Figure this should be official.

If you are encountering issues with your sunroof not opening or closing do not despair. No need to panic. If you can still hear the sunroof motor working but nothing is happening, and the motor is making crazy noises it may just be a simple fix.

This is for the 2001-2006 Mitsubishi Montero (Full Size, not Sport). Although it might be similar for the Sport model if they are prone to having this problem.

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had to fix my sunroof because sunroof just stopped opening and closing, but you can hear the motor working.

you have to access the sunroof motor. it is right next to the sunroof control. The Mitsubishi service manual indicates you have to remove the entire roof liner. NOPE! No need to do this as it will take much longer. In order to access it, YOU DO NOT. i repeat DO NOT have to remove the entire headliner. just remove a few components such as the vanity mirrors for passenger and driver side, and the clip that is affixed to the roof. You also have to remove both the a-pillar plastics and o-**** handles. The headliner is also fixed by a surprisingly effective velcro like attachment. Just pull it down a bit.

The headliner is sturdy but has flex so it will not break easily so go ahead and tug down on it to give you access.

Here are some pics courtesy of Darwiniandude



The sunroof motor is held by 3 screws. Chances are 1 or 2 of those screws backed out and are super loose or already out. Again there are 3. One is right in the middle and recessed. The other 2 are obvious. I have found tightening 2 of the 3 fixed it, BUT of course make sure all 3 are. If you lost the screw, all the 3 screws are the same. Make sure you find a replacement.

Tighten it good, some people said put locktite, I idn't bother, it was pretty easy and don't think it will come loose again how hard I tightened it.

you can test it before putting everything back.

If after you fixed it, when you "close" the sunroof all the way, it stops leaving a gap at the end, or its not aligned closed as it should (LOOK OUTSIDE AND SEE HOW IT SITS CLOSED) then you HAVE to recalibrate. FOLLOW THIS:

Get in the truck and make sure the sunroof is closed.
With the key OFF, press and hold the sunroof CLOSE button.
While holing the button in the CLOSE position, turn the ignition key on and then off FIVE times.
At the last key off you should here a slight noise from the sunroof motor, this is OK.
Release the CLOSE button.

The calibration is now deleted. Now we need to recalibrate:

SUNROOF INITIALIZATION (LEARNING MODE)
1. Continue to depress the sunroof open switch and move the roof lid glass to the full open position.
2. When the sunroof close switch is pressed once, the roof lid glass slides approximately 30 mm (1.2 in.) in the direction
in which it closes, and it stops automatically. Repeating this operation, move the roof lid glass to the fully
closed position.
3. Depress the sunroof close switch repeatedly until the roof lid glass moves to the full tilt–up position.
4. With the roof lid glass in the full tilt–up position, depress the sunroof close switch for approximately 3 seconds until
a clicking sound is heard from the sunroof–ECU.
5. Continue to depress the sunroof close switch and move the roof lid glass to the full tilt–down position.
6. Depress the sunroof open switch once and slide the roof lid glass to the fully open position.
7. Continue pressing the sunroof close switch to move the roof lid glass to the fully closed position.
CAUTION
When any of the following occur, repeat the initialization steps from Step 1:

If operation of the sunroof switch has been stopped while the roof lid glass slides in Steps 5 and 7.

If the sunroof does not operate when the sunroof switch has been depressed once.

If the sunroof does not operate properly after initialization.

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then you are done.

 

Great write up!! I hope I never have to use this but if I do it will make things so much simpler!
Thanks man!!

 

I was despairing my sunroof motor's condition, but this post did the trick. I am not sure about the calibration (mine seems to close just fine), but the basics of getting under the headliner and tightening up was what the doctor ordered. Thanks redturboeclips!

 

Did this repair on my montero too...it just didn't close one day and I just hear the sunroof motor running. Aren't we lucky to have info/instructions like these?

 

i needed this and the guidance was effective and timely!

a couple tiny tips: the center light in the headliner needs to come out and it took a way too long for me to figure out. It is really simple after all: just pry down the clear lense of the light and then you will see the two screws to back out!

Also, the clips that the inside end of the mirror clips into can be removed by inserting a 6mm Allen wrench to release the tabs. At least that is what the manual says and I only checked the manual after using multiple screw drivers to release tabs and breaking one of them. So give the 6mm approach a try!!

lastly, I had to re-initialize my sunroof and reprogram it and it took a few tries and I don't think I ever did hear any clicks from the motor, but trial and error and semi-following the instructions and it worked!!!

