Sunroof won't close

[bjohn13]

It was a balmy 56 degrees today, so I rode home with the roof open. Alas, when I got home, it wouldn't close. It slides forward a few inches, then slows to a stop. Sounds like it needs some lube, but the issue is that I need to get it manually closed for tonight. It's supposed to be -15 in the morning, and I do NOT want to drive to work with the roof open in that kind of cold.

The owner's manual has some directions on how to manually close it, but they really aren't very clear at all. What do I attach the allen wrench to? There seems to be an allen screw of some kind, but the allen wrench in the tool kit isn't the correct shape to get at that screw.

Is there a more detailed diagram online anywhere?

[bjohn13]

I was impatient. No way in heck I'm waiting for -15 tomorrow to fix this thing.

I had already searched this topic on the forum, and the one handy piece of information I did learn was to not use WD-40. Well, the problem is, that's the only lubricant I have on hand. And with the temps already down in the 20's, I did not want to drive across town to get anything else. So I used a couple of cotton swabs, being careful not to stain the headliner, and the problem is now solved.

I also thought I'd add that closing the roof via the allen wrench is pretty easy once the tracks are lubed. That's a handy piece of information. My guess is that the manual closing mechanism is for when/if the motor goes out.

And one final point of reference...I bought this MINI used. It's an '06, and I can tell that the previous owner didn't take care of it. I traded in an '05 Chevy Cavalier for it, and I did keep up on all of the maintenance on that car. And to be honest, there isn't much you have to do to a car for its first 100,000 miles or so. That's my hope going forward. After changing the wipers, the gas cap, a bunch of emission control features, and lubing the sunroof, I hope that the maintenance is all caught up. At least I know that the brakes and tires are in good shape. But who needs brakes when you're driving a MINI?