Sunroof stuck open

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I opened my sunroof on my drive home from a weekend trip and now it's stuck open. Any tips on getting it closed? The fuse is good but I can't find the relay.

The switch on the schematic doesn't match what's in the vehicle. Orange is power and I do have voltage there. But jumping any combination of terminals in the connector doesn't anything.

 

[adventurenali92]

So there’s no power going to the motor?
Usually when these sunroofs fail, the track pieces that slide the glass along the track guides have broken and gotten lodged in the track. GM in their infinite wisdom decided to use plastic parts for the pieces that hook to the glass and move it back and forth. This is what results in the sunroof being stuck open as it snags on the broken parts along the track and then can’t move. But in this scenario the sunroof motor usually still has power.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

The motor I'm not sure about yet. I'm not to excited about pulling the headliner down to try checking it because it's 90 degrees outside right now. But I noticed when it opened it did open kinda goofy so not sure if something happened there that caused it to snag.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I'm not sure though it's an issue with the motor either. If I press the switch or just try to jump the connector I don't hear any clicking from the relay or any noise at the motor.

 

[Roilux]

I'm not sure though it's an issue with the motor either. If I press the switch or just try to jump the connector I don't hear any clicking from the relay or any noise at the motor.

Should it turn out to be the motor, this is what it looks like as seen from the rear seats. The two blue Torx bolts hold it in place. If you need to source one online, also query Mercedes Benz ML320 from '98 to '05 in addition to your '03 Tahoe. It is the same Siemans motor, made in Germany, and usually listed at a much lower price. You'd think it would be the other way around but nope.

Photos are from an '04 interior. ** (a different model sunroof motor appeared in either '05 or '06.)

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

What's the easiest way to get at it? I pulled the interior pieces down around the passenger side doors but I can't really see much. The overhead console is help by a tamper proof torx screw and I don't have any tamper proof screw drivers here. Also afraid of messing with the plastic thing in the sunroof opening that holds the fabric in place.

 

[Fless]

@Alberta Tahoe had this issue a couple of years ago but I don't see a resolution. He does mention where he thinks the relay is located. He hasn't been on in a few months but may see this post if he has email notifications activated.

Sunroof Stuck Open

My 03 Tahoe has the sunroof stuck in the open position. The fuse is good. I haven't investigated the relay located in the R/S A pillar yet. If I can't operate the sunroof by jumping out the relay, the common approach is pull down the headliner to get to the sunroof mechanism. That is a major...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Thanks @Fless . Curious to know what was found. I dug around the passenger side looking for the relay but didn't find anything. That side of the dash just has a connector module of some kind. I do have a Topdon Topscan here and was looking around with that to see if there was anything I could use to control or troubleshoot but didn't find anything.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Does anyone recognize this switch? I kinda wonder if it came from a different vehicle platform because I don't believe it belongs in mine.

 

[Roilux]

What's the easiest way to get at it? I pulled the interior pieces down around the passenger side doors but I can't really see much. The overhead console is help by a tamper proof torx screw and I don't have any tamper proof screw drivers here. Also afraid of messing with the plastic thing in the sunroof opening that holds the fabric in place.

If it proves to be the motor, I'd remove the A, B and C pillar covers on the passenger side. Then drop the entertainment console to access the sunroof motor from a rear seat or the passenger side. Here's a wider view of what lurks above the headliner for references.

 

[BigDogYJ]

when I was diagnosing a sunroof issue in an 04 avalanche, this was the diagram I used for testing. and it matched up perfectly. some have mentioned that the avalanche sometimes has slightly different wiring from the SUV or Pickups but I haven't come across that yet. most electrical diagrams for 03-06 match up for both trucks and Suv's. and the relay that I tested on was located behind the electrical connector panel in the right side dash below the a pillar. (again this was an 04 avalanche) hope that helps.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Thanks @Roilux . It looks like the motor should be accessible through the rear passenger door if I can get the headliner dropped low enough. I have the trim pieces removed but can't see much yet. This even looks different than what I have. I'll have to see if I can get a decent picture later. I also don't have the rear entertainment system.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Thanks @BigDogYJ . That seems to closer match the schematic I have. I dug around last night looking for the relay but there wasn't on the passenger side of the dash. The only thing in there was some kind of connector module.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

This is what I've figured out so far. The switch seems to be good. I did continuity checks across the terminals when rocking it back and forth and do have continuity between power coming in and both positions for actuating the sunroof.

Orange is power
White is tilt/close
Blue is full open/close

Black seems to be a path to ground which right now I'm not sure the purpose of. I also don't remember any continuity across any terminals to the terminal running to ground.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I've been having some conversation with Chat gpt this afternoon. The picture here is from when I had the headliner out a few years ago. But judging by this the sunroof is an aftermarket install. And apparently has a manual crank.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I am at a loss with what to do with this right now. I'm fairly certain that the sunroof is an aftermarket install but I can't find any kind of manufacturer info to tell me what it is. And I can't find any kind of manual crank to close it by hand.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I have the headliner pulled down behind the front seats right now. The best access is on the driver's side.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Well I at least got it to close putting battery power to the motor. It didn't close all the way though. Also pretty sure it's a Webasto Hollandia, possibly a 700 series.

 

[the 18th letter]

Not helpful, but I had no idea aftermarket power sunroofs were a thing. Hope you get it sorted out.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

@the 18th letter neither did I. After buying this a few years ago I was suspicious that someone added the sunroof because the RPO codes didn't show it being built with a sunroof. I didn't know it would have been an aftermarket one until I started digging into this.