Solar Sunroof

[superb555]

Can any of the boffins out there tell me what the operating parameters are for the sun roof.

Does it keep the car warm when it is cold and cool when it is warm, if not what exactly does it do?

SNOB

[WW_VRS]

IIRC it just charges the battery when there is sufficient light to do so

[Departed]

It moves air through the vehicle when parked in hot conditions, as I understand it. To do this, it operates fans using only the solar power it generates, leaving the battery alone. News to me if it charges the battery too, although I won't mind if it does!

It won't keep the car cool, because that would need the aircon compressor running, which - in turn - needs the engine on. However, I suspect that it will keep it cooler than not moving the air at all. Given some decent hot weather conditions, I'll let you know.

Ray.

[DavidY]

Here's a link which (I think?) confirms what Argee says - from this page on the skoda-auto.com website:

Solar sunroof

When the engine is turned off, solar cells feed energy to the automatic air-conditioning ventilator. As a result, even after parking in the sun for a long period you will be surprised by the car’s pleasantly aerated interior. And in the winter, air circulation inside the car prevents frost from developing on the glass.

[WW_VRS]

I stand corrected - I thought there was a post on here at some stage stating it could be used to charge as well, but I guess that is not the same one as this.

Handy feature regardless, and just spotted the heated windscreen option - I wonder if there is one available for the other VAG cars in the range (as the windscreen in the estate has cracked a lot).

I'd have thought at the current temperatures it would be circulating air mainly

[NJB31]

Here's a link to Webasto Solar Sunroof info in a PDF

http://www.webasto.com/products/graphics/file_brochure_car_solar-slide_en_218kb.pdf

Page 2 indicates charging a battery is a future option.

[kprm77]

Not sure if it's a similar system, but my 2005 Superb has this. It does put some cool air into the car in the summer. It just takes the edge off the heat in mid summer, and that's about it. Not sure if it heats the car in winter.

[Departed]

Not sure if it heats the car in winter.

How could it? Once the heat has left the heater matrix due to normal heat loss, you'd need the engine running to warm it up again. The solar panel is not strong enough (or designed to) heat anything, just run a fan.

Ray.

[kprm77]

How could it?

Ray.

I have no idea.

[superb555]

Thanks for the reply does any one who has one know if the interior screen actually comes back to leave a glass hole or is it permanently fixed shut .

The picture in the old skoda shows it open yet I cannot get mne to move except as a complete unit.

DONT PANIC JUST GOT THE ANSWER IT DOES NOT SLIDE BACK

Edited 11 January, 2009 by superb555

[Nos]

Thanks for the reply does any one who has one know if the interior screen actually comes back to leave a glass hole or is it permanently fixed shut .

The picture in the old skoda shows it open yet I cannot get mne to move except as a complete unit.

DONT PANIC JUST GOT THE ANSWER IT DOES NOT SLIDE BACK

Same here can only move the whole thing, no glass hole. But I only had a car for a week so...

[bmc]

I have the sun roof also and I was kind of disappointed realizing that it opens only as a complete unit. In case of the other roof (the standard one) can it be opened only the interior screen? Does anyone know if there is a possibility to open only the interior screen in case of the sun roof too?

[master-yoda]

i have it on my car, only if the temp exeed 25° the solar roof refresh ( not cooling) the interior

it cant open like standart store because this roof is not a classic glasses but a solar roof, you can't see trough it, only be totaly open

in this link , it concer the new Superb, a little bit different than the older Superb:

http://new.skoda-auto.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Catalogue/NewSuperb/NewSuperb_Catalogue_ENG.pdf

Edited 17 January, 2009 by master-yoda

[Minuss]

Where does it say that it kicks in at 25°C? The text at Skoda home page referring to the Superb II only say: "The sunroof with solar panels ensures ventilation of cool air even in a parked car." The text for the Superb I says: "When the engine is turned off, solar cells feed energy to the automatic air-conditioning ventilator. As a result, even after parking in the sun for a long period you will be surprised by the car’s pleasantly aerated interior. And in the winter, air circulation inside the car prevents frost from developing on the glass." Should one understand from this that there is a different design in the Superb II solar sunroof? That the earlier one operated also in winter time? I cannot find any settings in the MFD refererring to the sunroof at least. Does anybody know?

[Departed]

From my experience, the panel operates the ventilator at a much lower temperature than 25°C. The roof operates in both tilt and slide modes, but has a completely black and totally opaque underside. The inner screen can be detached from the roof itself, but there is no point in doing so (it hides the wiring coming from the panel). Both the roof and the screen slide back and forwards together, the screen is static when the roof tilts (known as "Comfort Mode").

My belief is that it needs direct sunlight to operate, but I can't validate that entirely yet.

Ray

[Chris Westy]

From my experience, the panel operates the ventilator at a much lower temperature than 25°C. The roof operates in both tilt and slide modes, but has a completely black and totally opaque underside. The inner screen can be detached from the roof itself, but there is no point in doing so (it hides the wiring coming from the panel). Both the roof and the screen slide back and forwards together, the screen is static when the roof tilts (known as "Comfort Mode").

