Sunroof Doesn't Work - Clicking Nosie From Dash

[edwerd]

Hey all,

Sorry to bother with such a simple problem but I don't have the equipment or experience to correctly diagnose the issue.

I recently replaced my faulty sunroof switch with a perfectly working one provided by one of you awesome shoforum members -- however a few weeks later I decided to remove the console again to epoxy one of the metal brackets which was falling off and after putting it back in my sunroof stopped working again!

I hear a clicking noise coming from the dash (first time I heard this relay click when depressing the button) which I've read would indicate a bad relay, but others on this forum have also mentioned it could be a bad motor or, once again, switch.

Could anyone tell me if the moonroof relay clicking indicates a bad relay or could also be caused by something else? i.e. bad motor or switch. I'm really hoping it's the relay.

Thank you for your help,

Eddie

 

[hawkeye18]

umm... I can't help you with that, sorry, but I can tell you that the only way you're going to permanently mount those brackets onto the plastic part is by heating the bracket up to about 500 degrees. seriously. Put it in a flame 'til the rust starts burning off, then (carefully) stick it into the console. Push hard; it'll melt the plastic under it. It'll never come off again, I can promise you that (unless you moved it while it was cooling).

 

[ManySHOs]

umm... I can't help you with that, sorry, but I can tell you that the only way you're going to permanently mount those brackets onto the plastic part is by heating the bracket up to about 500 degrees. seriously. Put it in a flame 'til the rust starts burning off, then (carefully) stick it into the console. Push hard; it'll melt the plastic under it. It'll never come off again, I can promise you that (unless you moved it while it was cooling).

Actually, JB Weld works great. Granted, I've only had it on for 100K miles and 10 years...

Ian

 

[edwerd]

umm... I can't help you with that, sorry, but I can tell you that the only way you're going to permanently mount those brackets onto the plastic part is by heating the bracket up to about 500 degrees. seriously. Put it in a flame 'til the rust starts burning off, then (carefully) stick it into the console. Push hard; it'll melt the plastic under it. It'll never come off again, I can promise you that (unless you moved it while it was cooling).

Hm, I don't know about that. The epoxy I used is pretty strong, shoud last the life of the car.

 

[projectSHO89]

Liquid Nails also works...

Steve

 

[hawkeye18]

but putting stuff in a fire is so much cooler. Tell me I'm wrong.

 

[SHO SPD]

A working relay will click. Are you sure you didn't accidentally disconnect the switch when you were reattaching the console?

 

[edwerd]

A working relay will click. Are you sure you didn't accidentally disconnect the switch when you were reattaching the console?

Ah okay, good to know. Before putting the console back in place I attached the switch to the harness and the relay was clicking even then. I didn't wiggle the wires around to see if maybe something was loose or re-seat the connection as I was in a rush but I'll go do that once it stops pouring here.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

 

[edwerd]

A working relay will click. Are you sure you didn't accidentally disconnect the switch when you were reattaching the console?

I removed the console again and inspected all the wiring, looks great. Plugged and unplugged. The switch isn't cracked or anything. Any ideas?

I'm getting worried it's the motor, but it has never given me any issues before. Everything worked until I removed the console. I didn't pull or tug any wires.

Bah.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Since the moonroof console is off, did you try applying power directly to the motor to see if it works ?

 

[edwerd]

Since the moonroof console is off, did you try applying power directly to the motor to see if it works ?

I would of course like to try that but I'm not sure how to safely go about it. What source of power should I use and which wire do I apply it to?

 

[edwerd]

I just ordered a new relay which I'll replace and I'm fixing my old switch which cracked to see if it's one of those. I don't know what I should use to power the motor so I can test it.

 

[thecrew2999]

clicking replay does mean it is working usually... but i have found relays with bad connections from old age im guessing but anyways they can still be bad only way to know for sure is multimeter

 

[edwerd]

Thanks. I fixed my old switch and still no luck. The relay still clicks when depressing the button but the motor doesn't budge. All wires and connections are in great condition, along with the motor. Still not sure what the problem is. Waiting on that relay to arrive.

If I replace the relay and it still doesn't work I'll just bring it somewhere and have everything tested -- I don't have a multimeter.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

May be the moonroof motor is "locked-up" (ie. failed) . . . ?

 

[edwerd]

Perhaps, though I really doubt it. Car sat in a garage most of it's life and is very low mileage. Without anything to test it I'm not sure at this point. If replacing the relay doesn't work, I'll just buy a new motor. If that still doesn't work, then at least I have a new motor!

 

[jruss1601]

Perhaps, though I really doubt it. Car sat in a garage most of it's life and is very low mileage. Without anything to test it I'm not sure at this point. If replacing the relay doesn't work, I'll just buy a new motor. If that still doesn't work, then at least I have a new motor!

I'm having the same problem now. I can tell you what i did. Went to the junkyard and got another moonroof motor. They tested it before i left with it. It worked. I changed my old one out, put this new one in and nothing. Someone here told me to grease the tracks. I was going to until my dad came over and said that can't be the problem. So he checked it out and said the clicking relay could be the problem. I took it out and am going to look into getting another. Afterwards he said lets try the putting power to the motor. So he was going to attach a jumper cable to the negative side of the battery and the other end touch to the moonroof motor. We tryed it but then realized we had taken the relay out. So nothing happened. I might try reattaching it later and trying it again if you guys say a clicking relay does work. Does that mean it is working because its clicking or that it could be faulty and still click?

Goodluck man. If you figure it out let me know

 

[jruss1601]

I'm having the same problem now. I can tell you what i did. Went to the junkyard and got another moonroof motor. They tested it before i left with it. It worked. I changed my old one out, put this new one in and nothing. Someone here told me to grease the tracks. I was going to until my dad came over and said that can't be the problem. So he checked it out and said the clicking relay could be the problem. I took it out and am going to look into getting another. Afterwards he said lets try the putting power to the motor. So he was going to attach a jumper cable to the negative side of the battery and the other end touch to the moonroof motor. We tryed it but then realized we had taken the relay out. So nothing happened. I might try reattaching it later and trying it again if you guys say a clicking relay does work. Does that mean it is working because its clicking or that it could be faulty and still click?

Goodluck man. If you figure it out let me know

also, was your relay made by BMW? Mine was. I found that .......interesting

 

[Izzmo]

So... anything new? Did the new relay switch fix it?

 

[edwerd]

Sorry, for some reason I didn't get notification of all these new replies until now...

Yup, I replaced the relay and reseated all the connections to the motor again and it works great now. I think I only paid $10 for the relay, and yes it was made by BMW. ha

Thanks guys,
Ed