Town Car Moonroof Switch & Wiring

[Frank Rumbauskas]

I've got a '96 Town Car and have been replacing the moon roof switch about once every six months. The design is flimsy and I've noticed that the Lincoln dealer I go to sells a TON of these so I know I'm not alone. Is anyone aware of an aftermarket switch or any fixes so these stop breaking? At about $45 each it's getting old!!!!

[ June 08, 2003: Message edited by: rj ]

[Richard J. Parker]

I am sure you could wire in a switch but making it look right might be trick. I had one fail also, but it was just the plastic rocker, not the actual switch. If they would sell the 10 cent plastic piece it would be ok.

I don't have the schematic on this circuit but it looks like the switch is carrying the moonroof motor current based on wire size.

The switch is a little unusual since it is spring loaded, center off, with operations on either side of center. You can find a small "microswitch" "2PDT Center Off", but then current carrying capability might be an issue. You might be forced to use a relay or two.

Perhaps you could remote mount the switch, use two small relays that connect to the wiring where the OEM switch belongs and then cover the old switch opening.

[Frank Rumbauskas]

I noticed that the plastic piece breaks where it connects to the switch itself. One thing I thought of is buying a new switch and using epoxy to attach the plastic piece permanently. That way it would eliminate that little bit of play that seems to snap the ends off every few months.

[Richard J. Parker]

Sounds reasonable. Probably can't hurt.

[whodoresq]

I had the same problem with my '97's moonroof. You shouldn't have to replace the entire switch each time--it's much too expensive. I guess Ford had a lot of problems with the switches because they issued a service bulletin or something. Now you can buy just the plastic button for the switch (only in black) for about $5-$7. I don't know the part number, but I know it's available. The only problem with the button is it too keeps breaking. I used to keep 2 or 3 in the glove box (I once got caught in the rain with an open moonroof). I found that using super glue to glue the button to the switch assembly works well. Apply several layers of super glue, allowing each layer to dry. Be sure not to glue the switch itself (make sure the switch still rocks back and forth). This method kept my moonroof operational for 1.5 years before I traded the car in. If you have old switches, don't throw them out. If your glued button should break, you may need a fresh switch because you likely won't be able to chip the glue off to apply a fresh button. I'm glad my '02 Town Car has a much better designed moonroof switch... I made sure I checked that out before I bought another car with a moonroof.

[rj]

I had a bad moonroof switch day in Oklahoma! Saturday I opened the roof, rear glass up. Later that night I discovered that the plastic rocker of the moonroof switch broke. And it had been raining earlier in the day.

With no spares in sight AND being away from home until Sunday, I ended up taping a plastic bag over the moonroof to avoid possible rain.

Sunday I decided to "jumper" the wiring to close it. Based on Franco's earlier post on a 95 Continental (obtained via this site at a Radio Shack display in Enid, OK since I wasn't home & quoted below), I pulled the switch down, verified voltages and tried to jumper the moonroof motor power. Easier said than done. The moonroof motor is a 12vdc device that has it's polarity reversed by the switch with a center off position.

However, the center off position GROUNDS both motor leads (why I am not sure). The roof was in the glass up mode, so I needed to drive the motor rearward, as if to open. So I had to CUT the "rearward" output from the switch to apply power to the motor lead (car harness portion). Then the roof moved down and closed.

I have added 97 Town Car wire color notes to Franco's post:

quote:franco
Member # 229
posted August 26, 2002 12:36 AM
---------------------------------------------
The info I have is from the Helms/Ford CD manuals.
----
More info on switch for 95 Continental:

Pin 1-top left(looking at end of conn.)
Circuit 902 Yellow
[97TC-Yellow with Red Stripe connects to car harness RED wire]
Function: Sliding Electric Roof Panel FORWARD Output
[closes roof when fully open...another activation when fully closed moves the rear of the glass up]

Pin 2- top rt
Circuit 57 Black [same on 97 TC]
Function: Ground

Pin 3- lower left
Circuit 903 Red
[97TC Red with Yellow stripe connects to car harness BLUE wire]
Function: Sliding Electric Roof Panel REARWARD Output
[opens roof when fully closed, closes roof if in rear glass up mode]

Pin 4- lower rt
Circuit 400 (LB/BK) [97TC-Same Switched +12)
Function: Supply



[ June 09, 2003: Message edited by: rj ]