My belief is that it needs direct sunlight to operate, but I can't validate that entirely yet.

Ray

Ray: Can you clarify what you mean by 'inner screen can be detached'? (I might be reading too much into your words.)

Do you mean 'the user' can detach it if he wants to, or the garage can for repairs?

Am asking because I opened the sunroof for the third? time a few weeks back and when I electrically closed it, the inner lining open. Haven't had a chance to take it to the garage yet.

[Departed]

Ray: Can you clarify what you mean by 'inner screen can be detached'?

Sorry, Chris, didn't mean to cause confusion. The lining can be detached (i.e., released) from its spring clip by gently pulling down the centre part of the leading edge when the roof is partly open.

I did it to remove some protective polythene that the dealer missed on the PDI. It's not meant to be released, or to slide independently, unless, as you say, for repairs or inspection. HTH?

Ray

[bmc]

This summer I realized that the sun roof is not very efficient in its purpose. I feel sorry about choosing it. Is there any way in changing the sun roof in a standard, transparent roof?

[master-yoda]

in the south of France, this summer we have 45° i'm very happy to bye it !!!! and with the leather i appréciate it more ......

[Spiralis]

This summer I realized that the sun roof is not very efficient in its purpose. I feel sorry about choosing it. Is there any way in changing the sun roof in a standard, transparent roof?

If you are willing to pay the price, anything can be done to a car!

[Departed]

This summer I realized that the sun roof is not very efficient in its purpose.

I'm not sure what you mean by this? As I've already said in an earlier post in this thread, the solar roof does not cool the car, but circulates air through it, without any drain on the car battery. Any circulation is better than none, which is what you'll get with a conventional glass roof. Have you got the car's ventilation system set to Recirculate, rather than accepting outside air? If so, that will prevent the solar roof from doing its job correctly.

If, however, you mean that the sun roof is not very efficient because it does not slide back very far, this is deliberate and you need to hold the opening control against the spring to fully open it.

Although I cannot think of a reason why the solar roof couldn't be replaced with a conventional one, I believe that it would lower the overall resale value of the car to do so.

Ray

[bmc]

I’m aware of the solar roof not being able to cool the car, but I found in some hot days that even the circulation of the air doesn’t do any good. You’re right, some circulation of the air inside the car is better than nothing, but I faced several times the situation of not being able to get inside the car because of the hot air. And my initial purpose of the roof was to benefit of the light from outside and with the solar roof I can do that only if I fully open it with all disadvantages incurred (wind noise, bad weather). So, my opinion is that solar roof doesn’t worth it ( I hope my English is correct). And I’m very determined to change it. Please help me with some adivice.

[Departed]

I think that we can assume that the roof opening is the same size as a conventional roof, so the opening mechanism should also be identical. I would think that the extra wiring can be safely removed or tucked away, so that the fitting of a glass roof can take place. I believe that the roof lining needs to be completely removed, but for a dealer this shouldn't cause any problems.

I suppose that glass roofs can be damaged, so spares should be available, probably on special order. What does your dealer say about the job? If they refuse, although I can see no reason why they would, perhaps a specialist sunroof company or a body shop can help?

Your English is good, by the way!

Ray

[Richf]

Allowing more light into the vehicle will only heat up the interior more i wouldve thought

[bmc]

I think that we can assume that the roof opening is the same size as a conventional roof, so the opening mechanism should also be identical. I would think that the extra wiring can be safely removed or tucked away, so that the fitting of a glass roof can take place. I believe that the roof lining needs to be completely removed, but for a dealer this shouldn't cause any problems.

I suppose that glass roofs can be damaged, so spares should be available, probably on special order. What does your dealer say about the job? If they refuse, although I can see no reason why they would, perhaps a specialist sunroof company or a body shop can help?

Your English is good, by the way!

Ray

I agree with you about that assumption regarding roof’s size. I don’t think it’s a difference between the two types of roof either. Anyway, the procedure of changing the solar roof into a standard one it’s not very difficult from my point of view. Unfortunately, from the dealer’s point of view, it is. They said that changing the roof implies a modification within the ECU which is hard to do. And that a perpetual error will be triggered without this modification. They didn’t know actually what kind of modification was about. Finally they made me an offer of about 2000 EUR for this procedure, which I found exaggerated. I think they issued this offer just to get rid of me.

Anyway, as far as I know, this solar roof should start working when the temperature outside is above 25 degrees and when the car is stopped in proper light conditions. Well, I’ve just checked if the ventilation system is working and it’s not. And now in Bucharest is sunny and the temperature is 32 degrees. Shouldn’t the system work every time and continuously as far as conditions are met? It’s not the first time when I realize that it doesn’t work when, theoretically, it should work. Am I missing something? Or is there something wrong?

Thank you for your appreciation about my English.