I need to make a sunroof cable more flexible!
Discussion
Hello there, thanks for looking at this. Perhaps you can help with an issue I have had for some time now.
I have an elderly 450SLC, and am in the process of trying to put a new sunroof cable in. I have managed to finally remove the old one and am trying to put the new one back in. I thought the sunroof cable tube was at fault, perhaps blocked, but I now think that not the case, and the below is my issue.
For those unfamiliar the old Mercedes sunroof works via a toothed motor in the boot through which is fed a steel cable with another wire wrapped around it which provides the teeth into which that motor links. That steel cable runs through an aluminium tube running from the boot, up the c-pillar to the front of the sunroof aperture. This tube turns at 90 degrees twice, at the top of the c-pillar, and in the middle of the back of the roof where it turns towards the centre front of the car.
Here's my issue. I have to feed the new cable in from the front back towards the boot. The new cable I have is perfectly flexible, as you'd expect, so can easily bend through 90 degrees EXCEPT the first 5 inches or so of the cable, which are perfectly stiff. This of course means there's no chance of my pushing it through the tube as the end of the cable simply won't bend through those two 90 degree points...it simply reaches the first and refuses to go any further - it cannot negotiate the bend.
What's the best way to get some flex in the end of the cable please? I am imagining getting 2 pairs of pliers and repeatedly bending it but that seems like very slow going and may wear the coiling on the cable. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks ever so much.
I have an elderly 450SLC, and am in the process of trying to put a new sunroof cable in. I have managed to finally remove the old one and am trying to put the new one back in. I thought the sunroof cable tube was at fault, perhaps blocked, but I now think that not the case, and the below is my issue.
For those unfamiliar the old Mercedes sunroof works via a toothed motor in the boot through which is fed a steel cable with another wire wrapped around it which provides the teeth into which that motor links. That steel cable runs through an aluminium tube running from the boot, up the c-pillar to the front of the sunroof aperture. This tube turns at 90 degrees twice, at the top of the c-pillar, and in the middle of the back of the roof where it turns towards the centre front of the car.
Here's my issue. I have to feed the new cable in from the front back towards the boot. The new cable I have is perfectly flexible, as you'd expect, so can easily bend through 90 degrees EXCEPT the first 5 inches or so of the cable, which are perfectly stiff. This of course means there's no chance of my pushing it through the tube as the end of the cable simply won't bend through those two 90 degree points...it simply reaches the first and refuses to go any further - it cannot negotiate the bend.
What's the best way to get some flex in the end of the cable please? I am imagining getting 2 pairs of pliers and repeatedly bending it but that seems like very slow going and may wear the coiling on the cable. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks ever so much.
Edited by paulyv on Wednesday 22 February 17:40
E-bmw said:
If you repeatedly bend something inflexible it will work harden & break.
Is it possible to use the car's own motor to move it in?
This is exactly why I ask these questions.Is it possible to use the car's own motor to move it in?
I cannot use the motor as I have to go in from the front of the car and feed it back towards the motor.
You have probably tried it, but I thought I would ask...
The outer winding, that gives the toothed effect, is wound on like a spiral. Is the rest of the cable strong enough for you to twist this through the tube? - so the inner cable screws itself through the corners?
(insert picture of you spinning the sunroof over your head as you try twist the cable and push it in)
The outer winding, that gives the toothed effect, is wound on like a spiral. Is the rest of the cable strong enough for you to twist this through the tube? - so the inner cable screws itself through the corners?
(insert picture of you spinning the sunroof over your head as you try twist the cable and push it in)
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
It's a good idea - essentially seeing if the motor can do the work, but 2 reasons why it would appear not to be possible. Firstly I don't think the motor has it in it to get the cable around the corner if that cable isn't flexible enough. Secondly I would have to feed all the cable through the motor and about an eighth of it is a straight steel bar which is welded to the cable and fits into the actual sunroof, so it has to be fed from the front of the car back, with that solid section never really going into the tube at all.
SL Shop sell new cables, but as it turns out even they say it is a days work, which suggests the headlining has to come down. I'll ask elsewhere as to how I might remove that without ruining it!
It's a good idea - essentially seeing if the motor can do the work, but 2 reasons why it would appear not to be possible. Firstly I don't think the motor has it in it to get the cable around the corner if that cable isn't flexible enough. Secondly I would have to feed all the cable through the motor and about an eighth of it is a straight steel bar which is welded to the cable and fits into the actual sunroof, so it has to be fed from the front of the car back, with that solid section never really going into the tube at all.
SL Shop sell new cables, but as it turns out even they say it is a days work, which suggests the headlining has to come down. I'll ask elsewhere as to how I might remove that without ruining it!
paulyv said:
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
It's a good idea - essentially seeing if the motor can do the work, but 2 reasons why it would appear not to be possible. Firstly I don't think the motor has it in it to get the cable around the corner if that cable isn't flexible enough. Secondly I would have to feed all the cable through the motor and about an eighth of it is a straight steel bar which is welded to the cable and fits into the actual sunroof, so it has to be fed from the front of the car back, with that solid section never really going into the tube at all.
SL Shop sell new cables, but as it turns out even they say it is a days work, which suggests the headlining has to come down. I'll ask elsewhere as to how I might remove that without ruining it!
Try signing up to benzworl.org. Plenty of knowledgeable home mechanics there.It's a good idea - essentially seeing if the motor can do the work, but 2 reasons why it would appear not to be possible. Firstly I don't think the motor has it in it to get the cable around the corner if that cable isn't flexible enough. Secondly I would have to feed all the cable through the motor and about an eighth of it is a straight steel bar which is welded to the cable and fits into the actual sunroof, so it has to be fed from the front of the car back, with that solid section never really going into the tube at all.
SL Shop sell new cables, but as it turns out even they say it is a days work, which suggests the headlining has to come down. I'll ask elsewhere as to how I might remove that without ruining it!
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff