The Automatic Sunroof stopped working in my 00 I30T. It only moves in 2" increments. You have to push the button like 6 times to get it open. Also, both switches tilt AND slide the sunroof. Has anyone had this happen before?

Thanks!

 

Ok, I know about the sunroof but not exactly on your year. You say "automatic" but do you mean that (wnen it worked properly) it will open and close with one touch or do you still have to hold the switch while it is moving?

I also need to know if once it begins to move back or forward, can you move it the rest of the way by grabbing it and moving it by hand?

Lastly, does it always close all the way so as not to let water in the pass. compartment?

 

It used to be one touch open and close. Now, it only increments no matter how you work the switch.

I have to adjust the position to get it to seat properly when closed. Otherwise it will leak. (The increment at the stop isn't a full close, it's slightly tilted)

I can't move it by hand.

It's freaky, man.

 

It doesn't sound good bro. Look at the post below on topic of headliner.

My thinking is that if it's a similar set up to the 96-99 units, its a broken cable.

Here's the basics on how it works:

A motor is located in the headliner near the rear view mirror and a litte towards the rear of the car. The motor has a gear on it that does all the work, both forward, back, tilt up and down. On your's it's probably visible if you remove the sunroof switch assembly.

The gear of the motor is set to travel only a certain amount before it stops and this travel is adjustable at the motor.

The gear rests between two flexible cables that are coiled like a spiral screw. Each cable is connected to one side of the sunroof (passenger & driver side). When the gear turns one way the cable is pushing the roof open. When it turns the other way, the other cable pulls it closed.

The inherent problem is that the crimped fastener used to secure the end of the cable to the sunroof breaks due to friction increasing from years of old grease, road grime and debris from insects, tree sap and such that build up enough to make it harder & harder to close.

Eventually one side of the cable attachment comes loose or the cable breaks. Normally the motor is fine though (in my experience).

Your situation is peculiar in that it doesn't seem to have broken like normal and (with some brute force) you would be able to close the roof by hand if it will open but not close by the motor.

I think that your situation is that a cable is either stripped of its coil teeth or the "open" cable is damaged/broken.

In any case, you have yourself a situation there....
In the short term, you should be able to diagnose the problem a little better and fix the roof from water entering. The next few investigation steps are pretty simple.
Here's how:

With the roof closed as much as possible, remove the two plastic trim pieces from under the sunroof. (2 plastic screws)
Unbolt the glass from the car (4 bolts, 10mm I think) and remove the metal shims that rest between the bracket and glass. Lift the glass straight up and out of the car. (be careful)

Look at the tracks for damaged components or loose pieces and let me know what you find.

Activate the sunroof (open & tilt) and see if the mechanisms complete their travel as they should. (If you have a broken cable one may move and the other may not) To fix the roof from water entering, move both carriers forward and reinsert the roof once you see the top position they go to (before the tilt movement begins).

Remount the glass (shims back in) and let me know what you determined was wrong or not working.

 

I will give it a try. Thanks for the excellent information!

 

happened to my 2k, same thing, both switches functioned as the other. It came out to be the motor. Not sure how much it cost b/c it was still under warranty.

 

CMU

I'M YELLING AT YOU TO TAKE THAT PUPPY IN IF IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY!

I know it's a 2000, but if you have an extended warranty or something like that, use it!!!

atom,

Thanks for that note. Replacing the motor isn't quite as bad as having a cable break, but the headliner still has to come out to get to it.

 

Sounds like a motor to me...........