Sunroof / Moonroof: Description and Operation

The Saturn sunroof features a sliding glass panel with a manually operated sunshade. The sunroof is operated by a rocker switch located on the map lights panel at the front of the headliner. The sunroof has three positions: OPEN, CLOSED and VENT position. When the sunroof is open, the glass panel is outside of the car, above the roof panel. This design provides more occupant head clearance.

The rocker switch is only operational with the ignition switch in the RUN position. The OPEN/VENT side of the switch has two positions and the CLOSE side has one position. Pushing the rear of the rocker switch to the first position and holding it, puts the sunroof in the VENT position. Pushing it to the second position and holding it will put the sunroof in the OPEN position. The sunshade can be manually opened to achieve vent position air flow. Vent air flow can be modulated by how far the glass panel is opened in the vent position. To close the sunroof, push the front of the rocker switch and hold it until the sunroof closes.

The glass panel will raise at the rear and retract during the opening cycle. As the panel opens, it moves the sunshade to the open position as well. The sunshade can be manually opened and closed from inside the car while the glass panel is in the closed position. The sunshade is designed to stay in the open position while the glass panel is in the open position.

Any water that passes the roof seal is drained from the sunroof tray by four tubes that lead from the comers of the tray to the rocker panels of the car. The tray which acts as a framework for the sunroof assembly, has a water channel that encircles the sunroof opening and directs water to the drain tubes.

Operation

IMPORTANT: With the headliner removed, the sunroof can be manually cycled with a key shaped tool. This key fits into the drive gear, and when turned will operate the sunroof drive cables and simultaneously open or close the sunroof.

Drive gear must be engaged after sunroof has been manually operated with key. To engage, turn key in opposite direction after opening or closing roof approximately 6 mm (1/4 in.) a click will be heard indicating drive gear has engaged.

If the roof panel is in the closed position when the operator moves the sunroof switch to the VENT position, current flows through the sunroof power feed, the "vent" contacts of the sunroof switch and to one side of the sunroof motor. A ground for the motor is provided through the other "vent" contacts of the limit switch and to ground. The sunroof motor turns in the vent and open direction. When the sunroof reaches the vented position, the limit switch opens, interrupting the ground path to the sunroof motor. The sunroof motor stops with the panel in the vented position.

If the roof panel is already in the vented position when the operator moves the control switch to the VENT position, then the open contacts of the limit switch prevents additional movement.

When the operator moves the sunroof switch to the OPEN position, current flows through the sunroof power feed, the "open" contacts of the sunroof switch to one side of the sunroof motor. A ground for the motor is provided through the other "open" contacts of the sunroof switch to ground. The sunroof motor turns in the vent and open direction. The panel continues to open until the operator releases the switch or the circuit breaker located within the sunroof motor disables the motor (at the fully open position.) If the roof panel is in the closed position when the switch is initially moved to the OPEN position, the turning motor drives the rear of the panel upward into the vented position then the entire panel is driven rearward, while maintaining the vented position. If the roof panel is already in the vented position when the switch is initially moved to the OPEN position, the turning motor immediately drives the panel rearward. In either case, the panel continues to move until either the switch is released or the panel is fully open.

When the operator moves the sunroof switch to the CLOSE position, current flows through the sunroof power feed, the "close" contacts of the sunroof switch to one side of the sunroof motor. A ground for the motor is provided through the other "close" contacts of the sunroof switch to ground. (Note that the polarity of the motor has been reversed. This causes the motor to run in the opposite direction.) The sunroof motor turns in the closed direction. The panel continues to close until the operator releases the switch or the circuit breaker located within the sunroof motor disables the motor (at the fully closed position.)