One-touch close moonroof?

[phillystyle]

Presently to close my moonroof I have to do two things that kind of annoy
me:

1) I have to hold the button until the moonroof is completely closed
2) When closing it, the moonroof stops about half-way and I have to
release the button and then press it again until it is
completely closed.

Yes, yes I understand it's supposed to be a safety feature. )

Does anyone know if I can modify my existing switch so it closes with one
touch (or at least doesn't stop in the middle) or is there a replacement
switch I could buy to replace this one that accomplishes the same goal?

Thx,


SUB - 2003 Baja

 

[Hallraker]

Presently to close my moonroof I have to do two things that kind of annoy
me:

1) I have to hold the button until the moonroof is completely closed
2) When closing it, the moonroof stops about half-way and I have to
release the button and then press it again until it is
completely closed.

Yes, yes I understand it's supposed to be a safety feature. )

Does anyone know if I can modify my existing switch so it closes with one
touch (or at least doesn't stop in the middle) or is there a replacement
switch I could buy to replace this one that accomplishes the same goal?

My guess is that the half-open stop is controlled by either a timer or some
sort of sensor/switch in the roof itself, rather than the actual operating
switch. I've never given the topic much thought as my old car didn't have
the annoying half-open stop "feature" but I've seen that annoyance in newer
cars. You'd probably want to start by getting a schematic of the moonroof
electrical system and perhaps an exploded view diagram to help locate the
parts. Or, at least that's how I'd go about it.

I agree though, it's very annoying. My guess is that it is yet another
legal "cover our butts" thing. Someone probably pinched a finger in a
closing moonroof and sued someone for millions due to nonexistent pain and
suffering.

-Matt

-Matt

 

[Ian Brown]

Presently to close my moonroof I have to do two things that kind of annoy
me:

1) I have to hold the button until the moonroof is completely closed
2) When closing it, the moonroof stops about half-way and I have to
release the button and then press it again until it is
completely closed.

04 Foresters in the UK also have this annoying half way stop, however you
don't need to hold the button for the whole close, 1 second hold and release
at the start and it automatically moves to halfway, another 1 second hold
and release and it will fully close by itself.

 

[anon]

AUSTRALIA:

I have been wondering about the stop-half-way thingy on my 2001 Liberty
(Legacy) sunroof for ages. Here in Australia, the weather is ALWAYS
perfect.... so we call it a SUNroof... not a MOONroof Rain.....
what's rain???
There is nothing in the user manual about it (YES..... surprise
surprise, I HAVE read it !!! )
Now... it all makes sense.... it's a legal butt-cover issue. Why can't
the manufacturer's put a simple one-liner in their user manuals that
this is a safety "feature" ???


Cheers
Spinifex

91 Liberty (Australian Legacy) RS Turbo AWD Manual 2.0 T
85 Leone FWD 1.8 NA
01 Liberty AWD 2.0 NA

 

[WRXtreme]

AUSTRALIA:

I have been wondering about the stop-half-way thingy on my 2001 Liberty
(Legacy) sunroof for ages. Here in Australia, the weather is ALWAYS
perfect.... so we call it a SUNroof... not a MOONroof Rain.....
what's rain???
There is nothing in the user manual about it (YES..... surprise
surprise, I HAVE read it !!! )
Now... it all makes sense.... it's a legal butt-cover issue. Why can't
the manufacturer's put a simple one-liner in their user manuals that
this is a safety "feature" ???


Cheers
Spinifex

91 Liberty (Australian Legacy) RS Turbo AWD Manual 2.0 T
85 Leone FWD 1.8 NA
01 Liberty AWD 2.0 NA

We have sunroofs here in the states too, the difference between MOONroofs
and SUNroofs is the manner in which they open. Sun roofs (from my
understanding, and I may be wrong here) basically just slide upwards and
create a gap for air to get in while still shielding out the sunlight.
Moonroofs slide back to reveal the open sky. Again, I could be wrong in my
understanding, but that is what I have always been told.

 

[Alan]

We have sunroofs here in the states too, the difference between MOONroofs
and SUNroofs is the manner in which they open. Sun roofs (from my
understanding, and I may be wrong here) basically just slide upwards and
create a gap for air to get in while still shielding out the sunlight.
Moonroofs slide back to reveal the open sky. Again, I could be wrong in my
understanding, but that is what I have always been told.

the distinction goes back to the days when there were solid panels and glass
panels. The solid (metal) panel was a sunroof. The glass panel is a
moonroof.

