Sunroof power and a need to close this thing

[0232Mike]

I am currently mulling over throwing a road flare in my 06 H3 and finding a cliff to push it over. My latest drama is the sunroof. I have already dealt with the drainage issue, now it is the power sunroof itself.

I put it into the vent position and now it will not open or close. I hear an electrical humming noise but no movement whatsoever. All I want to do is lower it from the vent position to the closed position...and this is the key part....I will never use the power sunroof again. I just want it in the permanently closed position. I don't really want to replace anything, just close it to keep the elements out. I suspect the motor is shot.

There has got to be a way to shut this thing without utilizing the motor??

Thanks for any advice,
Mike

 

[cbetts]

I haven't had mine apart yet, but I am willing to bet that it is the same design GM has used for years. I had a 1998 Monte Carlo that suffered the same fate. There are some stupid little plastic pieces that love to break, especially if you keep your vehicle parked in the sun which make the plastic brittle. You can pull the glass out and see if you can assist the mechanism back in place enough to get the glass back into the normal closed state.

I bought my rebuild kit from www.sunroofdoctor.com. They do not show a kit for the H3, but it might be worth it to give them a call.

FWIW- I know that exact feeling you are going through. Sunroofs can be miserable when they fail.

 

[SedonaBound]

No manual closing means! That sucks; every other sunroof I've owned had it.

 

[f5moab]

I haven't had a way to manually close a GM sunroof for more years than I can remember. And only time I ever had a problem was many years ago, and had to drive home from FL with a garbage bag duct taped to the roof, and that was in a Ford.:giggle: But then GM does not make sunroofs. I believe the H3 sunroof was manufactured by Inalfa or possibly Wabasto.

The motor sounds like it has failed and not turning the shaft. Might want to try...
Have someone press the switch, while you press down on the glass.
Pull back the headliner and pull the motor, then try and lower it.

 

[SedonaBound]

I've only had 'em in German cars. Maybe its requirement there. They even provide a little crank in the tool kit.

 

[f5moab]

Actually, my Cadillac Catera had a little hand crank to close the sunroof. Forgot about that until you mentioned it and that was a German Opal designed car, or as I liked to refer to it, one of the biggest pieces of dog manure that GM ever decided to sell in the USA.

 

[cbetts]

Actually, my Cadillac Catera had a little hand crank to close the sunroof. Forgot about that until you mentioned it and that was a German Opal designed car, or as I liked to refer to it, one of the biggest pieces of dog manure that GM ever decided to sell in the USA.

I thought the Cadillac Cimarron held that title! Ah yes, the infamous GM J-body . . .