Short version.....mine doesn't work.
I'm assuming this must mean a failure in a motor/fuse/relay/wiring or the cabling system.
Is the mechanism in a self contained "cassette" type? Hopefully this would let me swap it out for a working unit if that is where the problem lies. Any tips on testing/diagnosis?
Sunroof woes
Moderator: martauto
I know squat about electrics, car or otherwise, so it's about time I learned. I've bought a multimeter, now I have to figure out how to use it. The roof panel is slightly raised at one corner and operating the open/close switch does nothing at all. No sounds no movement.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Very unusual for the roof motor to be totally dead. First check, as Sanchez says, is to pull out the switch, unplug it, and check for 12 volts between the green/blue wire and one of the brown wires - but not with your shiny new multimeter.
On an unloaded circuit, such as this will be, meters can give very misleading results, so use a 12 volt bulb of 5W or 21W instead, and check that it lights at full brightness. Most of my auto electrics testing is done with an ex. E30 indicator repeater bulb, holder and lead, with the plug cut off and replaced by a couple of crocodile clips.
On an unloaded circuit, such as this will be, meters can give very misleading results, so use a 12 volt bulb of 5W or 21W instead, and check that it lights at full brightness. Most of my auto electrics testing is done with an ex. E30 indicator repeater bulb, holder and lead, with the plug cut off and replaced by a couple of crocodile clips.
Thanks for the tip Brian. The sunroof hasn't worked in years I've just never been bothered enough to fix it until now. I'm guessing the worst case scenario would be the cable system failure? Does it come in the form of a self contained cassette that can be swapped out relatively easily, or is it a nightmare in the making?
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Sunroof isn't exactly a self contained cassette, but it's all easy to work on and set up.
If you have to dismantle the mechanism in the hatch, beware of the stainless steel plates - they have EXTREMELY sharp edges.
The motor, gearbox and cam switch assembly comes out as one unit, held up by four bolts. Once this is out of the way, and the mechanism dismantled in the hatch aperture, the cables can be pulled back out of their guide tubes. The only thing that normally goes wrong with an E30 sunroof is that the grease on the cables and slides hardens with age, and the motor just doesn't have sufficient power to work it, but this doesn't sound like the only problem with yours , if the motor is dead.
If you have to dismantle the mechanism in the hatch, beware of the stainless steel plates - they have EXTREMELY sharp edges.
The motor, gearbox and cam switch assembly comes out as one unit, held up by four bolts. Once this is out of the way, and the mechanism dismantled in the hatch aperture, the cables can be pulled back out of their guide tubes. The only thing that normally goes wrong with an E30 sunroof is that the grease on the cables and slides hardens with age, and the motor just doesn't have sufficient power to work it, but this doesn't sound like the only problem with yours , if the motor is dead.