Keep Your Sunroof Clean and clear

[Whelan]

Sunroof, moonroof. I used to know the difference. Either way, keeping it running well and looking good is a piece many often overlook.We all clean the glass, but what about the other parts inside. The tracks, the body metal folded down, the roofliner on the inside between the metal and fabric, and the rubber surround on the glass.Admit it, once or twice or maybe even all the time it is skipped. Well no more! Here are a few things you can use to help clean things up.The edges of metal can easily be cleaned with a quick wipe of a damp rag and a quick application of wax, it will help keep them clean and free from dust in the long run. No big deal.The rubber surround on the glass could use a shot of Meg's #40 or some similar vinyl rubber cleaner polish to help the seal and edge stay clean and fresh and not dried out and cracked. Again no big deal.For the roof panel area around the pane. Simply get that damp rag and wipe it out. If you drive like I do in the fall with leaves and the roof open, its prety common to find an old leaf or two buried in there. Reach in with your fingers and wipe good. Then apply a simple cleaner either a quick wax on the metal or even some dash protectant. Something to help alleviate dust collection.The tracks are a different story. All that grease and black suity dust stuck together. It not only harms your roof by not making it glide easily, but it also gets noisy and can overtime harm the motor from stressing to open and close over that not so slick surface. Once a year it may be helpful to just take a paper towel, wipe out all the gunk, then with a wet rag or towel, wipe it out again to get all the old grease and dirt out of the tracks and edges. Then apply a little new grease/lube to the tracks and do yourself a favor. Do not apply a lot, only a little, then close the roof and open it. you will have some dirt that was stuck on the wheels still, so wipe out again then reapply the grease/lube and open/close a few times. Your not gonna get it perfect but it will be a lot cleaner than before.On a side note, for all your windows, when it comes time for a good cleaning, lower the windows all the way, get either a small brush or damp rag and wipe back and forth between the felt lined rubber seals at the bottom, then give a quick wipe to the rubber surround on the top and sides. This will keep any rocks or dirt from causing those little scrapes and lines in your window. And when putting your window up again, stop it halfway and wipe the edge clean. Nothing fancy, I was just bored and figured I would throw somethin new on here.

[NibCrom]

Thanks!I'll add this to my spring cleaning list.

[Toasted7]

Information much appreciated!

[waveresponder]

thanks for the information!

[MRCN RCE]

yeah, what they said

[zionzr2]

the difference between "moonroof" and "sunroof"They are often used interchangeably, but one opens and the other does not. As to which opens and which does not, I do not remember.

[dmsween]

You are correct in that they are often used interchangeably but 99% of today's cars have moonroofs. Both sunroofs and moonroofs open. A sunroof has to be opened to let light in and were used back in the 80's and early 90's on BMW's. The panel was body colored. A moonroof is what is common today and has glass instead of the body colored panel so it can let light in without being opened.That's what I've always understood them to be, not like it really matters though cause everything is called a sunroof.Getting back to detailing. I clayed, polished and waxed my car when I got it back in like October and then again a few weeks ago. It looked very clean and nice but my silver didn't pop like I hoped it would. I guess thats just how the paint is. Does anyone else notice that compared to other paint colors or cars. This is my first GM as I had 2 Acura's before.

[VforVIBE]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »Sunroof, moonroof. I wish I had one of those.

[NibCrom]

I don't think the paint on my Vibe "pops" as much as it did on my Alero. And I think several members have actually had problems with paint chipping.

[Whelan]

Thanks for the info on the sun/moon controversy.As for the other question, it could be deemed in another thread but I will answer it here )Tell me the process you used when you say you clayed and waxed it. Did you just clay it and wax or did you wash it properly, then clay, then swirl removal, then polish, then wax? A lot of times the swirl and polish can be put into one product, like Meguiar's #80. Polish is different than wax in that it is a cleaner and gives your paint that deep wet look. Wax simply seals all your efforts in and protects the coatings from UV rays, acid rain, industrial fallout, and the like. Also does the Silver on a Pontiac have any metallic flec in it. Acura's Silver like my Civic did and my Matrix has, contains a metallic flec that when looked at shimmers. If it is a flat paint, it will look clean and be very shiny and mirror like but the flec is what makes the shimmer.If you want a noticeable pop, let me know in detail what you do for your process. Throw up another post in this forum uner WAxing and let me know steps you took, then I can counter with what you can do next time around to ensure a much more satisfying finish.

[dmsween]

Whelen,Here is the link to a new thread I started.http://forums.genvibe.com/zeropost?cmd=fshow&id=16Dan