My Sky Power Sunroof Improvements?

ranelson38 said:

Hello all! I am new to the forum and I am currently searching for my first official car purchase. I just graduated from college and my hand-me-down 2004 Ford Explorer is starting to have issues so that is why I'm here!

The Renegade has really caught my eye especially the TrailHawk with the My Sky Removeable roof! However, I have read on a lot of issues about the roof not opening/closing because of broken clips and etc. I was curious to know if they have improved the My Sky on newer models such as 2018 and up?

I recently looked at a 2016 TrailHawk and a 2017 DesertHawk, both with the My Sky. I tested them both out and ended up leaving both dealers with them trying to figure out why it wouldn't close.....😬😬😬

Click to expand...

tHOSE OPEN TOP GADGETS MOONROOFS, SUNROOFS, MY SKY ETC. are not used often. How maNY CARS do you see going down the hyway with open tops? They sound attractive but untill you own a car with one and learn there value they can suck you in. I've owned several never using any of them after the novelty wore off. mY ADVICE TO YOU WOULD BE TO FIND A CAR WITHOUT THIS OPTION and avoid coming back to your car from shopping to find you had left the top open.
Congradulation's on your gradulation. Now begins the road to a new world and your future. Best wishes

I disagree. We've had sunroofs on our last four cars (all VWs); and while we don't use them most of the time, they sure are great on a nice day. Yes, you do need to close them when you leave the car -- I did flood my 1997 Passat once leaving it out in the rain when I was gone on a weeklong trip.

We've now got a 2021 Renegade Trailhawk on order with the dual-pane power sunroof -- which I understand works like a conventional power sunroof.

That having been said, I wouldn't particularly want the previous removable roof. First, it would be a hassle to remove it. Second, when off it would take up a lot of space in the hatch.

Hello! Congrats college grad!

I have a 2017 with MySky and I love it. Super easy to take off and put back on again (your dealer quite simply had no idea what they were doing). I’ve never had any issues with anything breaking. Storing them however...I’ve been trying to figure out a way to neatly store them in the garage.

The MySky is the reason I bought a 75th.
It is cool, but if you are getting one go in with your eyes open.

MySky has a poor drainage design that tends to silt up. You need to keep it clean, clear and greased. You also need to take the roof rails off a couple of times a year and clear out under there.

It rattles quite a bit with age as the headliner is only secure with Velcro and the wind gets in there.

Also the front and rear plastic roof finishers have a tendency to come off. They are only stuck on with VHB tape.

Nev said:

The MySky is the reason I bought a 75th.
It is cool, but if you are getting one go in with your eyes open.

MySky has a poor drainage design that tends to silt up. You need to keep it clean, clear and greased. You also need to take the roof rails off a couple of times a year and clear out under there.

It rattles quite a bit with age as the headliner is only secure with Velcro and the wind gets in there.

Also the front and rear plastic roof finishers have a tendency to come off. They are only stuck on with VHB tape.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! This is good to know!

bfloyd4445 said:

tHOSE OPEN TOP GADGETS MOONROOFS, SUNROOFS, MY SKY ETC. are not used often. How maNY CARS do you see going down the hyway with open tops? They sound attractive but untill you own a car with one and learn there value they can suck you in. I've owned several never using any of them after the novelty wore off. mY ADVICE TO YOU WOULD BE TO FIND A CAR WITHOUT THIS OPTION and avoid coming back to your car from shopping to find you had left the top open.
Congradulation's on your gradulation. Now begins the road to a new world and your future. Best wishes

Click to expand...

You are right that it wouldn't be used often...especially here in the midwest winters but I do like the option especially if I do plan to relocate south within the next few years.

Nev said:

The MySky is the reason I bought a 75th.
It is cool, but if you are getting one go in with your eyes open.

MySky has a poor drainage design that tends to silt up. You need to keep it clean, clear and greased. You also need to take the roof rails off a couple of times a year and clear out under there.

It rattles quite a bit with age as the headliner is only secure with Velcro and the wind gets in there.

Also the front and rear plastic roof finishers have a tendency to come off. They are only stuck on with VHB tape.

Click to expand...

One of the roofs had a bunch of leaves and gunk in it so I assume it probably just needed to be cleaned out.

JasoninDLH said:

Hello! Congrats college grad!

I have a 2017 with MySky and I love it. Super easy to take off and put back on again (your dealer quite simply had no idea what they were doing). I’ve never had any issues with anything breaking. Storing them however...I’ve been trying to figure out a way to neatly store them in the garage.

Click to expand...

Thank you! Does your roof have the sliding open option for the front? I guess if I did get one I could just remove the panels rather than risk opening it and not being able to close it. I do wish it were possible to store them in with the spare tire but oh well...

