Sunroof Closing Problem

[hama]

I have a 1994 Camry. Sometimes, but not always when I try to close the sunroof it does not move. Usually, I can get it to close after toggling the switch many times. The problem only seems to happen with the sliding but not tilting, though I did not check that thoroughly. What is the most likely cause of this?

[LynchburgCSI]

Probably an electrical issue. Maybe with the contacts in the switch itself, or the wires at the switch. Sounds like a game of hunting down the problem with a multimeter!

[hama]

Thank you. A mechanic who looked at it, i.e. the issue but not the switches, etc, suggested the problem is with the motor. My suspecious was with the relays. Could this be?

In any case, I definitely will take a look at the actual switch as well. I assume I should be reading 12V at the input terminals of the relays, correct?

[LynchburgCSI]

Around 12 volts, yes. jiggle things around and be sure all the wires are secure too. Check the motor and relays too.

[hama]

Ok, I did some more troubleshooting. When the sunroof gets stuck and I hit the switch I can hear the relays switching for both directions. I also meassured the voltage at the motor and it is 12V (on different pins, depending on the direction). However, the motor does not move. So it does not seem to be the switch/toggle.

With that I think it's either the relays or the motor but I'm not sure which one. The motor has 2 places each of which has two cables. These cables go back into the relays (I'm not talking about the power here). I suspect the motor measures the torque and depending on that shuts the motor down. So maybe the motor has an issue. However, if that is the case then why does the relays not cut the power to the motor? So at the end I'm not any wiser.

Btw, if I keep the switch pressed after some time I hear a clicking from the motor that repeats every 5-20 seconds (interval does not stay the same). Eventually, when I realease the switch and press it again the sunroof moves.

Any ideas which part the culprit is?

[LynchburgCSI]

That's odd. Based on what you've said, I'd go ahead and pull the sun roof motor. Bench test it, and replace if necessary.

[zppeacock]

Mine does this also, about once every month, I just rock the switches and it works agine, i think its just a bad spot in the motor and every once in a while it stops in that bad spot.

[hama]

Ok, I decided to just get a replacement motor and relays and to keep it reasonably priced I was looking to purchase used parts. The local stores could not find the parts in the system and I now see that these online used part vendors don't have it either. There are categories for Window Motors but not for a sunroof/moonroof. Do these go by a different name or how can I get these parts?

[LynchburgCSI]

I'll send you a PM with the parts sheet. You can find a part number there.

[hama]

LynchburgCSI, I really appreciate all your quick responses. Here is a summary:

- The sunroof would suddenly get stuck and not move. It happend both for slide and tilt but more often for tilt.

- I can hear the clicking from the relays. When the sunroof gets stuck I did not hear a click, i.e. the motor probably still had power and the switch seems ok.

- After it did get stuck I disconnected the cable from the motor and measured the voltage. It showed 12V so power did go to the motor at least when I measured, i.e. the switch works (support conclusion from above)

- Keeping the switch depressed for maybe a couple of minutes did result in the sunroof working again. Note that after about a minute I started hearing a light clicking that happened every 10-20 seconds. It did come from the motor and not the relays and the clicking was not as loud as from the relays.

I was not sure if it was the motor or the relays. Considering that the motor costs ~$200 and I could not find any part number for the relays, not even in the list LynchburgCSI sent me, I decided to go to a junkyard and get the part there. Then at least I would not spend that much money if it does not work. I ended paying $2 entrance + $25 (50% off for labor day) and the part came with 30 days warranty. I disconnected the relays (it's actually a bit more then that) which is a green box approx 3"x2"x1" and connected it to the existing motor. After that everything worked so the problem was with the relays and not the motor.

Now where do you get this relays. I simply don't know. Either it's not being sold or it comes as a part of the motor (though the drawing does not show it). For my Camry the motor part number is 63260-32023. Anyways, I hope that helps some people who have the same issue.

[kasperjames]

97 camry sun roof, can you send me any information on getting mine repaired? sorry for intruding.