 

I wanted to share my experience with the sunroof repair. Recently, sunroof began to malfunction - stopping about 5-6" from the end when closing. Having read about the re-learn procedure, I thought - I can handle this and I'm totally going to fix this fast...
Well... To my disappointment, I could not get the learning cycle for the sunroof motor initiated. I've repeated the initiaton steps for what seems 50 times and the roof would continue to work in its regular mode and not in the learning mode. It would come to the 5-6 inch mark on closing and stop dead there Not sure what I was doing wrong. I tried to hold the "open" button all the way back while the sunroof was opening, tried to hold it for 3, 5, 10 sec after it was opened, tried to do every combination of holding it while opening and once opened, etc. I could hear some relays clicking right near the motor, but once I start closing the roof, I can tell it was not in learning mode...

Had to go to plan B.

I've closed the sunroof as far as it would go (where the motor thought it was the end). Removed the center map light assembly, the sunroof button's plastic cover, and driver side sun visor (not sure if this was necessary). Then I pulled the headliner down right in the middle area where it terminated to the sunroof opening. It is held to the roof with velcro at that point. This allowed me access to the sunroof motor. I've loosened three bolts that hold the motor to the roof. The most critical bold for this procedure is the one on the left (driver side). It is the one that is not recessed in plastic body of the motor. I wiggled the motor a little and moved it down just enough to disengage it's gear from the worm gear in the tube. This unlocked the sunroof drive and I could move the sunroof by hand all the way forward and up (in the back). This placed it in the proper closed position. Re-tighten the bolts on the motor and test. In case that the teeth of the motor and the drive gear do not align properly at this stage - do not force it. Instead use a hex wrench to turn the motor by hand (the drive nut is on the left side of the motor in the middle of the circle). Once the motor was properly seated and all bolts tightened, I ran the sunroof to full open and full closed position with the button. It turned out that it did not close completely in the back (was low 1/2" from flush with roof). I loosened the bolts again, moved down the motor and rotated the hex nut to "lefty - loosy" by about a quarter turn. Reassembled and tried again. This time the sunroof went all the way forward and locked in proper flush level with the roof.

I hope this might help some of you who are struggling with this issue by giving you another option to help the motor "find" proper end point for closing the roof.
If someone can explain better what I was doing wrong with initiating the learning procedure, I'd appreciate it.

 

Hi guys,
Just bought an old 2001 Pajero (I think it is another name\variant of the Montero \ Shogun, right?).
Well, the guy who sold it to me told me he had problems with the sunroof and he disconnected it.
I checked the fuse box, installed the missing fuse and the motor gut back to life.
However, trying to open it made huge "ticks" noise.
I followed this article, added a missing bolt, tightened them all up but I'm still in a problem:

When trying to open it - the sunroof ticks loudly. it is the sound of the motor's teeth wheel slipping the spiral rod. When helping it (I think the guide in the side rail needs some push) i'm eventually able to open it - with noises at the beginning.
Closing goes fairly ok ...
but then if I let it "seat" in place - we are back in the trouble of opening it.

Any idea? recommendations?
Thanks
Gil

 

Sounds like the gears in the motor drive might be stripped. There are few things you can do to find a replacement:
1. Purchase a new motor unit outright. High $$$.
2. Find a used unit at a junk yard or on e-bay. Low $, but unknow condition and you might be getting the same broken unit as you have.
3. Rebuild the motor drive. Medium $$ but known results. You can remove the motor/gear assembly and send it to Cardone for a rebuild. This is slightly higher cost than e-bay option, but you are getting virtually new motor. I've done this with Montero window regulator motors. Worked great. The only issue is this: Cardone does not have rebuilt Mitsu parts on hand (or at least not the ones I needed). So, instead of purchasing a part from them and then returning a core (your broken part), you have to remove your motor and send it to them for a rebuild. They call it Rebuild and Return servce. With the sunroof you just need to remove the motor when roof is fully closed and you'll be fine for a week or so. With window regulators, i had to fashion a wooden support to place inside the door to keep window in the up position while the motor was at rebuild.

 

 

Don't know. Can't hurt to try.