The sunroof on your vehicle adds a lot to the look and feel of the vehicle. The fact that it is a standard feature does not imply that you should attempt fixing it yourself. Things may get worse if you make a mistake.
Due to these reasons, you should seek the assistance of experts who are capable of fixing such problems. The purpose of this article is to explain why my car sunroof won’t open.
Clogged tracks, broken cables, electric motors, and broken moon roof switches will prevent car moon roofs from opening.
Why Won’t My Sunroof Open All The Way?
In a vehicle, a moon roof provides light and fresh air into its cabin compartment through an opening on top of the roof. It depends on the type of vehicle and its design whether the moon roof is manually or automatically operated.
It is possible to enjoy a moon roof while traveling at a slow speed. Nevertheless, excessive speed can cause the air blowing into the cab to become intense and uncomfortable.
Usually, electric moon roofs fail either when the switch breaks or when the electric motor fails. It could be damaged by the following factors if the power moon roof won’t open:
- Electric motor quits working
- Cable broke
- Failed moon roof switch
- Tracks are clogged
How to Troubleshoot a Power Moon Roof That Won’t Open
1. Determine The Cause Of A Failed Switch On The Moon Roof
Checking the moon roof switch for failure
The materials needed to complete the project:
- Flashlight
- Flat tip screwdriver
- Nine volt battery saver
- SAE/metric socket set
- Torx bit set
- Wheel chocks
Step 1:
Make sure your vehicle is parked on a flat, hard surface. If the transmission is automatic, make sure it is in park or in first gear (for manuals).
Step 2:
Secure the rear tires to the ground by placing wheel chocks around them. The parking brake should be engaged to prevent the rear tires from moving.
Checking The Condition Of The Failed Switch On The Moon Roof
Step 1:
The first step is to locate the fuse panel and pull out the fuse for the moon roof motor switch with needle nose pliers. Ensure that the fuse is okay before disconnecting the vehicle’s power to check the motor.
Step 2:
Make sure your cigarette lighter is fitted with a battery saver rated for nine volts. In this way, your computer will remain active and your vehicle settings will remain current. You don’t need a nine-volt battery saver if you don’t have one.
Step 3:
Disconnect your vehicle’s battery by opening the hood. You can disable the moon roof switch by disconnecting the ground cable from the battery’s negative post.
Step 4:
The moon roof switch can be found on the dashboard. Disconnect the harness from the switch and remove it from the dashboard.
- Note: Most switch screws or tabs need to be accessed by removing the dashboard panel.
Step 5:
Check the switch contacts. Ensure the contacts are clean and free of debris and corrosion. You should also check the harness for debris and corrosion on the contacts.
It is possible that the switch has failed electronically if there is no debris or corrosion on the two items. Make sure the lever on the switch isn’t binding or sticking.
- Note: If you cannot fix the broken moon roof cable at the moment, then you will need to reconnect the motor, connect the cable, and reconnect the three wires.
2. Diagnose The Electric Motor If It Quits Working
Preparing The Vehicle To Check For A Malfunctioning Electric Motor
Materials Needed
- Flashlight
- Nine volt battery saver
- SAE/metric wrench set
- Wheel chocks
Step 1:
Your vehicle should be parked on a hard, flat surface. For automatic transmissions, be sure to put the transmission in park, or in first gear for manual transmissions.
Step 2:
Make sure the wheels are chocked. Make sure the rear tires that will be on the ground are chocked up with wheel chocks. Make sure the parking brake is engaged to prevent the rear tires from moving.
Checking The Electric Motor If It Stops Working
Step 1:
Using needle nose pliers, locate the fuse panel and pull out the fuse for the moon roof motor switch. You will need to disconnect the power to the vehicle in order to check the motor if the fuse is fine.
Step 2:
Your cigarette lighter should be equipped with a nine-volt battery saver. As a result, your computer will remain active and your vehicle settings will remain current. There is no need for a nine-volt battery saver if you do not have one.
Step 3:
Disconnect your vehicle’s battery by opening the hood. Disable the moon roof motor by removing the ground cable from the battery’s negative post.
Step 4:
The headliner access should be unzipped. The three wire plug on the motor needs to be removed. The long cable connecting the motor to the driver should be removed. After that, remove the two nuts that hold the motor in place.
Step 5:
Check the connections after removing the motor. Examine the contacts where the wires connect to the motor. Verify that there are no debris or corrosion present.
You can test the motor’s operation by turning the shaft. There is probably a jam in the motor if it doesn’t turn. The contacts inside the motor may be burned if it turns.
- Note: If you cannot fix the broken moon roof cable right now, you will need to reattach the motor, the cable, the three-pronged plug, and the battery cable before you can use the moon roof.
3. Diagnosing The Moon Roof For A Broken Cable
Preparing The Vehicle For A Moon Roof Cable Inspection
The materials needed for this project:
- Flashlight
- SAE/metric wrench set
- Wheel chocks
Step 1:
Make sure you park on a flat, hard surface. Automatics should be in park; manuals should be in first gear.
Step 2:
The rear tires remaining on the ground should be chocked with wheel chocks. Lock the rear tires by engaging the parking brake.
Examining The Moon Roof For Broken Cables
Step 1:
Try to open the moon roof.
Step 2:
Determine where the damaged moon roof is located. The two screws on the inside of the sliding headlining panel can be removed with a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 3:
Take a look at the cable. Check if the cable is broken inside the moon roof with a flashlight.
- Note: You will need to replace the headlining panel if the moon roof cable is broken and cannot be fixed right now.
4. Finding The Clogged Tracks On The Moon Roof
Getting The Vehicle Ready To Check Clogged Tracks On The Roof
Materials Needed
- Flashlight
- Wheel chocks
Step 1:
Make sure you park on a flat, hard surface. Automatics should be in park; manuals should be in first gear.
Step 2:
The rear tires remaining on the ground should be chocked with wheel chocks. Lock the rear tires by engaging the parking brake.
Examining The Tracks On The Moon Roof That Are Clogged
Step 1:
Determine which part of the moon roof is damaged. Open the moon roof if you can. Inspect the moon roof tracks with a flashlight to see if there are debris, dirt, or hardened grease.
Step 2:
Remove debris, dirt, and hardened grease from tracks by using a screwdriver and a degreaser cleaner.
Step 3:
It may be necessary to re-operate the moon roof. In the case that the moon roof does not move, it may require further cleaning or diagnosis.
After Diagnosing, Clean Up
The tools should be gathered and placed away from the work area. Put the wheel chocks aside and remove the rear wheels.
FAQs: My Car Sunroof Won’t Open
1. Where is the sunroof motor?
Under the headliner, the sunroof motor is attached to the sunroof regulator assembly. Opening and closing the sunroof is controlled by the sunroof motor.
2. How do you test the sunroof motor?
The easiest way to confirm whether the sunroof motor is working or not is to remove the motor from the car battery and test it.
3. Is there a fuse for the sunroof?
The sunroof is also protected from excessive voltage by a fuse as any other electronic component in your car. A blown fuse will prevent the sunroof from working. This leaves only one option: changing the fuse.
4. How much does it cost to fix a sunroof?
Having a sunroof in your car is a luxurious feature that uses a complex mechanical and electrical mechanism. For this reason, it charges $400 to $800 to replace the sunroof in a car.
Final Words
An experienced mechanic can assist you in diagnosing the problem by inspecting the moon roof and providing you with diagnosis if you need it.
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