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Mechanic Tries to Close Honda Accord's Stuck Sunroof. But He Only Makes It Worse

"As a mechanic, what would you do?"

Photo by: garagelife801 & emrecan arık

Stacy Fernandez

By: Stacy Fernandez

Sep 9, 2025 at 9:00am ET

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Few things make a car feel cooler than a sunroof. Slide it open, and even a trip to the grocery store feels like a joyride. It’s the closest thing most of us get to cruising in a convertible.

Despite their cool factor, sunroofs have a reputation for being finicky.

They stick, tilt when they shouldn’t, leak, and sometimes they just stop working altogether. What feels like a luxury can quickly turn into one of the more frustrating quirks of car ownership.

And as one mechanic recently showed, even with the best intentions, trying to adjust a sunroof can land you in a situation where you need an expert’s help.

In a TikTok, mechanic Brad (@garagelife801) fixes a customer’s sunroof even though he knows they won’t pay for it.

“As a mechanic, what would you do in this situation?” Brad asks.

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In the clip, the mechanic explains that he had just replaced the serpentine belt tensioner on the Honda Accord when he noticed the sunroof was tilted open.

“It wasn’t open this way, but it was open tilted,” he says. “And so just out of the kindness of my heart, I went to close it, and it opened like this. And it wouldn’t close.”

Rather than leaving the issue unresolved, Brad shows viewers how he fixes the Accord's sunroof. First he removes the rear light and connectors to access the sunroof motor.

“Oh, I don’t know if you can see this,” he says, demonstrating the process. “This pops out, and you get a four millimeter on the motor. You can turn it, and it will open or close the sunroof.”

By the end of the video, the sunroof is perfectly back in place.

“There you go. Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am,” Brad says after finishing the job.

In the caption, Brad admits he doesn’t usually provide free extra work but made an exception in this case.

“I don’t always give out freebie labor,” he writes. “But kinda felt like I should do this since I made it worse.”

Common Problems

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As great as sunroofs are, they come with their share of headaches. Some of the most common issues, according to 5 Star Auto Glass, include:

Leaking sunroof – Often caused by clogged drains or worn-out seals. If ignored, leaks can warp surfaces, cause rust, damage electronics, or lead to mildew smells.
Shattered glass – Though rare, cracks left untreated can lead to a dangerous break while driving. Impacts from collisions, falling objects, or even temperature changes are common culprits.
Stuck sunroof – A sunroof that won’t open or close is usually the result of a blown fuse, faulty switch, or dirt in the gears.
Rattling – A loose or misaligned panel can cause your sunroof to rattle. Lubricating the moving parts usually solves it, but misalignment may need a professional fix.
Scratches and cracks – Even minor damage can weaken the glass, making it prone to breaking, and also wear down the protective tinting.
Mechanical jams – Dirt and debris in the system can block the sunroof’s movement, sometimes requiring the glass to be removed and the gears cleaned.

A Kind Gesture or Bad Business?

While it may seem counterintuitive for a business to provide free anything, people overwhelmingly agreed that Brad did the right thing.

“Doing those little freebies will guarantee return business,” one person pointed out.

“I’ve had to do that several times for similar reasons,” another shared.

What do you think?

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“Just a part of the job unfortunately. Hopefully everything else is customer pay,” a third wrote.

Motor1 reached out to Brad for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We’ll update this if he responds.

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