Sunroof Rebuild

[Matthew Jeschke]

Okay, I'm going to need to start a whole new post for this lol So I've got my new to me sunroof track assembly in the roof of my Tahoe. I rebuild one of the gears for my stripped motor using JB weld while waiting for the good one to arrive. Motor works perfectly with JB weld fix.

However, track binds up. I cannot figure out why. It will go back to the full retracted position no problem. However, when I command it to come forward with the switch, it moves a bit then stops. For a while I could get it to come all the way forward, but it wouldn't tilt up (I need the mount to tilt up so I can install the glass.

Now it will only come part way. I used the allen key to overide the motor and push it forward. The track went forward, but wouldn't go up. I retracted it and tried again, but now the glass mount is stuck in the back of the track and the alen key override is stripped.

I'm waiting for the new motor to arrive, hopefully today. However, I'm at a loss for what's going on here. Motor is not binding at all, it's something else.

Video of me playing with it demonstrating problem:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oqNX06fgbd8K6ez_AaZK5fk6QU4S1FA8/view?usp=sharing

 

[Tonyrodz]

I don't know anything about sunroofs, but are the tracks cleared of debris? Are they lubed really well? Sometimes the littlest thing will stop the track from moving. That's all I got.

 

[OR VietVet]

I was looking for an aerial view of the track rail without the track rolling thru it. Wanted to see if there was a pinch in there. I am sure you checked though.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

Tony, you may not be a sunroof guy but you were right lol I'll post a video... I got it figured out took a bit of careful fidgeting with the motor's manual override.

The bushing was seized in the leaver arm that extends the sunroof up. And the stop was sticking on the track. It needed a good lube. I cleaned it with dish soap and rags. Then liberally applied 3M Slicon grease and exercised the track.

Also I learned why so many people are stripping the gears and socket to manually override the sunroof motor. You have to push up till the gear set disengages on the sun roof. This manually overrides the motor. Otherwise it spins the motor and gear set when your manually moving the track.

Now I need to learn howto reinstall this factory wind deflector. It came out when I removed the sunroof from the truck in the junkyard. I looked at GmPartsDirect / factory exploded view of parts. Didn't shed much light. I'm watching youtube sunroof videos hoping to catch a glimpse of how it sat in there lol

 

[Tonyrodz]

Tony, you may not be a sunroof guy but you were right lol I'll post a video... I got it figured out took a bit of careful fidgeting with the motor's manual override.

The bushing was seized in the leaver arm that extends the sunroof up. And the stop was sticking on the track. It needed a good lube. I cleaned it with dish soap and rags. Then liberally applied 3M Slicon grease and exercised the track.

Also I learned why so many people are stripping the gears and socket to manually override the sunroof motor. You have to push up till the gear set disengages on the sun roof. This manually overrides the motor. Otherwise it spins the motor and gear set when your manually moving the track.

Now I need to learn howto reinstall this factory wind deflector. It came out when I removed the sunroof from the truck in the junkyard. I looked at GmPartsDirect / factory exploded view of parts. Didn't shed much light. I'm watching youtube sunroof videos hoping to catch a glimpse of how it sat in there lol

View attachment 241354

You're almost there Matt. I give you an A+++ for your persistence and patience. Keep at it buddy, I'm positive you'll figure it out.

 

[OR VietVet]

Never once in all the years I was in shops did myself as a tech or my techs when I was the service manager, deal with the sun roofs. I am now glad we didn't. Like Tony said, you have hung in there like a dog on a bone. This persistence is inspiring to say the least.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

I am really impressed with the design after fixing it a up. I'd be suprised if many of these broke.

I honestly thing the main failure mode is that gear set or perhaps a button. and of course debris in the drains. Otherwise it seems to be built very well.

I was just fortunate enough to have a truck with a highly jurry rigged sunroof lol

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[satpoolman]

Now I need to learn howto reinstall this factory wind deflector. It came out when I removed the sunroof from the truck in the junkyard. I looked at GmPartsDirect / factory exploded view of parts. Didn't shed much light. I'm watching youtube sunroof videos hoping to catch a glimpse of how it sat in there lol

View attachment 241354

Hey Matt,
Did you ever figure out the reinstall of the wind deflector? While looking at cleaning my sunroof drain tubes, I noticed my wind deflector wasn't springing up as usual. The rear of the arms on either side of the deflector (on mine) look like they should be attached to the sunroof channel with small rivets, but appear to have broken off? The forward part of the deflector has a tab on either side that slide into small slots. I played around with the tabs/springs and was able to remove/reinstall the forward part of the deflector, but going to have to figure out a way to reattach the side arms in the channel. For the time being, I just removed the wind deflector so I can at least use the sunroof. Hope this helps.

E

 

[Tonyrodz]

If iirc, @adventurenali92 had the same issue with his.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

I never got the wind deflector figured out. honestly i haven't tried too hard yet though.

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