sunshade wont retract

just bought an 05 malibu maxx today and while showing off the sunshade, it wouldnt retract. thinking tugging it a bit would cause it to catch and start retracting again, my friend gave it a tug and now it still wont retract. i think the rod that the shade wraps around actually got tugged out of the groove it's supposed to be in.

please please please help. is there any way to fix it and get it to retract again? dealership said they can try to fix it but it's basically my problem now. :(

Fairly common problem on the Maxxes (my '04 had the notorious "snapping open" phenom when I first bought it (new), but there's a TSB fix for that - which, should that happen with yours, should be a free dealer fix).

Your problem does require disassembly of the plastic surrounding the skylights. Best that a dealer do that. Going forward, try to be gentle when retracting the shades (I know you didn't cause the present problem).

I assume you bought it from a Chevy dealer (?). If so it should be THEIR problem, given that I'm sure you at least have a 30-day warranty.....

actually I bought it from a Mitsubishi dealer - it was a trade in. I'm taking it back to them today to see if they will be able to fix it.

Well, I have an idea, but your signature advised me to shut my mouth.

Well, I would like to hear your idea unless it's, "You're an idiot for buying a Chevy from a Mitsubishi dealer."

Since the Maxx is now discontinued, I expect we'll be seeing a lot of questions in here from folks who purchased one from a non-Chevy dealer.

I'd have been concerned had it been a Malibu sedan bought from a Mitsu dealer.

Many Maxx owners are looking at smaller SUVs (RAV4 V-6 in my case) for their next vehicle. Bet your Maxx was traded in on a new Outlander. I considered that, but I'm fearful that Mitsu won't make it much longer.

actually I was told the Maxx was traded in for a Beetle. EWWWW. Anyway, is my only option, if I take it to the dealer or fix the sunshade myself, to remove the trim, roll the shade back onto the spindle, and reset some kind of spring? I'm not sure how retracting mechanisms work and I cant find a darn thing on google about how they work (other than patent applications, which are worded so cryptically it's like trying to read Egyptian).

I have no idea how the retracting mechanism works, since mine has never jammed. BUT, what I have heard is that removing the skylight trim also requires removing part (or all) of the headliner. Frankly, I think your best bet might be to bite the bullet and visit a Chevy dealer for the fix.

That way, you can also inquire about the "snapping open" TSB fix, which is probably what caused the shade to snap so hard, it got stuck. What they do is reinforce the edges of the trim where you latch the shades shut. Otherise, the trim is so "floppy" that the shades work themselves loose and snap open. Chevy fixed this mid-way through the '05 model year - yours might be an early '05.

Decided to suck it up and forget about the sunshade since I'll probably have to pay to get it fixed. I dont mind them being open all the time anyway.

Does anyone else keep them closed, and is there any benefit to keeping them closed? Or any downfall to keeping them open? I figured if they're open all the time, they cant snap closed and scare the crap out of me. It's safer that way.

I leave mine open. Most people just assume that it is supposed to be that way and never ask questions. I did b/c im afraid someone will draw blood trying to open/close them.