Sunroof closing issue - Curious if anyone else has had this

[CMNTMXR57]

I posted this here as it's a '00+ issue, not just a GXP issue.

So this past Friday, got to work, went to close my sunroof, and it'd close a few inches, then started making a grinding noise. It's sorta the same sound/feel as using your cordless drill and reducing the torque setting and holding the chuck while you pull the trigger. In order to get it closed, I had to pull on the sunroof window while using the motor at the same time to push it. But notably every few inches, it'd grind again unless I'd continue pull on it with my hands. At that point it'd have a moment of hesitation, almost as if it was momentarily being snagged on something. It also grinds like this trying to "vent" the sunroof.

So today I pulled the whole thing apart, took out the whole sunroof assembly (I removed the glass first to make like a heII of a lot easier), and bench tested it outside the car. It opens fine, just like normal. But going to close it, I had to help it by pulling on the support bar, otherwise, it'd just grind away.

I verified it wasn't the motor as I removed it, and cycled it completely. To see if it was a load issue on the motor (like if the closing cables were holding it back), I clamped the motor gear with a vise grip in my hand and hit the trigger. It had no problem twisting the *dang* thing with me holding onto it, so I know it isn't the motor.

This leads me to believe it's something in the drive cables. I lubricated them to see if it was a matter of them getting hung up our bound, but that didn't help.

Just curious if anyone has had a similar issue and solved it. My guess is I'm probably gonna have to buy the whole sunroof assembly as those cable runs didn't look like they were easily swappable and integral to the pull mechanism in the slides.

[sonoma_zr2]

yup, replace the track, it is one unit, not repairable

[CMNTMXR57]

Grrr, not what I wanted to hear.

[sonoma_zr2]

the previous gens are easy to find at the jy, not sure how easy it will be with yours. I can imagine the new route is very expensive.

[CMNTMXR57]

the previous gens are easy to find at the jy, not sure how easy it will be with yours. I can imagine the new route is very expensive.

Yea, I'm definetely gonna go look on Co-partfinder or something. I just went to GM parts direct and their price is "only" $708! I'll order two just to be safe!

You don't even get the motor or actuator module with that! That's another $132 and $43 respectively!

[sonoma_zr2]

I actually left my pillar plastic off for a year, expecting the jy track to fail. It is still working, so I finally put my interior back together this spring.

[CaliSSEi]

I've had the same issue for the last 2-3 years. Appeared to have been caused by the inner sunshield (or whatever that's called) having high resistance to sliding open when it's really hot here. When it's above 100 degrees, that inner sunshield must expand or something in the slides causes more drag. I was always careful to open the inner shield first by hand, then open the sunroof, but my wife didn't really give a hoot and over time the "gear" noise got worse until all that works is the vent function. I dread pulling out the headliner. It took years to fix all the water leaks from the sunroof drains the trunk and the door panel leaks. I only found one wrecking yard with a 2001 Aurora sunroof for I think it was $175 plus $99 shipping. I'll hold out for a newer one. If anyone has found a fix, other than total replacement, please clue me in !

George

[harofreak00]

Ugh... I knew this was going to happen. I just replaced my sunroof assembly because one of the glass mounts was broken. It was also missing the air deflector. I thought to myself... who is going to buy a broken sunroof assembly? I smashed it and stuffed it into the trash. Would have worked perfect for you. :(

I found a sunroof assembly from an 02 SSEi at a junkyard for like $20.

[CMNTMXR57]

Murphy's law of course!

What junkyard? I've been looking now for the last two hours, contacted a few places. Most of these places on line use a standard software package that only allows selection between either sunroof glass or sunroof motor. So I've had to clarify that I don't need the motor, rather the whole assembly.

$20 vs. $700... Hmm, let me think about that one.

[harofreak00]

Just a local one to me. You'll need to continue your search. A u-pull would be best.

[gweg_b]

Mine did the same thing last year, just 2 weeks after I bought the car. Turns out a plastic piece attached to the cables and the track arm broke.

Turns out, with my brother's help and a LOT of work, we managed to reattach that plastic to the cable, back in July. Unfortunately, the sunroof will only vent, it won't go down and into the roof. But I was happy to at least have it venting again.

I was shocked when I saw the price of that frame when I looked at it a few months ago. Kinda nice to know that they aren't too much at a junkyard, if they can be found.

[Mystical-Myst]

My sunroof still works just that the plastic piece that slides under the window when it closes somehow got jammed and snapped pretty easily, not sure what its job is upposed to be but my sunroof doesnt leak or anything so lol

[CMNTMXR57]

I think you're referring to the pop up air deflector.

Haro, If time allows this weekend, I may try a few boneyards in the Aurora area that I used to frequent all the time.

I did find one at an auto salvager that test it and it works for $250+ shipping (which is gonna be costly due to the size of it). I think he may also be including the glass.

I was looking at how to fix it Saturday, but it's just not easily servicable. :(