Can't get sunroof trim panel to come forward enough to engage locking pins

[tomstin]

I removed the sunroof to replace the gasket and paint the sunroof as the paint was down to bare metal. As you would expect, I found some rust to deal with along with dirt and grease buildup in the tracks and on the cable. I also removed the sunroof trim panel along with the lift mechanism to remove the 35+ years of dirt. My point, everything was removed.

I get the mechanism back together, adjust the sunroof, everything appears to be opening, closing and tilting as expected. The motion is smooth.

As I tried to pull the trim panel forward I'm about an inch and a half short of being forward enough. It feels like it's hitting something in the back. The pins are low enough to move past the sunroof cross piece.

With the roof tilted, the trim moves forward and back without and binding. I can move it far enough to be able to tilt the back up to catch the shaft that lifts the back on tilt. But on tilt, I can move the front forward enough to lock into place.

I've tried various position, forward and back, looking for a "sweet spot" with no joy.

I've walked away several times to avoid loosing my patience and breaking something.

Any tricks?

[tomstin]

Maybe this will help the next person.

After walking away multiple times and the 30th or 40th try, I got it to latch correctly. I referred back to Mister Bentley and followed the directions PRECISELY... with the sunroof closed "Pull the sunroof trim panel as far forward as possible. While holding the rear of the trim panel up, open the sunroof slightly to engage the trim panel onto the rear guide pin."

I hope I don't have to work on the sunroof again!

[cory58]

Thanks for the follow-up!