My 2016 F150 Platinum mostly sits in the garage (I am a law enforcement officer and drive government car for work). About two years ago my sunroof got stuck. Took it to the dealer under warranty. They "realigned it" and it worked ok since then (didn't seem as smooth to me but it opened and closed). So Sunday my sunroof wouldn't open. It also doesn't think it is fully closed either. Classic symptom of broken rails. I took it to the dealership with the hope they'd get it covered under warranty since I oriiginally had the same problem when the truck was under warranty. (My truck has 26K miles and had only 20K miles on it when I took it in December 2019).

Well they made me agree to a $175 diagnostic fee but promised to go to Ford for assistance. So 24 hours later they tell me that they talked to Ford and that they want photos. Problem is sunroof wont open so they're telling me its $1400 to take the sunroof apart to take the photos. I spoke to the Technical Service Manager who told me that they are very familiar with this problem. They claim that they have to take the headliner out and the front glass to get the photos Ford requires. Ford wont promise to pay for it until they get these photos. They're saying if Ford doesn't pay for it, I'm basically out for an entire sunroof replacement which is roughly 4K. They believe the replacement of just the guides is a bandaid and based on their experience the entire track needs to be replaced. They say this is a known problem with Ford and that's how the Director is dealing with Ford on the issue. Based on my Ford "loyalty score" of 80 they think Ford will pay for some amount. I asked them what happens if its not broken like we think. They believe it is based on their experience.

So I have two options. Let them proceed then really try to get Ford to pay for all of it. (possible Ford will only pay for a percentage of it). Or take my truck home and attempt to replace the guides myself. (keep in mind I cannot get the sunroof to go into the vent position so I'd have to take it apart from the completely closed position).

Do you have any suggestions or advice based on your experience with these sunroofs?

 

@pacfanweb.. I used your videos to replace the arms on my 2018. Thank you for the videos, they helped out tremendously. I used The Sunroof Doctor arms as the Ford OEM parts were out of stock nationwide (back in May of this year). The SD arms came pre-greased too, couldn't tell what brand they were but they did go in without any issues.

I do have a question for you though....


Now that I have a working sunroof, I hear a clicking noise, from the left side, when the glass is closing and nearing the close position. Like a click click click. Also, you can see it kinda bind up at certain positions (when closing) but not when opening. I am going to record a video of it and post later today. I'm curious if you know what it could be or any idea of what is wrong. I've tried finding high resolution photos of the track, to study what is all there, but that's difficult to do. I don't mind the clicking (as long as the sunroof continues to open).

Also, since Ive had the truck, when I make a hard turn left or right, I hear a noise like a bearing or something sliding back and fourth. Definitely coming from the sunroof but cant figure it out either lol.

Here is the video:

 

holy crap my F250 does this too! it sounds like a tiny ball of welding splatter or tiny ball bearing, most of the time its lodged someplace and I never hear it, but occasionally when making a hard turn i'll hear it rooooooolll to the other side lol wtf someplace up in the headliner, or metal roof framing. assuming its there forever.

 

To me, it sounds like a ball bearing rolling back and fourth and slamming up against something metal. I meant to try and look for it when I had the front glass out and totally forgot to do so.

 

I replaced my rails on my 2016 Ford F150 Lariat thinking it would solve my problems. When I disassembled it I saw that on the passenger side the pin that actually rides on the track is broken off of from whatever pushes and pulls it on the track. I have looked all over to find what that piece is called and how much to replace. I have had no luck. Does anyone know what part I am referring to?

 

Just saw this. That's a new one. Seems pretty consistent. Might have a bad place in the cables from the initial failure. You could try lubing the cables...they're in little channels that you can see with the glass out. That might help.

 

If you're talking about the lower cable guide arm, which has the round piece that fits through the upper arm...that only comes with a track. If it's broken free of the cable...the track has to be replaced, unfortunately.

 

Thanks for the reply, yes it has broken free from the cable. The driver side moves back and forth thru the upper guide arm but the passenger side does not. Upon further inspection I noticed that the plastic holding it to the cable had broke. Would you happen to know the part number that I need (track that I need to replace)? I have been searching the web but coming up with nothing.

 

Thanks for the reply too. Maybe I'll pull out the glass panel in the spring time and take another look around. Is it okay to operate the sunroof without the glass in place?

 

I have in the past without issue. It's just the cables pulling the lower guides back and forth, not having the weight of the glass just makes it easier for the motor.