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General >> Problems >> Sunroof (again!) + control light/keyfob
(Message started by: Mike_Holmes on Sep 18th, 2004, 8:30pm)

Title: Sunroof (again!) + control light/keyfob
Post by Mike_Holmes on Sep 18th, 2004, 8:30pm
Greetings,

I've discovered there's no Haynes manual, nor is there likely to be, so I've ended up here...

I've just acquired an Executive 2.0i 16V auto saloon, aubergine colour (classy), 1st registered 1995. It's very nice (I'm comparing it to two BMW's I've had in the past, albeit old ones). Yes the battery cover's missing, so I've temporarily substituted it with a black plastic dustbin bag (somewhere there must be a hoard of used Scorpio battery covers?).

Everything seems to work properly, indeed I got it from a neighbour who has used it for 2 yrs without any problems. However there is one (I thought there were two) irritating niggle...

Firstly I thought that the 'Control Light' (on top front of dashboard under windscreen) wouldn't light at all; as it happens so did the previous owner who therefore wasn't sure if the alarm was working. Cursory examination on my part revealed it's not a bulb, but a light emitting diode. All it is, though, that it's so dim you can't see it properly except in the dark! It lights for 3 secs after turning on the ignition (correctly, a different sequence indicating a fault), also after locking to indicate the alarm is on, so that seems to be alright.

The sunroof is the manual winder type. It tilts up OK but won't slide, presumably because the back edge has to come down below the roof top panel to do so, but it locks solid before getting that far. I read elsewhere about the seal surround (too big to go through the 'ole?) - I'm guessing originally it was flexible but has gone hard with age. Has anybody tried shaving a bit off the edges? Without letting the rain in of course...

As a personal note I can just remember some of the slagging off the Scorpio got at its introduction, like the 'smiley face' front end being a big turn-off. However I DO remember Quentin Wilson then citing it as a good 2nd hand buy years later! I particularly like the minimalist approach to badging - all it gives away is that it's a Ford. Then you have to get somewhat closer to read 'Scorpio' in small writing on the rear doors. Beyond that, the casual observer is kept guessing...

Yes I also found horrible black gunge in the keyfob! Some sort of grease I think. Wasn't working to start with; I cleaned it out with switch cleaner. The contacts appear to be gold plated so shouldn't need that much protection. Have to say though the buttons could be better and need a bit of fiddling to make sure they go down staying 'flat'. And of course it has to be re-recognised by the car (the handbook calls it 'learning') after the batteries are disturbed.

Title: Re: Sunroof (again!) + control light/keyfob
Post by Goldwinger on Sep 19th, 2004, 3:28pm
The electric sunroof on my 24v has the same prob. If I push it down at the back it will go back. I tryed to tap the rubber back with a block of wood it worked fine for a week or so than it went back to its old self. All rubber on my car seems to getting past its prime, the door seal ripped in the frost last year.

Title: Re: Sunroof (again!) + control light/keyfob
Post by Mike_Holmes on Sep 20th, 2004, 8:11pm
Thanks for that, that's what I suspected, that the back edge must descend. All genuine rubber perishes with age which suggests what the seal is made of. I'll try the 'tapping with a block of wood' to see if I can get it to work, if only to prove a point.

Title: Re: Sunroof (again!) + control light/keyfob
Post by SaveTheNight on Sep 20th, 2004, 9:54pm
Hi Mike ..be careful with the block of wood ..the roof as you say tends to stick ..and the arms inside do rust quite badly ..they are thin and can be fairly easily damaged by prying and forcing ..but are quite widely adjustable if you can persevere gently and get it moving .. the seal IS a seal ..of course ..but water does go through even when new but it dispersed through corner drain holes in the " dish " part of the sunroof aperture .. always make sure the holes are free of debris all the way down to the front and rear sills with a length of " curtain wire" .. its more important than the seal itself which is more of a draft seal and water deterrent < rather than actual seal > ..  hth  ...regards .....STN



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