The clearcoat is peeling off the sides of my sunroof (1989 CRX Si), it's rusting up front (covered it w/electical tape ) and the trim around the sunroof is f'd up. Should I buy new parts from hondaautomotiveparts.com? The panel is like $165 and the trim is about $40 I think. Then I'd go somewhere and have it painted, installed, etc.

Does anybody else have similar problems with their sunroof? Anyone have any ideas about how much it would cost for paint/install? Any other suggestions? This is the only REAL cosmetic problem my car has, aside from dents/dings/scratches, all small.

Thanks in advance -

Alex

 

just get rid of it. unless you really like it.

 

I noticed that the Si Hatches had glass sunroofs (or maybe just the ones that I've seen?) Wouldn't surprise me if they were the same size....though they're probably not...but something worth looking into if you're going to buy new parts anyways.

 

yeah I looked into switching out to glass and it's not going to happen...they'd apparently need to build a whole new frame.

I think my best solution may be to go with a fiberglass plug, for $100. Easy enough. If anyone has experience with this please contact me ASAP; Ricedice@hotmail.com.

Thanks again,

Alex

 

Well, if the difference between the fiberglass and the real deal is only about $150 (including paint), I'd vote for the real deal. I got a new one when my car was repainted; the parts were about $200, like you quoted.

Of course, I couldn't deal without a functioning sunroof (that's why there's no WRX parked outside of my apt), so that's why my vote goes to OE. If you don't care, plug it! Someone was working on a c/f one, which could shave tons of grams from the weight.

You're right about the glass, btw: people have been asking that question for as long as these forums have been around, and it's just not gonna happen (unfortunately).

 

just get rid of it, it does nothing but soften the car

 

And putting a fiberglass plug in there would stiffen up the shell?

Unless you're going to weld in sheetmetal or do some crossbracing, it's kind of hard to get it as stiff as a dx or hf. Kinda like getting someone unpregnant; the damage is already done.

 

did I say to put fiberglass in it NO I did not. all I ment is a sunroof weakens the car and to lets say take it out put sheetmetal in and put two crossbars under the sunroof going from one side to the other. this will stiffen the car.

 

You're right - should not have bitten off your head. Sorry!

But, he seems to be looking for low-buck options that will keep his car looking stock-ish, and fixing the sunroof hole seems to be not the direction in which he would want to go, IMHO.

 

Well, you're right, to a point...I do want to keep the car looking stock-ish...however, I rarely use the sunroof. When I do, it's late at night. NEVER in the daytime.

So honestly, the fiberglass plug is an option - but this is only if it's watertight. Because the car sits outside 24/7, so I don't want any leaks.

The fiberglass plug is cheaper, too...I find it hard for myself to justify spending what will probably come out to at least $400 after parts, labor (including install) for a car that I bought as a toy, for $2100.

I don't know!!!

Oh, and the carbon-fiber one that someone was working on was actually going to be a replacement for just the panel - not a plug - so the sunroof would still be functional. Would have looked cool, but not saved much weight at all...besides, I think that they weren't able to make it work, because of the strength requirements that couldn't be met by the way they were making it...or something like that.

Thanks for the help guys, keep suggestions/advice coming

Alex


[Modified by Quik89Si, 5:58 PM 7/22/2002]

 

Well, you could save some money by installing the sunroof back yourself. Assuming that the plastic parts are still in decent shape, it's fairly straightforward. It's pretty labor-intensive (meaning you can save a good amount of $$ by doing it yourself). We disassembled one last month and fixed the stops, then put it back on without killing ourselves.

 

Anyone have pictures of a the Fiberglass plug installed?

 

I went through the same thing when painting my car, I bought a used one which was mint according to the seller. All of them have rust under the cover panel.

Get the new roof panel, a new gasket, and the metal trim piece that holds the sunroof gasket, cause trust me they will be rusty too. As for the nuts/screws, you can get them at any ace hardware, the metric sizes are even given to you at hondaautomotive......

The shop wanted 300 to remove/reinstall the roof, so i did it myself. I actually gutted my interior and had all windows removed when my car was painted, so it wasnt a big deal. Oh yeah, and if the plastic stoppers for the tracks are cracked replace them. I had one crack, and eventually it fell off and i had to remove the roof again.

Good luck with whatever u decide.
Steven

 

http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=116958

this don't look too bad.

 

Yeah, i've seen that sunroof before...it was the best idea, or so I thought...I don't remember, I think someone said it won't work for some reason or another, and the price of installation would be HUGE b/c they'd need to cut a new hole in the roof, and take out all the rails and crap that are in there now.

Alex

 

Oh yeah, that's why it won't work...because the CRX sunroof is larger than either one of those sizes! The CRX's hole in the roof measures to like 18-19" wide and 37" across.

I wish it would work though!!!

Alex

 

How about a sliding rag? Like the old vw beetles used to have (some did).
It cost around 300bucks, plus installation.

 

Um, the sliding rag idea is...original...but what happens when the car gets wet? I'd rather have something...harder. I have seen those before, and they always confused me. For some reason I don't think it would flow too well on a CRX. But thanks for the suggestions!

Alex

 

ok,ok maybe you should PROOFREAD your posts before you post them dude

seriously , it isnt even english

 

Anyone need full glass roof from JDM CRX??