Help, sunroof stuck open and it's only 5 degrees.

[Hooper23]

Hi, I bought a used 1996 ford explorer for my daughter for christmas and on her first test drive she opened the sunroof and now it won't close. Any ideas? Is there even a way to get it to close manually? With the temperature at 5 degrees we can't even use the vehicle at all.

I have been looking online for a free repair manual but can't find one. If you could point me in the direction of a repair manual or give any counsel I'd sincerely appreciate it.

I think I'll go to youtube to see if I can see a video on how to remove the headliner carefully (so it can be replaced) and maybe take a look under there to see if anything looks obvious.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Mike65]

Welcome to EF. Check out this link I found here from 2009 doing a google search on how to manually close a power sun roof. The description is on post #-8 . http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233263

 

[Hooper23]

Thanks a million

Thanks so much for that link. I followed it and it worked perfectly. I was able to get the front console off and found the manual screwdriver notch and got the sunroof closed. You are seriously a rock star! That saved our family money that we don't have.

I suppose in the summer, when I have more money, I should try to figure out how to fix it to work but I'm tempted to just leave it closed in perpetuity.

Do you think there is an easy way to figure out why it wouldn't close or to figure out which part needs replacing? Hopefully it's a part right there under the console since I've learned how to gain access to that.

I can't thank you enough.

P.S. I did a search here before I posted and didn't find that post and I also did google searches and didn't find that post so thanks for being a better searcher than me and pointing me in the right direction.

 

[Junkmann2]

If it opened by power, then the problem most likely is either the switch, or the wire that sends power to reverse the motor. If a motor goes bad, it usually doesn't work at all. It also might just be stiff from the cold.

 

[Mike65]

Thanks so much for that link. I followed it and it worked perfectly. I was able to get the front console off and found the manual screwdriver notch and got the sunroof closed. You are seriously a rock star! That saved our family money that we don't have.

I suppose in the summer, when I have more money, I should try to figure out how to fix it to work but I'm tempted to just leave it closed in perpetuity.

Do you think there is an easy way to figure out why it wouldn't close or to figure out which part needs replacing? Hopefully it's a part right there under the console since I've learned how to gain access to that.

I can't thank you enough.

P.S. I did a search here before I posted and didn't find that post and I also did google searches and didn't find that post so thanks for being a better searcher than me and pointing me in the right direction.

Hooper23, you are welcome. That is why we are here to help each other. So glad it worked for you. If you have a 12 volt test light check to see if you have power going out of the switch when it is in the close mode, if not replace the switch, if there is power going out of the switch in close mode then you will have to trace the wiring to the motor.

 

[delexploder]

Its usually the switch, I've replaced mine twice

 

[Hooper23]

I've been looking online for a repair manual or something to tell me what I'm looking at so I know what the switch looks like and what I'm testing to see if I need to replace the switch. Short of pictures I'm not even sure what I'm looking at.

Any suggestions on how to find pictures or a repair manual so I know what to test?

 

[Junkmann2]

If you are not certain about the switch, and how to test it, then you would be safer to leave it to someone who has knowledge of automobile electrical systems. Manuals are printed for people that have a rudimentary understanding of the cars systems, not for the novice.