My 1988 Integra LS came with a power sunroof factory installed. Occasionally, it will work fine. Then after working properly for a day it either moves slowly or (more likely) not at all (although I can hear a slight power switching on). It may be a month or so before it will work again.

Based on the posts herein, I have lubed the tracks and cleaned and lubed the cables (with white lithium as with tracks). I removed the sunroof (as well as the headliner to reach the sunroof motor) in order to work with the tracks and cable and make sure the connections at the sunroof motor were secure.

An electrical engineer advised that it sounded like something related to the fuse box or otherwise an electrical connection problem. Both the sunroof and sunroof relay fuses are fine (switched out with working ones to test). Reasoning that it might be the sunroof relay I attempted to follow the wires from the sunroof switch to what I thought was the right relay. I replaced the relay (as well as an adjacent one that was the same model #) but no luck. Problem is I'm not sure where the sunroof relay switch is supposed to be (the Haynes Repair Manual says there is one). The wires from the sunroof switch are routed almost straight up from the switch into the upper regions of the dash and (in attempting to determine which relay might be the one) I traced a green wire back down into a relay.

I've tried to remove the sunroof switch but can't seem to get the release tabs to close in enough on the topside to get the bugger out. The bottom side is easier to work with because I can see it but can't see the top side.

My thinking was that if it were the sunroof motor that it would not work at all. So I have not attempted to replace the motor. I removed it and examined it and it appeared OK.

The threaded cable (that passes through the sunroof motor) was all gunked up and I did the best I could to clean it in the narrow window it is exposed to the motor. As far as I could tell there is no way to remove the cable from the tube/track.

Earlier this week it worked fine for a day. The next day it required a little pushing to open it (it seems to close better). Recently, all I hear is a sound like a breaker switch being flipped with nothing happening.

Thought that I had it solved when I removed the remnants of an alarm system that has long been broken. Found a frayed wire connection where it looked as though the alarm installer attempted to tap into a factory (power?) line. Unfortunately, this wasn't it.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Most threads talk about lubing the tracks/cables but, as I said, I've done this and it hasn't helped.

Thanks in advance for your time and attention.

 

First off, welcome to HAN. :cheers:

We don't get a lot of first-gen (86-89) owners these days. :happysad:
Sadly, I don't have a factory manual for your model year, so I can't tell you where the sunroof relay is. h:

That said, I think the problem might lie in the mechanical components.

When you re-installed the motor, are you confident that the motor shaft engaged the toothed drive wheel assembly?

1. On the 94-01 models, there's a adjustment nut at the base of the cable assembly that pre-loads the drivewheel clutch. If that clutch preload adjustment is too loose, the motor will spin, but the drivewheel won't grip the cables to draw the sunroof open. Based on your description of the components in your model year, I would expect a similar system in your car.

Do you hear the motor turn when you hit the sunroof switch?
Or does it sound like it's straining under load? :dunno:

2: I know it sounds like blind conjecture, but somehow I suspect it's the motor or the cable assembly that are part of the problem. Solenoids don't lose their ability to transmit power over time; they usually fail outright -- like a fuse.

If the tracks are clean and lubed... and the clutch is properly adjusted... and the motor is receiving power, then the motor armature or commutator brushes may be dead. With a seventeen-year-old car, it's a distinct possibilty.

My 2¥. h:

Once again, welcome to the board.

 

i am with dave on this, the first thing that came to my mind was a weak or dying motor.

 

Thanks, Guys, I appreciate the warm welcome.

There is an adjustment screw on the motor, so it sounds as though the unit is comparable to the '94-01 models. I did not check to ensure that the drivewheel was sychronized with the cable but will next time.

The only noise I hear now sounds as though power is being applied to the motor but it is either insufficient power or a defective motor as nothing happens. Thus, your description of it straining under the load seems accurate.

One concern I have is that the steel tube that channels the cable is very rusty on the outside. This rust apparently has gone all the way through the tube as the cable had some rust colored gunk on it. As I said above, I attempted to clean the cable (using BP Blaster) but was limited in this effort because I couldn't figure out how to remove the cable for a thorough cleaning. Thus, I used BP Blaster (a rust removal solvent) coupled with wiping the cable with a rag through the narrow exposure to the drivewheel. Not as clean as I would have liked but, hopefully, this isn't the problem. If a replacement motor doesn't solve the problem I guess I'll make another go at trying to clean this better.

I tend to agree with you guys that it is probably the motor and I intend to check my local salvage yard for one next week. Acura wants $255 and I couldn't find an aftermarket unit from the local AutoZone, Advance, or CarQuest. Any suggestions on sourcing this part?

Finally, I just did a seach "sunroof motor install" of the Integra forum and didn't get any results. Is there anything I should know about adjusting the drivewheel clutch when installing the replacement motor?

Again, thanks so much for the above comments. I think you're both right on target.

 

hahaha its a manic depressive.....just like me......sounds like it tried to kill itself too....just like me....what a world.