Sunroof stopped working

[Ricochet]

Well this sucks.. when I hit the button there's a click from the back (where the motor is) but nothing happens. I pulled the ceiling down and hardwired a 12V cordless drill battery into the motor and it opened right up. Anybody know which link is busted in the chain from button to sunroof? Could I fix it myself?

[Miataracer]

are you sure the sunroof wasnt just stuck down? sometimes mine gets stuck and makes a weird noise when you push the button, then when you push up on the sunroof it will open right up as usual

[Ricochet]

Yeah I've pushed on it while tapping the button really fast and nothing happened. It didn't just stop cold-turkey, it was going slower and slower over a few months until it died.

[Miataracer]

thats rather strange... even stranger since it works like normal with an outside 12v source. I am not sure what could have happened to the wires that would cause something like that. maybe the motor is just going bad?

[Ricochet]

Motor's fine if the battery pops her open.. Somebody told me it could be the regulator or something? I guess that's a part which tells the motor which way to open... I don't know..

[Miataracer]

that would make sense... about like the posts about the slow windows

[cvcc_wagon]

try looking at the sitch, it could be that it is just messed, im not sure what the setup looks like but if you get it out and connect the wires behind it the sunroof may work fine in which case you would just have to get a new switch, if it still dosnt work remember that it is a pretty simple circiut, trace it back to your fuse panel and see if there are any weak points along thw way. another thing to keep in mind with any dc electrical setup, it is very often a faulty ground that is the problem

[Ricochet]

If the switch is bunk why would it make a click in the back though?

[cvcc_wagon]

because when the internals of the switch wair out very little current gets through, you may still be sending some current but not enough to drive the sunroof. a simple test would be to take the switch out and put a lead on each end, get a battery tester and a battery and compair the voltage and ampage with annd without the switch in the circuit. if it is much lower then something is wrong. it is normal for it to be a little lower tho

[Ricochet]

It's too hard to dig up in there. I may end up taking it to the place who installed it and see if it's still under warranty after almost 4 years. I just hate taking my car to shops unless I absolutely have to.