Fixing a "Possessed Sunroof" Switch - Tabs & plug

[patoons]

A few weeks ago I noticed my sunroof would randomly flip up. Wouldn't flip up all the way, but I would definitely hear it move just a tad. Also, when open, sometimes it would not close all the way. I'd have to turn the dial back to open and then close again to close the sunroof. So to google I went and found this fix, which was very easy to do. Just 2 questions

1. I have a feeling that I bent those 2 tabs up just a little too much perhaps. The sunroof opens all the way, and when I close it, instead of sealing closed, the sunroof slides to the closed position and immediately flips up. Can't close properly, I have to close it with the manual crank and I pulled the sunroof fuse out.

2. There's a plug that I yanked in the process of doing this fix.

http://i.imgur.com/N3OrLXU.jpg

What is this plug for and how do I plug it back in? I see the 2 male connectors in the plug but can't see that it's actually making contact with something. I snapped it back into the hole when I initially did this fix, and then I noticed I had no more interior lights, my key fob worked but no audible chirp, no key fob hold window up/down feature, and the sunroof track wouldn't move properly. I figured out a fuse was blown, fuse #38 "Central electric, anti-theft alarm system". Replaced the fuse, it blew immediately. Hmm, so I went back in and took the light cover apart to see if I missed anything. I pulled that questionable plug in the pic above, replaced the fuse again and the lights came on. Put that plug back and then the fuse blew. Unplugged that wire, replaced the fuse again and it's fine now. That plug is still out, I'm just unable to turn those little dome lights on or off. The drivers side one is off and the pass one is on. Can't toggle it. Not a big deal anyway but wondering what that is and why is seemingly blowing the fuse.

Thanks for the great writeup!

[info@a4mods]

I may have a wiring diagram at home that says what that is.  Just out of curiosity - in the picture you posted the housing for the switch which holds the circuit board in place is cracked - was it that way before you started?   do you know if that crack is into the board or effecting that connection?

[patoons]

I cracked it there was a sticker covering the 3rd screw, so I didn't realize and tried to pry it off.

[info@a4mods]

so I tried to get the information out my bentley manual - but unfortunately it doesn't work on windows 7 and I no longer have my old computer.  They are sending me a hard copy.  once I have that, I can tell you where that wire goes and what it is for.   

If you are in a hurry, I can pop my switch out and see if I can figure it out this weekend.

[patoons]

Thanks a lot, no rush at all, I'm out of town right now anyway... won't be back until Monday

[info@a4mods]

ok - so that is apparently a microphone.  It's either part of the bose system or a telphone system depending on what options you have.  I pulled mine - there are no physical electrical connections there in the dome light, it is simply snapping in place - it doesn't make sense that putting it in its place would cause issues, unless doing so puts tension on the wires and crosses them or something.

when I snapped mine in place, it goes such that the green wire is towards the center/inside of the fixture.   It snaps down twice.

I'll dig though the manual when i get a chance.   If you ahve extra fuses, install one with the connection not in place, and then move the wires around and see if it blows.  I bet there is a short along the length of the wire somewehre (nicked wire, etc)

[info@a4mods]

oh and your wires might be white and brown if its post 2004+

[patoons]

Thanks for the info. I put it in and didn't blow the fuse, so all seems to be well with that. But the sunroof still isn't behaving nicely. From what it seems, it thinks the closed position is about 3/4 way open. I say that because when I turn the dial to close, it closes, then slides back to 3/4 position. I tried to leave it at 3/4 thinking ok the machine thinks it's closed, so I used the manual crank to close it fully. But that didn't help. I bent those little tabs back down a bit, maybe I bent them up too much. Didn't help. I shot some video of it, sorry about the odd camera angle, I'm trying to get both the dial and the sunroof in the shot. And sorry about the music lol my daughter's disney CD was in the system.

http://youtu.be/FBxoNqzb0DA