Moonroof Issue

[Mlarv5]

Most car and house electrical switch off the positive (hot wire). This way if there is a short to ground it will not start a fire. So for the motor to just start up and run the switch or relay controlling it would have to be bad. I will bet after it opened the fuse blew out to protect the motor from consistently running. So I if I where trouble shooting this I would start at the switch and move to the motor. I had a friend that had an Dodge Caravan that the rear wiper would just turn on when ever it wanted to. Turns out it was a screw that held the plastic trim piece up shorted out a wire.

 

[peterk9]

Good point. I sure hope that having spent all that time trying to figure out the problem that the techs actually checked the fuse.

Peter

 

[JordanAshley]

Thank you for the reply! The Explorer is still in the shop being worked on. They told me the switch tested good but the motor got wet somehow and shorted out. They are unsure how the motor got wet and still have been unable to get the moonroof closed. Such a frustrating experience. I can’t believe it opened on its own in the first place and in the middle of winter at that!

 

[JAPeterson]

A wet electrical system will do some strange things. Opening a moon roof is one of the minor one.

I have never seen a vehicle that doesn't have problems with them sooner or later. My sister has a vehicle that has one and it works like it has a mind of it's own. Her vehicle has been at the dealer multiple times and when one problem is fixed with the moon roof another one shows up. But it isn't a Ford.

 

[peterk9]

Thank you for the reply! The Explorer is still in the shop being worked on. They told me the switch tested good but the motor got wet somehow and shorted out. They are unsure how the motor got wet and still have been unable to get the moonroof closed. Such a frustrating experience. I can’t believe it opened on its own in the first place and in the middle of winter at that!

There was another member who also had a similar issue with the motor getting wet. There are 2 motors up there. One for the glass and one for the shade.

Peter

 

[RC_556]

Hi everyone -

I was looking for some more information on my Explorer as it had the exact same problem. Back in October 17, the car flooded by way of the moonroof. The drains clogged up and, with the car parked nose down, the water came in through the light/switch panel in the headliner. Everything in the center console and glove box was flooded/soaked and I had about 1-2" of standing water in the front floor boards.

Got that cleaned up, dried out, and eventually most things came back online except the hazard light switch being DOA and the moonroof not working (switch wasn't responsive for the roof but the shade motor still worked). I didn't worry about it since I could keep everything sealed up and parked correctly.


Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and we get another deluge, car floods again and I got it cleaned up and dried out without a problem. But a couple days later while I was in work, the moonroof opened itself. No keys in the car or engine running, just walk into work with a closed roof and walk out with an open one.


Got it into the dealership and they got the drains cleared out and the parts on order for the roof. Turns out the last flood killed the other motor, so both needed to be replaced. Total bill at the dealership is looking to be $1000-1100 for anyone who gets into this situation in the future and wonders what the cost will be. Not happy about the situation, but it'll be fixed and I be glad I won't have to drive to work with plastic sheeting duct taped to the roof!

Next step is to try and find a junkyard with an Explorer to try and get the center console switch panel out of it to replace the one with the bad hazard switch (Autonation couldn't or wouldn't help me on that one) and get the front suspension rebuilt.

I know one thing, this is my last moonroof car ever. The Explorer has been okay to me for the last 35k, but damn if a 4Runner doesn't look tempting after this.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum RC_556.
While the 'flooding' due to clogged drain tubes has happened a few ties, I don't think it what you can call a common one. Did you have the drain tubes cleared after the first incident? I've had moon/sun roofs on my last 6 vehicles and never had any issues. Personally, I wouldn't get a vehicle without one. BTW, my sister-in-law just traded her 2016 4Runner for a 2018 due to a reoccurring electrical issue.

Peter

 

[RC_556]

Welcome to the Forum RC_556.
While the 'flooding' due to clogged drain tubes has happened a few ties, I don't think it what you can call a common one. Did you have the drain tubes cleared after the first incident? I've had moon/sun roofs on my last 6 vehicles and never had any issues. Personally, I wouldn't get a vehicle without one. BTW, my sister-in-law just traded her 2016 4Runner for a 2018 due to a reoccurring electrical issue.

Peter

Thanks, Peter. The drains were cleared as best I could with the tools and equipment I had available to me at the time (I had just moved and all my tools were scattered to who knows where and the rental wasn't conducive to car work). As to the moonroof, I'll agree to disagree. This is the second Ford moonroof that has bit me. The first was in a MN12 Cougar where the drain tubes clogged up and trapped water in the rockers and then the spare parts couldn't be sourced to rebuild the track when it needed it. At least that one had a panel I could remove to manually close the moonroof if needed. I'll never own a moonroof car again. Period.

To update the situation, the dealer (or their subcontractor) replaced the front and rear drain tubes and leak tested them. The dealer then replaced both motors as they were fried. However, last night we had our first substantial rain last night and the problem moved to the rear of the moonroof area

The third row floorboard (shout out to Weathertech Floor Mats, they contained what water hit the floor) and the kiddo's car seat in the passenger side of the second row were flooded pretty good. I looked at the headliner and the corner above that seat was still dripping water. I'm guessing the drain tube came loose/wasn't installed correctly. I'll call the dealership tomorrow to see what my options are, because another $1000 repair bill is not in the budget for the second time in a month. They still owe me a trim piece that wasn't reinstalled anyway, but this isn't the way I wanted to go back and talk to them.

I'm beside myself right now. I was planning on this being a 7-8 year car like my Crown Victoria was. Now I'm looking at throwing away what little equity I have in it, paying the idiot tax, and getting something that isn't the automotive equivalent of a screen door on a submarine.

 

[iamtmo]

My 2014 Explorer had a Sunroof leak but before I could clear the drains the sunroof quit working(closed). However the sunshade will open and close to the back 2/3 but not go through to the front 1/3. I have replaced both fuses and the switches and still not working. With all the rain we've been having in Oklahoma this week I tried a quick fix last night by covering the seams of the sunroof with painters tape to prevent some of the leaking until I can get it to the dealer. This morning I came out to a sunroof that was open 4 inches on its own and 3 inches of water in the floorboard that I had just vacuumed out last night. What the heck is going on here. How could it open on it's own? Any ideas are greatly appreciated. If there's a way to close it would be great.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
Your thread was merged with this existing one.
There is a good chance that the motor that operates the moon roof is bad. There are 2 motors. One for the glass partition and one for the shade which seems to be working. Although I doubt it is a fuse, have you checked it? If your auto-dimming rearview mirror is working then the fuse should be good as they both use fuse #38. As far as I know, there is no way to manually close it. Good luck.
2011-2017 Ford Motor BB5Z-15790-A | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake

Peter

 

[iamtmo]

Welcome to the Forum.
Your thread was merged with this existing one.
There is a good chance that the motor that operates the moon roof is bad. There are 2 motors. One for the glass partition and one for the shade which seems to be working. Although I doubt it is a fuse, have you checked it? If your auto-dimming rearview mirror is working then the fuse should be good as they both use fuse #38. As far as I know, there is no way to manually close it. Good luck.
2011-2017 Ford Motor BB5Z-15790-A | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake

Peter

Yes, I simply replaced the fuses instead of just checking. Better safe than sorry. I guess I'll just order a motor for the Sunroof side and try to replace it. I appreciate the info.