Figure 65
29/54

NTB16-017a

5. Remove the center reinforcement support (Figure 66) held by 9 T20 bolts.


Center reinforcement support shown outside vehicle for clarity.
T20 Bolts

T20 Bolts

Structural bracket

T20 Bolts

Figure 66
IMPORTANT: In the following steps only remove the sunshade requiring replacement.


The following steps can be used for front or rear sunshades.



The front bar of the Maxima sunshade is curved to match the front opening. The rear
sunshade has a straight bar.

6. Turn the ignition ON, but do not start
engine.
7. Partially open the affected sunshade to
gain access to the sunshade’s coupler
release tab.


Figure 67 and Figure 68 show the
right side of the front sunshade.

8. Detach the sunshade from the sunshade
coupler by pressing the coupler release
tab (Figure 68).

Sunshade coupler
release tab
Figure 67

Sunshade
coupler


Sunshade coupler
release tab

Figure 68 shows sunshade coupler
detached.

Detached
sunshade
Figure 68
30/54

NTB16-017a

9. Detach the affected (front and/or rear) sunshade from the Moonroof frame.
NOTE: Only remove the sunshade that is to be replaced.
Rear shade:
a. Detach the rear sunshade by pulling it
toward the right of the vehicle to
compress tension spring (Figure 69).

Rear sunshade

b. While compressing the tension spring
on right side, tilt left side down to clear
pivot.
c. Slowly release compression pressure,
but do not remove the sunshade from
the right side pivot in Moonroof frame.
d. Ratchet the sunshade gently in the
retract direction (rolled up) until the
ratchet holds the coil spring tension.

Front of
vehicle
Figure 69

e. Remove the sunshade from the
vehicle.

Front sunshade

f. Install the pull pin (Figure 71) into
sunshade (a paper clip will also work).
Front shade:
a. Detach the front sunshade by pulling
it toward the left of the vehicle to
compress tension spring (Figure 70).
b. While compressing the tension spring
on left side, tilt right side down to clear
pivot.

Front of
vehicle
Figure 70

c. Slowly release compression pressure,
but do not remove the sunshade from
the left side pivot in Moonroof frame.
Sunshade

d. Ratchet the sunshade gently in the
retract direction (rolled up) until the
ratchet holds the coil spring tension.
e. Remove the sunshade from the
vehicle.
f. Install the pull pin (Figure 71) into
sunshade (a paper clip will also work).

Pull pin

Figure 71

31/54

NTB16-017a

Sunshade Installation
10. Reinstall the front and/or the rear sunshades.
Rear shade:
a. Gently remove the pull pin from the rear sunshade.
b. While securely holding the rear sunshade, push it into the passenger side pivot
mount in the Moonroof frame.
c. While still preventing the rear sunshade from rotating, tilt it up on the driver side and
install it into the Moonroof frame.
d. Continuing to prevent the rear sunshade from rotating, partially open the sunshade
and connect to couplers.
Front shade:
a. Gently remove the pull pin from the front sunshade.
b. While securely holding the front sunshade, push it into the driver side pivot mount in
the Moonroof frame.
c. While still preventing the front sunshade from rotating, tilt it up on the passenger side
and install it into the Moonroof frame.
d. Continuing to prevent the front sunshade from rotating, partially open the sunshade
and connect to couplers.
11. Reinstall the steel center reinforcement (9 T20 bolts).


Torque bolts to: 3 N•m (0.30 kg-m, 26.55 in-lb.)

12. Reinstall the left and right structural brackets attached to the center reinforcement
support (4 bolts each).
13. Reinstall the left and right side airbags to the roof rail.


Torque bolts to: 10.5 N•m (1.1 kg-m, 8 ft-lb)

14. Using the Moonroof switch, check the function of both sunshades before reinstalling the
headlining.
15. Re-initialize the sunshades (procedure on page 52).
16. Reinstall the headlining.
17. Turn the ignition OFF.
32/54

NTB16-017a

Moonroof or Sunshade Motor and Drive Cable Replacement
If the Moonroof or Sunshade motors are inoperative or noisy, follow the steps below.

1. Turn the ignition ON, but do not start engine.

2. Re-initialize the affected drive motor (Moonroof or sunshade) with the procedure on
page 52.
NOTE: You might have to bump the Moonroof or sunshade to the closed position using
the switch on the headlining before initialization.


If the motor will not function, check all electrical connections. Refer to the Electronic
Service Manual (ESM), section RF – Roof for further information.

3. Does the Moonroof or sunshade now operate correctly?
YES: Repair complete. Turn ignition OFF.
NO: Proceed to step 4.

4. Drop the headlining and let it rest on the seat head rests.


Refer to the Electronic Service Manual (ESM), section RF – Roof to remove and
install headlining.
IMPORTANT:
 Do not remove the front or rear windshield from the vehicle.
 Do not remove the headlining from inside the vehicle.

5. Inspect the drive cables in the rear of the Moonroof frame. Have the cables come out of
the track?
NO: Continue to step 6 on the next page.
YES: Skip to step 12 on page 35.

33/54

NTB16-017a

6. Loosen the two mounting bolts of the affected drive motor.


Figure 72 shows the sunshade drive motor bolts (T25). The Moonroof drive motor
bolts are similar.
NOTE: For reference, the sunshade motor is furthest forward on the Moonroof
frame.

