesive strips provided within the sunroof kit to the underside of the roof above the headliner, then press the headliner up into the strips. take care to press the headliner into the strips evenly to avoid creating wrinkles within the headliner.
- take care when applying the adhesive strips. they’re not intended to be applied and removed again, so take some time .
- Trying to tug the headliner from the strips once it’s in place will likely tear the headliner.
Slip the rubber finishing trim into place
Once the headliner is glued down, make sure you stop any remaining bits of cloth that hang around then slide the finishing trim into place over it. This finishing trim is usually applied with adhesive, but could also be held in situ with screws instead counting on the kit you buy.
- This finishing trim doesn’t increase the seal, but rather just makes the sides of the sunroof look good from inside the vehicle.
- take care if applying the trim with adhesive, because it isn’t designed to be removed again once in place.
Install the glass sunroof
Place the glass sunroof vertically on the hinges at the front of the hole. Slip the hinge tags on the sunroof into the hinges on the installed frame and make sure the lip of the glass is positioned outside the lip of the seal. Keep pressure on the hinges as you lower the glass into place, closing the sunroof.
- make sure the hinges stay connected and are engaged once the sunroof is in situ , otherwise it’ll not be ready to open properly.
- confirm the glass fits properly within the frame and doesn’t leave any gaps
Connect the manual or electronic latches
If your sunroof is electronic, the glass sunroof itself may are pre-installed within the outer frame once you put it in place. If it’s not electronic, open the manual bracket handle and slip the sunroof toggle into it. Pivot the handle back down to close and seal the sunroof.
- Test a manual latch by opening it. the rear of the sunroof should pop up.
- Start the vehicle and test the buttons on the frame to make sure electronic sunroofs are powered properly.
