I decided to read all these posts to maybe gain some knowledge...all it did was confuse me more so I just went out in the garage, dropped the passenger side shade rail, which had come out of the rear clip, and investigated what had gone wrong with the whole thing.
I believe what started the whole thing was my sliding the shade back to open it abit
too fast. When I did that, the small cords that connect each side across the front, via a spring between, caused the spring to rebound (extend) from the sudden opening force. As the spring returns to its normal length after being extended rapidly, the cord momentarily gets slack and jumps off the tapered pulley on the side of the roller that collects the shade when it rolls up during opening. (Each side has an identical, tapered pulley) Once the cord jumps off the tapered pulley, you lose spring tension on the whole shade on both sides and it is no longer balanced. One side or the other bunches up. That bunching up causes the metal shade slide bar to disengage the clip, further complicating the issue.
It is not that bad to reassemble but IMHO, should be more robust than it is. Take a good dose of *patience* before attempting to do this.....
I removed the passenger side track, (5 torx headed screws) and rested the track on my left knee while I rewound the cord on the pulley (the last turn is a PITA as you have to work against the spring tension slightly to get it on).
I then gently reinstalled the track back onto the pulley axle bearing to retain it in position in the track. Then I reinstalled the 5 torx screws and snugged them up evenly and firmly.
NOTE: Don't overtighten these as they thread into plastic standoffs molded into the roof and if you break one, it will have to be epoxied or *plexus'd* back into position before you can reinstall the shade rail. (OR have the whole roof R & R'd, which I would NOT have done. Refer to Untoddly's last post for reason why....
For those who may not know what *plexus* is, it is a very stinky, two part
"methacrylate epoxy" that will repair/stick to just about anything and it hardens to steel hard condition in just 1/2 hour- 24 hour full cure, allowing ample time to work it if necessary.
Its Plexus Corp pt # is MA-310 (50ml tube) and I've used it extensively for repairs at home and at work for years. It is far superior to any other epoxy that I have ever used. It will stick to smooth polycarbonate and other slippery surfaced materials (NOT teflon sheet)very well with little or no surface prep.
I still intend to have my shade replaced with the upgraded design when available. I just didn't want the strings and part of the shade hanging down as I drove the car, while waiting for the new parts to arrive and be installed by the dealer.
I also wanted to satisfy my curiosity with regard to just how this shade is constructed and operates.....and how it fails-
Sorry for not taking pictures. Too intent on gettin er done.
Final word from me on the shade track issue....DO NOT
JERK SHADE RAPIDLY WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING. It will eventually malfunction.
John
Today
Linear Mode