7. Lower the affected drive motor to relieve drive cable tension, and then reinstall drive
motor.


Torque bolts to: 3 N•m (0.30 kg-m, 26.55 in-lb.)

8. Re-initialize the affected drive motor (procedure on page 52).

Front of
vehicle

Sunshade drive
motor bolts

Sunshade drive
motor

Moonroof drive
motor

Figure 72
9. Re-check the Moonroof or sunshade function using the front headlining switch. Does
the Moonroof or sunshade now operate correctly?
YES: Repair complete. Turn the ignition OFF.
NO: Proceed to step 10.

34/54

NTB16-017a

10. Replace only the affected drive motor.


Torque bolts to: 3 N•m (0.30 kg-m, 26.55 in-lb.)

11. Re-initialize the affected drive motor (procedure on page 52). Does the Moonroof or
sunshade now operate correctly?
YES: Repair complete. Turn ignition OFF.
NO: Proceed to step 12.

12. Replace the Moonroof frame assembly.


Refer to the ESM, section RF – Roof for removal and installation.

13. Transfer the Moonroof and sunshade motors from the old to the new Moonroof frame.


Torque bolts to: 3 N•m (0.30 kg-m, 26.55 in-lb.)

14. Perform Initialization of the Moonroof and sunshade (procedure on page 52).

13. Reinstall the headliner.

15. Turn the ignition OFF.

35/54

NTB16-017a

Rear Link Replacement
NOTE: This procedure applies to the left and right side of the vehicle. The right side is
shown in the photos, but the process is the same for the left side.
You will be inspecting and possibly replacing the rear link with anti-rattle clip assembly. See
Figure 73 and 74 below to become familiar with these components.

Anti-rattle clip

Anti-rattle clip
installed onto
rear link

Figure 73

Figure 74

1. Inspect for a broken anti-rattle clip.

Roof
finisher seal

a. Use a finesse tool to lift the roof
finisher seal to access the Moonroof
rail.

Roof finisher

Front

Figure 75

36/54

NTB16-017a

2. Inspect the Moonroof rail area outlined
in red for pieces of the anti-rattle clip.



Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the other
side of the Moonroof.



If pieces are found, continue to
step 3 on the next page.

Front

Moonroof rail

Figure 76



If no pieces are found, operate the Moonroof to the tilt position and inspect the antirattle clip installation on the rear link.



Refer to Figure 77 for an example of a GOOD anti-rattle clip.



If any part outlined in red is missing or damaged, continue to step 3 on the next
page.

Rear link

Anti-rattle clip

Moonroof rail

Figure 77

37/54

NTB16-017a

3. Remove the roof finisher seal by slowly
lifting UP.
NOTE: Performing this procedure on a
warm vehicle will assist in removal.

Figure 78

4. Open the Moonroof.
Inboard screw (T25)

5. Remove the inboard screw (single use
T25) securing the front of the roof
finisher.

Figure 79

38/54

NTB16-017a

6. Using a finesse stick, lift the roof finisher
at the front outside edge.

7. Slide the finesse stick down the length of
the outside edge of the roof finisher to
detach all pins.

8. Remove the roof finisher.
NOTE: Some vehicles were equipped
with adhesive under the roof finishers.


If the roof finisher released, continue
to step 11 on page 41.



If the roof finisher will not release after
the pins have been detached, cut
away any adhesive as described
starting on the next page.

Lift here

Figure 80

39/54

NTB16-017a

9. Using an adhesive cutting tool, cut the
adhesive between the roof finisher and
the roof.


The red dotted line indicates where
the adhesive will be cut in the next
step.

Figure 81

CAUTION: Apply tape on the roof to
avoid damage to the painted surfaces.
Adhesive cutting tool

NOTE: It may be necessary to perform
this step more than once to cut through
all of the adhesive.

Tape

Figure 82

Figure 83

40/54

NTB16-017a

11. Using a finesse tool, lift the roof
finisher at the front outside edge.

12. Slide finesse tool down the length of
the outside edge of the roof finisher
to detach all pins.

13. If the roof finisher will still not release
after the pins have been released,
cut away any adhesive under the
roof finisher indicated by the green
circles as shown in Figure 84.

Adhesive was
removed from
this area in
step 9.

Remove any
adhesive in
the green
areas in
green.
areas.

Lift here

Figure 84

41/54

NTB16-017a

Moonroof

14. Turn the ignition ON.

15. Operate the Moonroof to the tilt position.

Moonroof bolt
finisher

16. Remove the Moonroof bolt finisher.
Figure 85

a. Pull the “Moonroof bolt finisher tab”
(plastic tab) down and away from the
Moonroof and allow it to rest in the
lowered position.

Moonroof bolt
finisher tab

Figure 86

42/54

NTB16-017a

b. Insert a pocket screwdriver between
the Moonroof bolt finisher and the
Moonroof in the location shown in
Figure 87.
c. Apply slight downward force to the
plastic tab end of the Moonroof bolt
finisher until the hole through the
steel tab can be seen.
d. Slide the pocket screwdriver from the
plastic tab up to the hole in the steel
tab that the Moonroof release clip is
connected to.

Plastic tab

Steel tab

Figure 87

17. Insert the pocket screw driver through
the hole in the steel tab to release the
retaining clip.


Figure 88 shows how the retaining
clip is released.

Figure 88

Figure 89

43/54

NTB16-017a

18. Remove the 2 (two) Moonroof
adjustment bolts from the rear link.

Rear link