Sunroof Motor Replacement Cost Estimate

If the sunroof will not function, the motor is not automatically considered the point of failure. First, the fuse will be checked and tested for power. Next, the relay and terminals will be inspected for corrosion, and then tested for operation (relay) and continuity. Finally, if the sunroof circuit is receiving power when demanded by the switch, the sunroof motor will be bench tested, since it is suspected of failure. If no power is present at any of these locations, the body control module, or even the switch, the sunroof motor will not be immediately suspected, instead, the sunroof position sensor may be suspected, or the circuit could have physical or electrical damage.

The worst part of replacing a power sunroof motor is that the motor is buried underneath the headliner. This means at a minimum, the headliner will need to be lowered from the ceiling, if not removed altogether. In order to remove the headliner in most vehicles, the interior trim for all pillars must be removed, followed by all overhead mounted assemblies and lights. Then the headliner may have a few fasteners which need to be removed to lower the assembly. After this is accomplished, if it must be removed, a seat or windshield may need to be removed in order to extract the headliner. At this point, the sunroof assembly can be extracted by removing a few fasteners and electrical connections, or the motor may be removed from the assembly if possible. Replacement is the reverse of removal, and noting that special care must be taken to avoid creasing or cracking the headliner, as well as frequent hand cleaning to avoid staining the headliner with the thick abrasive grease used in the sunroof regulator assembly.

Whenever there is a failure in the sunroof, especially if it is left open, we recommend immediately consulting the owner's manual for advice on how to operate the sunroof without battery power or a properly functioning motor. This can save time, frustration, repair costs, and undue damage to the vehicle's interior.

If the sunroof is open while the vehicle is having issues with the battery or other charging system components, it is highly important that the sunroof be closed immediately. This will prevent the issues mentioned above from coming to fruition. If a vehicle with a bad sunroof motor must be left outside, the roof area should be covered with a tarp, or the sunroof should be sealed with a non-permeable membrane and a clear coat-safe tape. Even if some water penetrates under the tape, it will likely drain through the sunroof body drains instead of entering the interior of the vehicle.

Replacing the sunroof motor or assembly can be an extremely tedious job. However, if the headliner does not need removal, the sunroof motor is known to be faulty, and the tools are on hand, most people with some DIY experience will find this a long but simple job. If diagnostics must be completed on a modern vehicle, a solid understanding of computerized electronic circuit testing is needed.