So my FD recently developed some stubborn sunroof issues.

First, it would open and close just fine, when cold. But after parking the car at work and the interior getting hot, the switch would only allow the sunroof to open but not close. After parking the car in the garage for a few hours, everything cooled down enough to allow the sunroof to close. Bad switch.

So the other day I was coming home from work, and decided to open the sunroof fully knowing it would not close. No big deal, I was headed home and it would be safe inside my garage. I park it and a few hours later attempt to close the sunroof. Push the close button and nothing.

So curious me pulls the map light deal, disassembles it to remove the sunroof switch, pulls it apart, cleans it, puts it back in, and still nothing. The sunroof is fully open. It still works in the "open" position off the switch, however, the motor "roooms" away when I hold it.

So, in my attempt to see if the switch is bad or it's something else, I use a piece of spare wire to jump the power terminal off the switch to the close terminal. Mistake. The sunroof motor immediately makes a noise from "rooooom" to "ehh" and that's it. I heard a faint "click" sound, almost like a relay, when this happened.

Now, when I push the open switch, the sunroof just goes "ehh" for a split second and then silence. Probing the switch I have 12v going into the switch, but when I hold the open side only 5v coming out on the terminal.

Every fuse associated with the sunroof is in tact, further indicated by me having 12v going into the switch. My guess is the sun roof motor relay...input?

What is the easiest way to go about replacing this? Or is there anyway I can ohm out the motor to make sure it's good (couldn't find specs on this). I suppose I have to drop the headliner here...oh joy.

Thanks in advance.

 

If your DC motor runs in one directions its pretty damn certain it will run in the other. So if I were you I would look elsewhere. However the elsewhere I would recommend is the relay located right below the motor. It would seem to be more likely than the switch or the motor; especially since this relay is the most complex thing in the whole wiring diagram.

Just to be sure though you may as well test the switch for proper function before you tear apart your car.

 

Well as of right now it doesn't run, it just goes "ehh" when I push the switch and then silence, and it doesn't move the sunroof.

Is the sunroof relay a standard relay or something proprietary?

 

It is something proprietary, though you could probably have someone make you a one off thing ( none of the components are particularly special) though it would probably be a pain to fit in such a restricted area.

The other thing to check would be if it is physically binding up. In the roof there should be a round plastic cap with a slot in it. It'll be above your right shoulder when in the drivers seat. That can be rotated, like a screw, 1/4 turn and removed. inside you should see a plastic gear. That gear is a part of the sunroof open/close system. You should be able to manually rotate that with a screwdriver or a wrench and see if the sunroof opens and closes smoothly. You will also be able to close the sunroof again albeit slowly.

 

subscribing...
Mine has the same issue except it does not open, it only closes. I put another relay in, with no change in symptoms.

 

step 1 take it apart
step 2 clean everything
step 3 ??????
step 4 Profit


Edit: step 3 is spray gears and track with white lithium grease and 4 is put it back together

 

My sunroof moves completely fine on the track. I can easily retract and open it with the 4mm hex key in the roof access panel.

I know it's an electrical issue because the motor made a very audible change in motor tone drastically. It went from the typical "werrrrre" to now it just goes "ehhhh" and then stops. You know how you can hold the sunroof switch and the motor always hmmmms along? Mine doesn't- it just goes "eh" like a half assed squeak and that's it, no more noise.

Further more, I probed the switch and have 12v going into the switch in the harness, and only 5v coming out when I hold it to either to open or close position (when probing the respective terminal, of course).

I removed the switch, disassembled it, and fixed it so I now receive continuity on the respective open or close terminals, so I know the switch isn't the issue.

Right now I have narrowed down to the relay or the motor, just not sure which one yet.

 

Did you ever figure out what the issue was?

 

I have not gotten around to ordering/replacing parts. I know I need a new sunroof switch, but even with the sunroof switch bypassed, the roof still doesn't work. So I suspect the relay, which I will be ordering soon.

I'm just not looking forward to it, since I have to drop the headliner

 

hopefully you have better luck than i did, i swapped relays only to have the same issue... My next step was that little ecu chip inline with the motor but just haven't gotten around to it...

 

Friend of mine retrofitted a 2nd gen switch into his FD.

 

ECU Chip? Interesting...haven't heard of it. Part number? Thanks!

That sounds like a good idea...I assume FC sunroof switches are perhaps more robust than the fragile FD switches?