Sunroof stuck in tilt position - 96 GP SE

[Brodizzle83]

Just bought a '96 Grand Prix SE coupe from the ORIGINAL owner today and while looking at it, I saw the sunroof was in the tilt position. While doing my check-over to make sure everything worked, the sunroof will NOT come out of tilt position. I hit the button and I can hear it clicking inside so the switch is working, but the motor will not engage. I just doused everything I could reach with Blaster lube and still nothing. Think the motor froze up?

 

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[Imp558]

No noise from the sunroof hopefully? My '95 had a crummy connection at a plug in front of the sunroof, once I cleaned it the sunroof worked.

I didn't do a thorough cleaning and it's still glitches so I have to go back in.

 

If it's not making any clicks or anything try whacking the headliner with your hand a few times in front of the moonroof to jostle stuff enough for you to get it closed.

 

And oh! - Congratulations! 

[55trucker]

I personally wouldn't get aggressive with the roofliner at the switch area, there are contours there & the headliner molding can crack easily after 20 years.

 

Could be a number of issues here, the track assembly may be binding, the transmission may be at fault, power into the control module could be the issue, the motor may have failed.

 

The glass can be closed manually, the headliner has to be dropped out of the way to get access to the motor transmission, a T handle is inserted into the gear drive & locked into place & pushed up to disengage the gear drive from the motor & then the handle can be cranked in either direction needed to close the glass, when finished pull the handle down to engage the gear to the motor & unlock the T handle.

 

 

[jiggity76]

Hey trucker, do you know what this plastic sunroof piece is for?  I found it laying between the glass and the vent shade.  My vent shade is not wanting to slide back when I use the moonroof or by hand.  It seems like it's binding somewhere.

 

[55trucker]

Those are the guide covers, there two on each side. They hinge together at the front and the outer portion moves up & down with the glass as it goes up & down in the vent position. They retract with the glass as it slide back into the headliner as well.

Those small stops in the 2nd & third photo are what the sunshade slider come up against when the shade is pushed opened.

[jiggity76]

Thank you, I've been wondering what they were since last fall.  So they are just there to cover up the guides and make them look nice? 

Could they be the reason why the shade is binding when I try to move it by hand?

[Brodizzle83]

I personally wouldn't get aggressive with the roofliner at the switch area, there are contours there & the headliner molding can crack easily after 20 years.

 

Could be a number of issues here, the track assembly may be binding, the transmission may be at fault, power into the control module could be the issue, the motor may have failed.

 

The glass can be closed manually, the headliner has to be dropped out of the way to get access to the motor transmission, a T handle is inserted into the gear drive & locked into place & pushed up to disengage the gear drive from the motor & then the handle can be cranked in either direction needed to close the glass, when finished pull the handle down to engage the gear to the motor & unlock the T handle.

 

 

Thanks, I'm going to try that today sometime since it's raining. Lol! So is the T-handle already installed on the transmission or is it something I need to buy somewhere?

 

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[55trucker]

The T handle is not included with the car, one has to find one, the one I have was an *extra* that I requested with the purchase of the car.

[Brodizzle83]

The T handle is not included with the car, one has to find one, the one I have was an *extra* that I requested with the purchase of the car.

Damn...I wonder where the hell I find one of those?! Oofta....this could suck.

 

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[55trucker]

It probably wouldn't be tooooo  difficult to make one, once you've got the headliner down you'll see the small round gear that it fits into, one has to use a piece of flat stock that is the same dimension as the opening & cut the grooves in the end to let the handle lock into place.

[Brodizzle83]

It probably wouldn't be tooooo difficult to make one, once you've got the headliner down you'll see the small round gear that it fits into, one has to use a piece of flat stock that is the same dimension as the opening & cut the grooves in the end to let the handle lock into place.

Okay, so probably make one out of a flathead screwdriver or something? That shouldn't be too damn hard. Thanks man!

 

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[Imp558]

You stand a far greater chance of breaking stuff with this plan. Those pieces of trim would love to break every tab that holds them so the headliner can come down. It has to happen at some point if you want to fix the real problem but whacking it with your hand and closing it with the switch will likely keep the rain out for now.

[Brodizzle83]

You stand a far greater chance of breaking stuff with this plan. Those pieces of trim would love to break every tab that holds them so the headliner can come down. It has to happen at some point if you want to fix the real problem but whacking it with your hand and closing it with the switch will likely keep the rain out for now.

I've tried hitting it and pushing the switch...nothing.

 

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[Brodizzle83]

It probably wouldn't be tooooo difficult to make one, once you've got the headliner down you'll see the small round gear that it fits into, one has to use a piece of flat stock that is the same dimension as the opening & cut the grooves in the end to let the handle lock into place.

Okay...I have the headliner partially dropped and I can't find for the life of me where insert the tool! I looked at the book and it isn't very helpful...

 

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[Imp558]

Dude if you're that far just clean the connections in the plugs and fix the problem.

[Brodizzle83]

Dude if you're that far just clean the connections in the plugs and fix the problem.

There is something other than the plugs...I can hear something clicking in the motor. It just doesn't engage. This sucks!

 

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[55trucker]

well from what I see in those photos.......

 

*that's interesting*.......that's not what the motor should look like.

 

the same part # was used in all of the W cars from 89 to 96.

 

Imp's manual illustrations are very near identical  to what my manuals are,

 

 

https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.com/products/Pontiac/1995/Grand-Prix/ACTUATOR-Sun-Roof/2655054/12530049.html

 

 

carefully without engaging the motor lower it down from the framework, when it's clear you should see the cable drive tubes above it & the openings to view the worm gear assembly,

 

with a grease pen mark the position of the exposed drive gear in relation to the transmission housing so you have a position reference,(you may have to clean off the grease in that area).

 

Momentarily close the power switch, does the motor spin?

[Imp558]

There is something other than the plugs...I can hear something clicking in the motor. It just doesn't engage. This sucks!

 

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Yeah, that's fucked. Since you're that far drop the motor with those couple screws, the gear is probably stripped right there and you can just turn it to get the car sealed for now.

[Imp558]

well from what I see in those photos.......

 

*that's interesting*.......that's not what the motor should look like.

 

the same part # was used in all of the W cars from 89 to 96.

 

Imp's manual illustrations are very near identical  to what my manuals are,

 

 

https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.com/products/Pontiac/1995/Grand-Prix/ACTUATOR-Sun-Roof/2655054/12530049.html

 

Do you think removing that plate off the gear head would expose the override hole or drop greasy parts into a clump on the floor?

[55trucker]

don't honestly know, that motor is not what I have installed into my sunroof assembly,

 

I'm wondering if the gear drive in the trans housing is jammed........

[Imp558]

It would be nice if the gearbox or drive gear were stripped - I mean as opposed to having the rack it moves be stripped.

[Brodizzle83]

I honestly don't care if it works at the moment...I just want it closed and sealed. Lol

 

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[Imp558]

If you drop the motor and gearbox it should just push shut.

[Brodizzle83]

Okay, I'll give it a shot tomorrow. Thanks!

 

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[Brodizzle83]

don't honestly know, that motor is not what I have installed into my sunroof assembly,

 

I'm wondering if the gear drive in the trans housing is jammed........

I've got a lead on a few junk yard cars that have sunroofs. Are all of the W-body sunroof motors interchangeable? One yard said $20 for one and the closer one said $30...both prices are if I pull them myself.

 

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