Yes...it has the power sliding one in the front and works fantastic!

ranelson38 said:

Does your roof have the sliding open option for the front? I guess if I did get one I could just remove the panels rather than risk opening it and not being able to close it.

Click to expand...

I don't know how it is on the Renegade (still waiting on ours -- you guys would have to check your Owner's Manuals carefully), but generally there's an emergency-closing method. Usually involves removing a panel and hand-cranking it shut with a hex wrench...

We had cars with sun roofs when I lived in Houston and enjoyed driving with the roof open when the weather permitted (usually not in the middle of the day. When we moved to the mountains in Colorado, we don't open the sun roof on my wife's car and I didn't get one and don't miss it on my TH. The sun up here beats down too much to have a sun roof open or closed in the summer and its just too cold to have it open in the winter. It all depends on where you live and what your preferences are.

Marek K said:

I disagree. We've had sunroofs on our last four cars (all VWs); and while we don't use them most of the time, they sure are great on a nice day. Yes, you do need to close them when you leave the car -- I did flood my 1997 Passat once leaving it out in the rain when I was gone on a weeklong trip.

We've now got a 2021 Renegade Trailhawk on order with the dual-pane power sunroof -- which I understand works like a conventional power sunroof.

That having been said, I wouldn't particularly want the previous removable roof. First, it would be a hassle to remove it. Second, when off it would take up a lot of space in the hatch.

Click to expand...

chuckle...sounds to me like you agreeded with me 100%. You admitted you hardly ever used them and you had isues even flooding your car because you forgot to close it in a rain. Same as my experiance.
Yes, the removable one is simply opening thins up for even more problems i agree. ....Reminds me of once in my F250 Lariet had the roof open and thenI started seeing flaKes falling down making wet spots at first i wondered what the....., then i realized the roof was open but i didn't notice because even though it was 6 defrees F. outside the automatic climate control system kept the cab at the same temp without any sound. .....Was kinda nice to have it snow in the cab and yet be nice and warm....

Marek K said:

I don't know how it is on the Renegade (still waiting on ours -- you guys would have to check your Owner's Manuals carefully), but generally there's an emergency-closing method. Usually involves removing a panel and hand-cranking it shut with a hex wrench...

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure there is no hand crank on the Renegade, but I'm not sure there is a way to remove it once it is open all the way.

ranelson38 said:

Hello all! I am new to the forum and I am currently searching for my first official car purchase. I just graduated from college and my hand-me-down 2004 Ford Explorer is starting to have issues so that is why I'm here!

The Renegade has really caught my eye especially the TrailHawk with the My Sky Removeable roof! However, I have read on a lot of issues about the roof not opening/closing because of broken clips and etc. I was curious to know if they have improved the My Sky on newer models such as 2018 and up?

I recently looked at a 2016 TrailHawk and a 2017 DesertHawk, both with the My Sky. I tested them both out and ended up leaving both dealers with them trying to figure out why it wouldn't close.....😬😬😬

Click to expand...

I have a 2015 Trailhawk with my sky. When I bought it (used), the dealer replaced the motor to the my sky. I don’t open it up much, 1. It’s loud as hell going down the highway.

Concerning the My Sky panels on a jeep Renegade. We HAD a 2016 Jeep Renegade with the motorized my sky panels.
Since the beginning the front electric panel ALWAYS had problems moving in cold weather. I would have to help along the roof manually to close it. It was fine in warm 60F plus temps. Last fall during one of the last warm days I took both panels off for my 40 min ride home from work. When I tried to put the front panel back into the screw drive mechanism it just would not link. I'm pretty handy but saw no way to re engage the panel
During the last maintenance visit at the dealer, 68K miles, I asked for a quote to fix it. The estimate was $5,000. Evidently the whole assembly had to be removed/replaced and headliner would have to come out.

Anyway, after 70,000 miles it was easy to let this Renault go. It was fun to drive, but it's still a Renault.

Black Betty said:

I have a 2015 Trailhawk with my sky. When I bought it (used), the dealer replaced the motor to the my sky. I don’t open it up much, 1. It’s loud as hell going down the highway.

Click to expand...

I bet it is! The aerodynamics aren't very good. I would probably use it for slow driving in town or off-roading. I'm leaning toward the glass roof if I can find one over the removable MySky.

Black Betty said:

I have a 2015 Trailhawk with my sky. When I bought it (used), the dealer replaced the motor to the my sky. I don’t open it up much, 1. It’s loud as hell going down the highway.

Click to expand...

Try opening a rear window a bit that usually kills the noise. Anyway works for me

I love mine but yes in the south. Have both armor-proof panels off 8 mo at a time, like real weather and windows down its close to a beach jeep as I want.