Sunroof switch troubleshooting and part request
10-05-17, 11:50 AM
#1
Sunroof switch troubleshooting and part request
If anyone has the part for JUST the switch, I would love to buy it. The whole sunroof assembly is >$200 bucks and from what I found the issue to be... it is not worth it at all.
My symptoms:
Sunroof would open but not close. The close button did not give the same tactile feedback nor a click like the open does.
Troubleshooting steps:
1. Remove the dome light assembly. I pried with a flathead on the left and right hand side of the assembly. Applied a bit more pressure than I felt comfortable but it popped off eventually.
2. Electrical testing of the switch. I used Z-100 of the '93 wiring diagram. The '94 wiring diagram actually has less info on the sunroof switches. See the attached picture.
The plug I tested was M-01.
I set continuity for a voltmeter between the B and Y/R. It should generate a tone. Opening the sunroof should cut the tone.
Between B and Y/L, there should also be a tone with the switch at neutral. Closing the sunroof should cut the tone.
My issue was here, closing the sunroof did not cut the tone. So the switch wasn't moving the contacts away.
3. Disassemble the switch.
My symptoms:
Sunroof would open but not close. The close button did not give the same tactile feedback nor a click like the open does.
Troubleshooting steps:
1. Remove the dome light assembly. I pried with a flathead on the left and right hand side of the assembly. Applied a bit more pressure than I felt comfortable but it popped off eventually.
2. Electrical testing of the switch. I used Z-100 of the '93 wiring diagram. The '94 wiring diagram actually has less info on the sunroof switches. See the attached picture.
The plug I tested was M-01.
I set continuity for a voltmeter between the B and Y/R. It should generate a tone. Opening the sunroof should cut the tone.
Between B and Y/L, there should also be a tone with the switch at neutral. Closing the sunroof should cut the tone.
My issue was here, closing the sunroof did not cut the tone. So the switch wasn't moving the contacts away.
3. Disassemble the switch.
a. pop off the plastic cover over the face of the dome lights. I stuck a small flat head from the back where its clipped in.
b. Undo the dome light switches. The actual buttons can be pulled off the face of the switch. Then there are 2 very small phillips screws that holding the actual switch assembly to the dome light assembly. You have to undo these to get enough clearance to pull the sunroof switch off.
c. Undo the plastic cover over the dial selector for the dome light switch (white thing in the picture, two long screws).
d. The sunroof switch is held in by two screws, undo them.
e. Finally, you should be able to pull the sunroof switch out the back.
f. The actual pivoting part of the switch (w/ the Open decal) is slotted into place on plastic pins. I just stuck a flat head under one side, gently pried and the switch part came off.
g. To get to the contacts you have to separate the "casing" with the two screw mounts on it from the body which holds the contacts for the wires. I ended up cracking my "casing" but a bit of super glue, and its good as new. It doesn't seem like this part of the switch sees too much pressure so I don't think it's an issue.
4. Once the casing is apart, you can see how the switch works. There is a Y shaped white actuator with two springed plastic contact points at the tips of the Y that actuate the actual electrical contacts in the body of the switch. My issue was that the bottom of the Y, which slots into the part of the switch you press, the slot had broken. Only one side of the slot remained, allowing the switch to open, but the other half was barely hanging on. From the picture, you can see my attempts to super glue and plastic weld the tiny piece back in but so far, nothing has held.
So I found out what the issue is and am in the process of fixing it... but if anyone has just the switch part, that would do it. I am looking to see if another model car has a similar switch but it's hard to find...
b. Undo the dome light switches. The actual buttons can be pulled off the face of the switch. Then there are 2 very small phillips screws that holding the actual switch assembly to the dome light assembly. You have to undo these to get enough clearance to pull the sunroof switch off.
c. Undo the plastic cover over the dial selector for the dome light switch (white thing in the picture, two long screws).
d. The sunroof switch is held in by two screws, undo them.
e. Finally, you should be able to pull the sunroof switch out the back.
f. The actual pivoting part of the switch (w/ the Open decal) is slotted into place on plastic pins. I just stuck a flat head under one side, gently pried and the switch part came off.
g. To get to the contacts you have to separate the "casing" with the two screw mounts on it from the body which holds the contacts for the wires. I ended up cracking my "casing" but a bit of super glue, and its good as new. It doesn't seem like this part of the switch sees too much pressure so I don't think it's an issue.
4. Once the casing is apart, you can see how the switch works. There is a Y shaped white actuator with two springed plastic contact points at the tips of the Y that actuate the actual electrical contacts in the body of the switch. My issue was that the bottom of the Y, which slots into the part of the switch you press, the slot had broken. Only one side of the slot remained, allowing the switch to open, but the other half was barely hanging on. From the picture, you can see my attempts to super glue and plastic weld the tiny piece back in but so far, nothing has held.
So I found out what the issue is and am in the process of fixing it... but if anyone has just the switch part, that would do it. I am looking to see if another model car has a similar switch but it's hard to find...
10-06-17, 08:42 AM
#4
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
Seems like you should be able to get a used dome light switch that's good for a reasonable price. I see them frequently on Ebay and I'm sure Fritz can hook you up with the whole thing for not a lot.
Dale
Dale
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zli944 (10-06-17)
10-06-17, 03:45 PM
#6
thanks arghx and dale for the input
I figured the part would have to be something we find from another car or a generic parts manufacturer, it's just a switch after all... it's built on some type of standard right?
I did a cursory browse of ebay but it looks sparse...
I absolutely slathered the inside with jb weld to try and build up the slot so we will have to see how that does for it. If it doesn't work, I may just get some other DPDT switch and throw it in and figure out the wiring.
I figured the part would have to be something we find from another car or a generic parts manufacturer, it's just a switch after all... it's built on some type of standard right?
I did a cursory browse of ebay but it looks sparse...
I absolutely slathered the inside with jb weld to try and build up the slot so we will have to see how that does for it. If it doesn't work, I may just get some other DPDT switch and throw it in and figure out the wiring.
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10-08-17, 05:19 PM
#8
well i got it to work in kind of a janky way.
I used plumbers tape and tried to remake the slot by securing small strips of it in place with JB weld. Remaking the slot didn't work at all but it did make a space where I could drop a big dab of JB weld in. I then stuck the switch on to the actuator and... it somehow held. The JB weld holds the switch to the actuator and now my sunroof closes! Not the most elegant solution but hopefully I won't ever have to do this again.
I used plumbers tape and tried to remake the slot by securing small strips of it in place with JB weld. Remaking the slot didn't work at all but it did make a space where I could drop a big dab of JB weld in. I then stuck the switch on to the actuator and... it somehow held. The JB weld holds the switch to the actuator and now my sunroof closes! Not the most elegant solution but hopefully I won't ever have to do this again.
