hey everyone i've just picked up an 88 na that needs a few things to get running (hopefully nothing major) plan on keeping this one a rotary, but while im waiting on parts for that i have been cleaning it and trying to button up all the lil nuisances with the car,

i've noticed that the sunroof wasn't really working too well, so i took it off and realized that the passenger side cable has been broken but i have no idea how to get it removed from the actual track, its literally broke so i can move it by hand i just need to know how to get the old one off and where i could get a new one? thanks in advance

 

take the whole thing out of the car(entire assembly) it drops into the car. and you can only get a NEW one from mazda and they want $200 a pop, FOR A CABLE!!! i got lucky and found a guy on here who sold me both cables, motor, tracks, and drive unit(what the cables ride in) for a steal. one you drop the whole thing, basically if you see a screw, take it out. pop the headliner off the roof itself to get to 6 10mm nuts. take them off to remove roof panel. remove motor, remove drive unit(the tubes the cables run through), then take tracks off(about 8 screws or more per side). disassemble tracks, slide cables out. install is reverse.

 

youve got those other parts on the way from me,ive also got a sunroof assembly,i might sell parts off it,i will let you know steve

 

Check ebay as well, I picked up a whole new assembly for my GXL for like $160 shipped, and that was to Hawaii from the mainland. It was a few years ago though. It all bolts up from the inside. To get to the bolts you have to remove the trim, its not too bad a job though, just get someone to help you when you put it in cause its a bitch to get all lined up.

 

ive already got the sunroof out of the car and the panels off i was just starting at the broken cable wondering how to disconnect it from where it attaches to the sunroof frame , lol thats retarded expensive for a new cable i guess ill have to find a used assembly, southsidecox you have pm

 

I Have sunroof problems as well. I lubed it to death today trying to get it to work without assist. But unfortunately I was unable to do so. So I guess I will have to pull mine out as well.

 

been there done that. pulled my sunroof apart and found one side the cabe was corroded into the tube. i got parts at cost, so about 150 for the tube and cable and she was working again.

best way is to get a assembly from a junkyard and take it all apart and greese the cables and tubes.

 

Thanks for the tip. I'm just sitting here wondering how hard it is to get out because i am a new 7 owner. I am learning everyday. My alternator went yesterday so i went and bought a new one and didnt realize there was a 1 inch washer on the back until i tried installing the new one. So Now i have to find that piece because it didnt come on the new alternator. But i guess thats just a part of learning.

 

its not hard. pull off both a-pillars, upper windshield trim piece, rear headliner trim piece, just pop the top few clips that hold the big rear trim pieces, take out the headliner screws(i think just 6, 3 per side, black plastic ones). slide headliner out towards rear of car.

theres about 10-12 10mm nuts holding the assembly up there. id start with the rear ones, near the motor. leave the ones in the corners of the roof for last.

now if u had left the roof panel on you could just hold the assembly up with one hand and loosen the last nuts and drop her into the car, might be a little harder with out it, but if youve got a buddy itd be easy.

then follow steps i mentioned above for replacing cables/drive unit(its easy once youve got it in front of you).

i did this by myself in the driveway. had the same issue as J5sense, driver cable was rusted/gunked into the drive unit tube...not cool.