[dwulffusa]

Started about 2 months ago at interstate speed.

It is a low volume rattle/vibration like a metal screw rolling around in a pan, but nothing is loose. Happens when the shade is open or closed. If I press upward on the shade the noise goes away. I tried sticking the rim of a hat into the gap between the shade and the headliner this morning, but that didnt cure it.

Anyone else have this?

Coincidentally this started right after I put a new set of Revos on and had the dealer look at a grinding noise when closing the sunroof, which apparently was a loose plastic cover on the left side of the sunroof above my head. It also started before I added the Yakima crossbars so its not that.

[zerowkul98]

I have been dealing with the same thing in my 03 since ive owned it.

Ive done some homework on it, and it turns out that its the wire that retracts the moonroof itself rattling around.

Chalk that up to another design issue, right next to the freezing passenger lower caliper piston.

Some people with online blogs have used "fixes" such as heavy grease to hold it in place and even some clips, but they are tough to get to.

Just turn up yer stereo, bro.

[jetboy1975]

Do a search and you'll see many posts on here, it's a common problem. I had it on my '03 but it's an easy fix. Get a couple of small rubber o-rings ( I can't remember the size but around the size of a penny with a pencil sized hole) and cut 1/4 of it out so it looks like a "c". Open the sunroof and look for the rod mechanisms that run in the tracks on either side. Slip the o-ring around the rod (should fit snug) and voila, noise gone. It keeps the rods from rattling against the tracks.

[LeesO4]

I had the same problem too. Dealership was finally able to replicate the sound 1000 miles before my warranty was to expire. They found that the cables were rattling around inside from being stretched. After they replaced the cables they found the sunroof housing was bad so they replaced that too. All together it was over $3000 to fix. Good thing I had that warranty. All these grease and "O" ring fixes my make the sound go away but eventually the sun roof will probably stop working right since there will be too much slack in the cables.

[tripgrip]

I have an 05 4Runner and I have had it since new and with not one problem with it, not even a lamp burning out. This last summer my sunroof started to rattle and it was driving me crazy just like all of you out there. Because the 4Runner is such a quiet vehicle I had to do something. I called the Toyota dealer and he told me that is was a lot of money to take down the headliner and check out the problem. Well being mechanically inclined I was not going to fork out a large sum of money for a little rattle. What I had found it was not the cables rattling but the grease on the guide tracks and rollers (all the moving parts) had dried out or was gone. I solved the rattle problem by removing the glass sunroof (4 Torx bolts size #25) and setting aside. I bought some thick white grease at the auto store, not the spray kind, and carefully lubed all the moving parts up in the sunroof track assembly. Guess what, that did the trick! So nice to have a quiet vehicle again for $5 worth of grease.

[ClockWork]

The 4Runner moonroof design is flawed. The shafts that the mechanism slide on are under opposing point loads when the roof is open. These shafts also have a tendency to rattle over bumps. I fixed this problem by putting 1/4" fish line around the center of each shaft.

I'm still wary of using it after having it get stuck open one day. I have to violently shake and shove it to get it back on the track.

[empty403]

Originally Posted by jetboy1975

Do a search and you'll see many posts on here, it's a common problem. I had it on my '03 but it's an easy fix. Get a couple of small rubber o-rings ( I can't remember the size but around the size of a penny with a pencil sized hole) and cut 1/4 of it out so it looks like a "c". Open the sunroof and look for the rod mechanisms that run in the tracks on either side. Slip the o-ring around the rod (should fit snug) and voila, noise gone. It keeps the rods from rattling against the tracks.

Awesome, I will try this tomorrow.

[JD914]

Originally Posted by tripgrip

What I had found it was not the cables rattling but the grease on the guide tracks and rollers (all the moving parts) had dried out or was gone. I solved the rattle problem by removing the glass sunroof (4 Torx bolts size #25) and setting aside. I bought some thick white grease at the auto store, not the spray kind, and carefully lubed all the moving parts up in the sunroof track assembly. Guess what, that did the trick! So nice to have a quiet vehicle again for $5 worth of grease.

Where are those 4 screws? I looked quickly, and didn't see any torx screws. I'm thinking of tackling this project when I have time. Thanks.

[tp0908]

Originally Posted by empty403

Awesome, I will try this tomorrow.

Have you done it yet? Did it work OK? I ihave done all the TSB and still have the rattling noise. I guess I have to take down the glass unit this weekend.

[tp0908]

Am planning to do same this weekend. I just wanted to know the procedures you did. Are the mechanisms that need greasing gonna be exposed when I take down the glass? Or, do I need to dismantle other stuffs to gain access to it (other than the garnish/trim before removing the torx screws). Thanks.