Thread: Sunroof Motor problems

got a 2001 grand prix gtp 4 door and the sunroof wont shut all the way I bought it like that opened slightly and I hear the motor try to move it but it only moves half an inch

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

you need to pull the head liner and then maybe the whole unit if you cant find whats broken, being it wont open, seems like you need to rip it open.

could be as simple as a screw fell out and is jamming the track.

yea ive had to keep a tarp over the car because its open just enough to put ur fingers through the hole

I had the same issue. You do unfortunately have to take it apart though. Usually it ends up being the plastic gear skipped a couple of teeth. Unfortunately, unlike newer sunroofs, there is no automatic "homing" proceedure that learns what position the sunroof is in, rather it uses a circuit board with a gear with metal contacts on to trigger different stages. Essentially, if that gear skips for any reason, the sunroof thinks it's closed when it's not. Problem is, you not only need to fix the position of the sunroof, but you also need to figure out WHY the gear skipped in the first place! Usually you're lucky and it ends up being some dirt or stuff and it just needs cleaning and lubricating, but it could also be one of the gears stripped out. The annoying part of the repair is that there's only one way to "relearn" the sunroof, and that is to move it manually. Essentially, you'll have to start by trying to open the sunroof as much as possible (until noise stops), then remove the headliner (or at least lower it), the only way to remove the "gear box" is to drop the sunroof, I opt to use a peice of wood to "prop" it up in the front and then just loosed the rear bolts and remove the others and let it hang down. Then you can remove the gear box with three screws. Here's the critical part. You CANNOT move the gears at all when doing this or else you'll have to start over again. Remove the gear box and the motor carefully, and then you can try manually opening the sunroof all the way. You might have to remove the glass and do them one at a time. Once it's open all the way, carefully replace the motor and gear box after you've inspected the gear teeth. Bolt the sunroof back up and lubricate EVERYTHING. Now test! It should operate normally now. If it doesn't, you either have a stripped gear and didn't see it so take it back apart to look, or you did something wrong and start all over again! This should take car of any issues. Good luck!

Originally Posted by wstefan20

I had the same issue. You do unfortunately have to take it apart though. Usually it ends up being the plastic gear skipped a couple of teeth. Unfortunately, unlike newer sunroofs, there is no automatic "homing" proceedure that learns what position the sunroof is in, rather it uses a circuit board with a gear with metal contacts on to trigger different stages. Essentially, if that gear skips for any reason, the sunroof thinks it's closed when it's not. Problem is, you not only need to fix the position of the sunroof, but you also need to figure out WHY the gear skipped in the first place! Usually you're lucky and it ends up being some dirt or stuff and it just needs cleaning and lubricating, but it could also be one of the gears stripped out. The annoying part of the repair is that there's only one way to "relearn" the sunroof, and that is to move it manually. Essentially, you'll have to start by trying to open the sunroof as much as possible (until noise stops), then remove the headliner (or at least lower it), the only way to remove the "gear box" is to drop the sunroof, I opt to use a peice of wood to "prop" it up in the front and then just loosed the rear bolts and remove the others and let it hang down. Then you can remove the gear box with three screws. Here's the critical part. You CANNOT move the gears at all when doing this or else you'll have to start over again. Remove the gear box and the motor carefully, and then you can try manually opening the sunroof all the way. You might have to remove the glass and do them one at a time. Once it's open all the way, carefully replace the motor and gear box after you've inspected the gear teeth. Bolt the sunroof back up and lubricate EVERYTHING. Now test! It should operate normally now. If it doesn't, you either have a stripped gear and didn't see it so take it back apart to look, or you did something wrong and start all over again! This should take car of any issues. Good luck!

thanks so much I dont really care if it works or not i just would like to shut it all the way but thank you for all of that

Originally Posted by jetfighterv

thanks so much I dont really care if it works or not i just would like to shut it all the way but thank you for all of that

NP! Just let me know what you find. I've been meaning to make a write-up of this, but haven't had the motivation or have forgotten when I get the the junk yard.