Sunroof f'd up...

[Towncar]

Hi folks.
My 2006 3 just hit 60k miles so forget factory warranty.
Yesterday I pressed the sunroof open button and it opened as expected...

Then I pulled up to the daughters school and hit the close button.. it came in about 75% then "ratta-tat-tat" and stopped moving.

I'm guessing there's a regulator up there that broke or ??? It'll retract but no close. I helped it along to make it less annoying, now it's almost closed.

Has anyone had sunroof problems yet? Is there a tech repair article out there someplace?

Thanks.

[shalezoom3]

I don't believe there are any TSB's or write ups on broken sunroofs. Looks like its a trip to the dealer.

[Towncar]

Originally Posted by shalezoom3

.. Looks like its a trip to the dealer.

Not a chance in *%&*%... I'll be writing the first tech TSB before I go to a dealer for anything.

[Towncar]

Well, that's done.

I can see now how the different door styles makes a huge difference.. that headliner is way too large, and fragile to remove from the car. I found that I can make any motor / glass / track repairs by just lowering the headliner down to the seats.

I this case, the motor worked LOOSE and came off the regulator. Three screws hold the motor in place, all three were loose, one came out.

The alignment was all out of whack from it skipping, so following the alignment process in the FSM, along with some common sense (roof closed, motor in closed position) the repairs went well.

The three screws are now torqued very tight, and threadlock applied.

Some wires transit the upside of the headliner, held in place by some very sticky tape.. I just cut those in place as markers to get the wires back in the same place, used hot glue to hold the wires down.



If you want to get the headliner out on the four door, the center console will have to be removed... I can also see how the front seats being removed would help with maneuvering clearance.

The FSM has all the process in detail, it works well especially where the fasteners are involved, holding the interior panels for A, B, & C pillars.

One thing not covered, the headliner wire harness is connected very low on the drivers side C pillar. If the seat back is in the way, it'll have to move to get the lower covers off that C pillar and expose the wire connector.

All headrests are in the way... take them all off before you start.

The Mazda 3 FSM is on my webpage.