Looking to replace sunroof, need some advice

[Rocket61]

Hey guys - my sunroof has been causing issue after issue. I'm at a point where I'm considering swapping the whole thing out with one from a wrecker.

Right now, mine is making a terrible grinding noise when it's almost fully drawn back (I'm guessing this is a seized rail or something), and leaking bad on the rear side during rain and car washes. The motor is working fine.

The wrecker is quoting me about $300 for a full sunroof assembly. It would be coming off an 07 with about 100k miles on it. They would also give me a 6 month warranty.

How big of a job would it be to swap this out? Would I need any other parts other than the new assembly? Could I do this myself or should this be taken to a shop? Any advice would really be appreciated, thanks guys!

 

[CookieRoe]

Before you go spending $300 on another one, have you checked out the TSB?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/tsb/39503-4th-gen-tsbs-attachments.html#post331274

 

[Rocket61]

Before you go spending $300 on another one, have you checked out the TSB?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/tsb/39503-4th-gen-tsbs-attachments.html#post331274

I have. I called Toyota head office about the issue and they said my 07 with 155k miles on it is out of warranty and wouldn't qualify for this TSB.

 

[wadle5]

and leaking bad on the rear side during rain and car washes. The motor is working fine.

s!

First thing I would check like we always did at the shop when people had complaints of water leakage and they have a sunroof. The drain tubes sometimes get clogged and if you are careful, with the sunroof open can shoot some air down there and clean them out. If you use to much pressure it could shoot out the plastic/rubber sheath that runs the length of the drain tube! Really easy quick fix, so address that first before deciding about possibly swapping. Hope this helps I know some people during/before winter this came up a lot with water melting and then freezing so there has been some research on guys pouring some de-icer/antifreeze down there. Good luck and keep us updated on what ya do.

 

[Rocket61]

First thing I would check like we always did at the shop when people had complaints of water leakage and they have a sunroof. The drain tubes sometimes get clogged and if you are careful, with the sunroof open can shoot some air down there and clean them out. If you use to much pressure it could shoot out the plastic/rubber sheath that runs the length of the drain tube! Really easy quick fix, so address that first before deciding about possibly swapping. Hope this helps I know some people during/before winter this came up a lot with water melting and then freezing so there has been some research on guys pouring some de-icer/antifreeze down there. Good luck and keep us updated on what ya do.

Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately, this is looking like a mechanical problem. The glass isn't staying in place. I can hear it rattling as I drive. When it's closed, I can reach up, push the back of the glass up, and move it enough to see light coming through.

 

[wadle5]

Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately, this is looking like a mechanical problem. The glass isn't staying in place. I can hear it rattling as I drive. When it's closed, I can reach up, push the back of the glass up, and move it enough to see light coming through.

oh, yeah definitely a mechanical and not what I thought :frusty:.

Sorry man hope you get it fixed and now you have me feeling all nervous about my sunroof. :help:

 

[svana]

I just took on what I would humbly consider a major job on the sunroof, having to fabricate a new metal housing for one of the splines. The old one had rusted out so bad that it seized the spline in place and wouldn't move at all even after we took the whole thing apart. Literally had to dremel the housing in half to get the spline out (think taking the cast off of an arm). I'd like to think that I'm pretty well knowledgeable on the working of it now. Then again I feel like I'm one of the few that would prefer to fix my sunroof as opposed to just sealing it shut lol. If you've got any questions feel free to pm me and we can talk.