 

[Don]

The reply here (bottom) is an excellent reason why indicating the
country refered to won't work. I'd say 90% of responders don't
pay any attention to the Subject line, much less edit it to make
it appropriate to their reply. I guess it's not all that bad,
though, at least they respond with meaningful remarks. ;-)

We have sunroofs here in the states too, the difference between MOONroofs
and SUNroofs is the manner in which they open. Sun roofs (from my
understanding, and I may be wrong here) basically just slide upwards and
create a gap for air to get in while still shielding out the sunlight.
Moonroofs slide back to reveal the open sky. Again, I could be wrong in my
understanding, but that is what I have always been told.

Username munged by FixNews

 

[Spinifex]

Ahhhh.... thanx WRXtreme...... I guess in hindsight I agree with you...
I probably DID know the distinction..... I'm lucky with my current
Liberty Wagon, that I have a front seat section sunroof, and a rear seat
section moonroof. I don't know if this is standard in US vehicles...???

Spinifex

91 Liberty (Australian Legacy) RS Turbo AWD Manual 2.0 T
85 Leone FWD 1.8 NA
01 Liberty AWD 2.0 NA

 

[Spinifex]

Don.... I'm a bit simple, but I can't quite work out exactly WHAT you
are referring to as being an excellent example.........

Which part indicates the reason why noting your country wont work????
I was referring to the difference in nomenclature purely
tongue-in-cheek... in any case, my naming-convention was subsequently
proven to be in error... for which I agree I was a little lazy in my
interpretation !!!

Spinifex

 

[hippo]

My Outback manual says the first position shuts it enough to reduce
turbulence when driving then 2nd one closes fully. Agree a one touch hold
override would be useful if you just wanted to shut the thing though - or
maybe it could just open less .... hmmm!

 

[phillystyle]

Well ian, I tried it UK-style as a matter of course, and it didn't work for
me. I think I've tried a few different ways of pressing and releasing the
switch and if you let go of the switch it stops anywhere in the cycle,
which of course is actually what you want sometimes.

Any way, my quest continues. I have read that the new Forester 2.5XT has
an auto open/close function for the sunroof. It sounds as if the big
benefit is in the opening in one touch but the closeing still stops in the
middle. I guess you just don't have to hold the boutton which would be a
start. I'll have to stop by my dealership and ask about it. If I make
any shocking and amazing revelations I shall post them here!

 

[Carmen and Mike Minerva]

I note two points of interest. 1. Isn't it funny how the responses
gradually turn from the original question (in this case the mechanism of the
window closer) to an entirely different subject (moon vs sun). The poor
original poster doesn't get his basic question answered but gets lots of
other stuff. 2. I recall an earlier Legacy I had (70 something) that had
one touch open and close for the driver's window. It disappeared in later
versions, presumable for safety reasons. My wife's new car, an '04 Infinity
G-35 has all windows and moon/sun roof that open and close with one touch.
Does that mean that car mfgs feel that more expensive cars are owned by
folks that don't need butt saving features?

 

[ismlv]

I note two points of interest. 1. Isn't it funny how the responses
gradually turn from the original question (in this case the mechanism of the
window closer) to an entirely different subject (moon vs sun). The poor
original poster doesn't get his basic question answered but gets lots of
other stuff. 2. I recall an earlier Legacy I had (70 something) that had
one touch open and close for the driver's window. It disappeared in later
versions, presumable for safety reasons. My wife's new car, an '04 Infinity
G-35 has all windows and moon/sun roof that open and close with one touch.
Does that mean that car mfgs feel that more expensive cars are owned by
folks that don't need butt saving features?

It's interesting you bring this up. I spent a few nites this week with my parents looking for a new car for my mom. She's a 6 time Subaru
owner so of course the Outback Wagon Ltd is in the mix. We didn't notice in that car but in the Toyota Highlander she drove (she's thinking
of changing brands for once, much to my horror) the driver's window went up and down with one touch. My parents and I were puzzled by this
during the test drive as we remember older Subarus where this was the case but also remember how for safety reasons, this feature was
removed. Upon reading up on the Toyota, apparently there's a safety device much like a garage door where it stops going up if something
interrupts it. I don't know how much of an interruption it needs (just a hand wave in the plane of the window, or actual resistance via a
body part), but apparently things have changed in recent years allowing the one touch up feature to come back.