Sunroof Motor

Replacement of the panoramic glass roof drive motor on a 2024 Tesla Model X. Note: the Model X has falcon wing doors, not a traditional sunroof — this procedure assumes the panoramic roof shade/glass drive motor assembly. Confirm the specific motor before ordering parts.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Panoramic roof drive motor assembly × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Model X roof drive motor — verify by VIN
• Replacement trim clips (headliner/A-pillar) × 1 — OEM headliner clip set

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery located in the frunk (similar position to Model S). Remove the frunk liner/cover, then loosen the negative terminal first.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Before disconnecting 12V: park the panoramic roof in the fully closed position via the touchscreen.
7. Before disconnecting 12V: disable falcon door operation in the touchscreen service menu and physically obstruct the doors from closing/opening (or work with both doors fully open and supported).
8. Verify roof glass is clean and dry; place soft padding on seats and console to catch any dropped fasteners.
9. Have a second technician available to support the headliner if it must be partially lowered.

Procedure

1. 1

   Confirm motor location and access strategy
   On the Model X panoramic roof, the drive motor is located at the rear-center of the roof assembly, accessed from inside the cabin behind the rear headliner section. Confirm the failure mode (no movement, partial movement, noise) before disassembly to verify the motor is actually at fault versus a track or controller issue.
2. 2

   Remove rear interior trim
   Using a non-marring plastic trim tool, carefully release the rear dome/grab handle trim and the rearmost section of the headliner trim panels needed to access the motor. Mark clip locations with painter's tape if helpful for reassembly. Do not pull on wiring.
   ⚠Headliner clips are brittle — have replacements on hand.
3. 3

   Partially lower the headliner
   With a helper supporting the headliner, release only the rear-most fasteners and clips required to expose the roof drive motor housing. Avoid creasing the headliner. Do not disconnect the dome light/microphone harnesses unless necessary for clearance.
   ⚠Do not let the headliner hang under its own weight — it will crease permanently.
4. 4

   Document motor orientation and wiring
   Photograph the motor's installed orientation, connector routing, and any drive cable/gear engagement before disturbing it. The roof drive cables must re-engage in the correct synchronized position or the glass will bind.
5. 5

   Disconnect motor electrical connector
   Release the locking tab on the motor's low-voltage connector and disconnect it. Inspect the connector pins for corrosion or backed-out terminals — these can mimic a failed motor.
6. 6

   Remove the roof drive motor
   Remove the motor mounting fasteners (typically 3-4 small bolts/screws securing the motor to the roof frame bracket). Support the motor as the last fastener is removed. Carefully disengage the motor pinion from the drive cables, noting cable position. Torque on reinstall per OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual for this specific fastener.
   ⚠Do not let the drive cables retract into the track housing — they are tedious to re-thread.
7. 7

   Compare old and new motor
   Verify the replacement motor matches the original in connector type, gear pattern, and mounting pattern. Confirm part is correct for the 2024 Model X panoramic roof before installation.
8. 8

   Install replacement motor
   Engage the new motor's pinion with the drive cables in the same orientation as removal (this is critical for left/right cable synchronization). Hand-start all mounting fasteners before final torquing. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
   ⚠If the cables are out of sync, the glass panel will bind, jam, or skew on first operation — verify alignment before reassembly.
   Torque spec

   Module Mounting Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reconnect motor connector
   Seat the electrical connector fully until the locking tab clicks. Confirm the connector is fully latched — a partially seated connector will cause intermittent faults.

Reassembly

1. Reseat the headliner with helper support, ensuring all clips engage fully and no wiring is pinched.
2. Reinstall any rear dome/grab handle trim, sun visors, or pillar trim that was disturbed.
3. Reinstall the frunk 12V battery: positive terminal first, then negative. Torque battery terminal bolts to spec.
4. Reinstall frunk liner/cover.
5. Re-enable falcon door operation in the touchscreen if it was disabled.

Verification

• After 12V reconnection, allow the vehicle to fully wake and complete its self-check (approximately 2-3 minutes).
• Initialize/calibrate the panoramic roof per Tesla's procedure (typically: press and hold the roof open, then closed, until the system completes a full learn cycle — confirm against current Tesla Service Manual instructions for 2024 Model X).
• Operate the roof through 3 full open/close cycles and confirm smooth movement, no binding, no skew, and no abnormal noise.
• Check for any alerts on the touchscreen (roof, falcon door, BCM-related).
• Verify falcon wing doors operate normally and that no door or roof sensor faults are stored.
• Inspect headliner for proper seating along the falcon door seal areas — a poorly seated headliner here will cause wind noise or door close errors.
• Note: while the cabin is open, this is also a convenient time to check cabin air filter service interval (every 2 years, or every 3 years for HEPA-equipped Model X with bioweapon defense mode) and 12V battery age (typical replacement 3-5 years for AGM, longer for Li-ion).

More procedures for this vehicle