Volkswagen began marketing the third generation Golf—or Rabbit—to US customers near the end of 1993. Following the tradition set by the second generation, the Mk3 (as it came to be known) featured engine power upgrades and a larger interior. She became an immediate success with both consumers and critics, and went on to take home the European Car of the Year award. As we do not live in a perfect world, even European Car of the Year award winners suffer problems. A common one with the Mk3 concerns the sunroof. It has sunroof track issues.
Two different sorts of malfunctions affect the Mk3s sunroof. In the first, attempts to open the sunroof lead nowhere, not even the sound of a motor struggling away. This indicates that the problem most likely lies in the electrical system itself. Odds are good that the fuse running the sunroof blew, or that the wiring from the fuse box needs cleaning. On the other hand, the sunroof motor—or even the entire switch assembly—might be shot.
The second problem occurs when the motor turns, and the sunroof itself shifts slightly, but nothing opens or closes. This points away from the electrical side of things and into the mechanical side, right at the sunroof track. If something goes wrong with this bad-boy, then the sunroof becomes jammed even though the switches and fuses all work fine.
Diagnosing these two problems might sound easy enough, but the replacing of the various parts leads the DIYer into thornier territory. The best option is to take the car to a nearby German import maintenance garage, where those who possess those particular problem-solving skills can help get your car back in tip-top shape.
Search for a local, independent Volkswagen repair shop with Volkswagen mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.