I think my sunroof is glued shut, and its still leaking!

[Cole T]

Hey all,

I bought a 4runner about 6 months ago, knowing that the sunroof didn't work. After many hours trying to figure it out, I've come to the conclusion that someone glued it shut. I wouldn't be too bothered by it, except just this past weekend, it started leaking! I know I probably need to unclog the drains, but I have no idea how to go about removing a glued in sunroof. Does anyone have any ideas? I'd love for this to end with a functioning sunroof!

Thanks

 

[spartacus]

Hey all,

I bought a 4runner about 6 months ago, knowing that the sunroof didn't work. After many hours trying to figure it out, I've come to the conclusion that someone glued it shut. I wouldn't be too bothered by it, except just this past weekend, it started leaking! I know I probably need to unclog the drains, but I have no idea how to go about removing a glued in sunroof. Does anyone have any ideas? I'd love for this to end with a functioning sunroof!

Thanks

Heat gun and a plastic putty knife or gasket scrapper tool. Slow and steady with lots of patience.

 

[Cole T]

Heat gun and a plastic putty knife or gasket scrapper tool. Slow and steady with lots of patience.

Thanks for the response... should I be worried about putting too much heat on the paint? Also, do you think I'll be able to reuse the sunroof gasket?

 

[spartacus]

Thanks for the response... should I be worried about putting too much heat on the paint? Also, do you think I'll be able to reuse the sunroof gasket?

Have to be real careful with the heat gun on low setting moving it constantly and keeping it over the glass. the goal is to soften the glue so it's pliable, get a telephone screen removal plastic tool or a thin plastic knife and free the glass from the glue.

 

[Victoria Smith]

I just had my leaky sunroof that doesn’t open (stuck closed) diagnosed with my mechanic. Look into replacing the cables of the sunroof assembly.


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[XtremeAdventurer]

Once you get the sunroof open you can fix the leak.

There's a seam on the front of the gasket. Over time, the gasket shrinks and the seam splits. I fixed mine by completely removing the sunroof glass with gasket. Opening the seam up to about 1/16" and then using Black Super Weatherstrip Adhesive to fill the gap. This is the third winter up in the Pacific Northwest and it's still holding up with no leaks.

Make sure you clean out the drain ports too.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

On the 96 I cleaned everything with acetone and used black RTV to completely seal it for good. Vehicle was black which helped in RTV color choice.


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