Stuck Sun Visor? Common Causes and DIY Repair Tips

Had the exact same headache with my 2008 Chevy Traverse. Being somewhat experienced with car repairs, I first thought it was just the sunshade track, but it turned out the motor itself was shot. My sunblind was completely stuck and throwing error codes too. Took it to the shop and they confirmed the UV protection system's motor was fried. Replacing the entire sunshade motor assembly fixed it, back to smooth operation now. Total repair came to 330 including labor. Quick question, does your sunblind make any grinding noise when you try to operate it? Also, can you still move it manually at all? These details would help pinpoint if you're dealing with the same issue I had. Worth checking the fuse first though, it's a cheaper fix if that's the problem. But from what you're describing, sounds pretty similar to my motor failure. What's the current mileage on your Uplander? Have you had any other electrical issues with the car interior accessories?

Just had my service last week (21336 KM) and experienced the exact same sunshade issue a few months back. The grinding noise you mentioned is spot on, had that too. Mine was definitely more than a fuse issue. For my UV protection system, I tried manual operation first but quickly stopped when I heard that awful grinding. The repair shop found it was a faulty motor in the sunblind mechanism, not just the tracks like I initially suspected. The car interior's other electrical components work fine, this was isolated to the sunshade setup. Based on your description and the error codes, sounds like you're looking at the same motor failure. Only proper fix is replacing the whole assembly. Just make sure they check the wiring harness during repair, mine had some wear that needed addressing while they were in there.

Thanks for sharing those details about your repair experience. The grinding noise and inability to move the sunblind manually are definitely classic signs of motor failure in these Chevy models. When my sun visor system failed, I also noticed some wiring issues during the repair, seems to be a common weak point in the UV protection system. Good call on having them check the wiring harness. After my repair, the shop mentioned they found some minor wire chafing near the motor assembly. The replacement motor came with updated wiring clips that better secure the harness, which helps prevent future wear. For the car sunshade repair, you're looking at a similar cost to what I paid. The updated motor assembly actually has better durability than the original, haven't had a single issue with the window visor system since the fix two years ago. Just one tip, if you're getting the repair done, ask them to check the limit switches while they're at it. These can sometimes cause problems down the line if they're not adjusted properly during the motor replacement.

Thanks for the information about your experience with the upgraded motor assembly. The similarity of symptoms really helps confirm what I'm dealing with, especially that grinding noise and stuck sunblind situation. I'm planning to book my repair next week, and I'll definitely have them check both the wiring harness and those limit switches you mentioned. Good to know the repair cost is around €330, that helps with budgeting. The UV protection system isn't something I can just leave broken, especially heading into summer. I'll make sure they use the updated motor assembly with those improved wiring clips you described. Makes sense to do it right the first time with better components. Kind of relieving to hear your car interior electronics were also fine otherwise, and that this is just isolated to the sunshade mechanism. I'll report back on what my shop finds, but based on everything you've shared, I'm pretty confident it's the same motor failure issue. Really appreciate all the specific details about your repair experience.