[Marblehead]

Removing the sunroof headliner can be done but it's tricky. I've removed them from my car and from yard cars a few times. The sunroof panel will have to be removed, not a biggy. Remove it from the inside of the car, too many mechanicals to pass thru if trying to remove it from the outside.

The only way to get the headliner out is to slide it back forward, so it's almost closed. Pull down on the front center which will pull the edges out of the tracks. BE CAREFUL!! Do not pull without paying close attention to teh edges. There are black clamp clips that hold the headliner material to the structural material. If the headliner is not removed carefully these clips can snag on the rail and rip the headliner.

After the front corners are out of the rails (the thing will look like it's going to break but it's very resilient), continue to work the edges back. I've found it easiest to remove both sides from the tracks simultaniously. The trickest part is removing the back edge with the up-turned lip.

After both sides have been pulled from the tracks, pull the entire headliner forward a bit. This will bring that up-turned part into the open sunroof hole rather than concealed under the roofline. Rack (push one side of the headliner forward while the other side stays stationary) the headliner and work one side out of the track. Re-installing can be easier.

Yeah, removing the entire assembly is an option but I didn't want to deal with removing the sealant, applying new sealent and possibly creating a leak.

If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.
Scott

 

[Marblehead]

I already figured out how to get the donor liner off, doing it your way. My issue is how to get it installed into my car. Have you actually reinstalled one just by jimmying it in?

Leslie,
Yeah, install is basically the reverse of removal. The trickest part here is getting that up-turned back edge into the track first. I've done that part from inside as well. If you look at the headliner you will notice it has a curve/bow built into it. You want to work with this bow, not against it. The headliner material is on the concave surface of this bow, so naturally you want to bend it in that direction. This mostly pertains to that up-turned area along the back edge, the flat surface can be bent more freely. Attempting to bow that back edge against it's natural shape could mean the risk of damage or breakage.

Install one of the edges of the headliner (entire edge, not just a corner) into the track, left or right side. Push on the headliner so it bows upwards towards the roof. You don't have to bow it all that much, just enough to allow the edge of the headliner to clear the track. Once the edge of the headliner has cleared the outer lip of the track you should be able to release it and have the edge of the headliner snap into the track.

Most likely all of the edge will not seat properly on the first try. It will probably be hung up on one or two of those black clamps on the edges of the headliner. This is where you step to the outside of the car and with one hand push down on the center, or off center and justified to the side which you are working on, of the headliner (from outside the car to bow the panel towards the interior), with the other hand work the edge of the headliner, will probably be one of the front corners, by pushing that area upwards.

Install, to me, always feels safer than removal. You don't have to worry about those black clamps catching on the tracks and ripping the headliner material. Just don't let frustration take over, that's when bad things occur.

Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Scott

 

[Marblehead]

Scott,Got you. Not too sure what you mean by working it from the top and pushing down from the outside, wouldn't the metal sunroof itself be in the way?

Oh, I was assuming you had the sunroof panel removed. It's actually easier to do all this with the metal panel off the car. Removing the panel itself takes only a couple minutes....UNLESS you have an aftermarket wind deflector, one of those black plastic shields that adhere to the roof. It's impossible to remove the sunroof panel with that thing taped to the roof.

After looking at the car again last night I remembered something I left out yesterday. Try this....Install the headliner while you're inside the car. Bend it along it's natural curvature and install the back edges into the tracks first. To do this the headliner will have to be slightly forward of the opening in order to get it to bend enough otherwise that turned up edge would hit the roof line not allowing you to bend it. (The front edge should be covering the light/sunroof controls...be careful of those pointed clips!) Once you have both of the back edges/corners in the track, slide the headliner towards the rear of the car. It will be stiff but it will slide. Now the entire headliner should be within the opening not overhanging the forward edge and covering the light/sunroof controls.

At that point, the rear edges should be in the tracks and both sides will be hanging down into the cabin. With the sunroof panel removed or, at the least, fully open, move to the outside of the car. Use one hand to push down on the headliner, so it bows into the interior, and use your other hand to work the edge into the track. Do the same to the opposite side. You may need to slide the headliner back and forth a little to get it to properly sit into the tracks.

One other question, what about the black clamp things at the front edge that have the pointed tab sticking up? Are those things supposed to snap into something at the front of the roof to secure it?

Those pointed clips on the front edge of the headliner will snap into holes on the bottom front edge of the metal sunroof panel. These clips secure the headliner to the panel so they slide together.

Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
Scott