Moonroof Clicking when Open

E

eleven14

New member
I've been battling this for some time and figured I'd post a video that clearly show the symptoms my moonroof is exhibiting. Truck is a 2008 Limited with 105k miles.

Moonroof Clicking (not my video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSqySZ21SG8

In all the research I've done, the only solutions have been to remove/replace the entire assembly or simply stop using the unit. I'm hoping someone has seen this issue before and can point to the specific cause of the clicking so I can attempt a repair without replacing the entire thing.

This originally started with the moonroof stuck in the halfway open position. I disassembled, performed the Toyota Sunroof TSB and reassembled but am now getting the clicking after it closes.

Any thoughts? Thanks!
 
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Mine did that, scared me half to death. Stopped using it. That was about a year ago. Today, it works great, I never did anything to it (never got around to it)... I've read around that it's likely just some gears that need some lubrication, I believe behind the head liner somewhere or behind the overhead controls.
 
JustinB said:
Mine did that, scared me half to death. Stopped using it. That was about a year ago. Today, it works great, I never did anything to it (never got around to it)... I've read around that it's likely just some gears that need some lubrication, I believe behind the head liner somewhere or behind the overhead controls.
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks for the reply. So did you just keep repeatedly opening/closing it and it resolved itself? I cycled through all positions today and actually think it got worse.

Here's what I did:
• Tilt Up/Closed - cycle worked fine, no clicking/grinding
• Slide Open - worked fine until it hit the fully open position, then clicking/grinding for a second which seemed to originate from the front driver's side area of the wind deflector
• Slide Closed - clicking/grinding for 1/2 sec then slid closed, I applied pressure to help take some of the burden off the motor
• Tilt Up - worked, but clicking/grinding when it was 80% open
• Tilt Down - auto was disabled (likely trigger jam protection when the above-mentioned clicking/grinding happened) but it closed manually

Any thoughts? Any one else have experience with this issue? Thanks a TON for any help...
 
eleven14 said:
Interesting, thanks for the reply. So did you just keep repeatedly opening/closing it and it resolved itself? I cycled through all positions today and actually think it got worse.



Here's what I did:

• Tilt Up/Closed - cycle worked fine, no clicking/grinding

• Slide Open - worked fine until it hit the fully open position, then clicking/grinding for a second which seemed to originate from the front driver's side area of the wind deflector

• Slide Closed - clicking/grinding for 1/2 sec then slid closed, I applied pressure to help take some of the burden off the motor

• Tilt Up - worked, but clicking/grinding when it was 80% open

• Tilt Down - auto was disabled (likely trigger jam protection when the above-mentioned clicking/grinding happened) but it closed manually



Any thoughts? Any one else have experience with this issue? Thanks a TON for any help...
Click to expand...



Maybe try disconnecting the battery then doing the resetting procedure? Sounds like it doesn’t know what position it’s in. Just a thought. No experience with what you’re experiencing, but it does reset the once touch feature.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
maliu1 said:
Maybe try disconnecting the battery then doing the resetting procedure? Sounds like it doesn’t know what position it’s in. Just a thought. No experience with what you’re experiencing, but it does reset the once touch feature.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I'll give that a shot as well as re-initializing, but am guessing at some point I'll have to pull the headliner and run down the actual issue. Anyone pulled the headliner of a vehicle equipped with SRS/side air bags?

Thanks again for the thoughts
 
eleven14 said:
Interesting, thanks for the reply. So did you just keep repeatedly opening/closing it and it resolved itself? I cycled through all positions today and actually think it got worse.
Click to expand...

Noooo, it seemed to get worse when I did that. I just left it for over a year, assuming it was a goner, and now it works. I know, not much help, but wanted to at least give you solace in knowing you aren't the only one who's encountered it, and that it isn't the end of the road for your sunroof.

Pretty sure there are things that can be done, such as replacing/realigning gears and/or lubing things up to get it back into shape. I plan to tackle that at some point to ensure it doesn't do it again.
 
JustinB said:
Noooo, it seemed to get worse when I did that. I just left it for over a year, assuming it was a goner, and now it works. I know, not much help, but wanted to at least give you solace in knowing you aren't the only one who's encountered it, and that it isn't the end of the road for your sunroof.

Pretty sure there are things that can be done, such as replacing/realigning gears and/or lubing things up to get it back into shape. I plan to tackle that at some point to ensure it doesn't do it again.
Click to expand...

Hah, gotcha. My OCD won't let me just leave it alone, but I'll document whatever I do and share it back - hopefully it helps someone else.
 
Common issue of the sunroof not being used/lubbed.

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

What I do is check/clean for debris when the SR is opened, lube the tracks and anything that pivots/moves. Seems as though the white grease applied at the factory drys out over time. I've maintained my SR for years (all the cars I've had since I was a teenager) and NEVER had any issues. Sad to see folks write off their sunroofs. I won't buy a car without one (flame suit on.............)

Anyway, if you have time and are mechanically inclinded, try doing Toyota TSB (on the link above) and you should be good.

Hope this helps!
 
Last edited:
CookieRoe said:
Common issue of the sunroof not being used/lubbed.

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

What I do is check/clean for debris when the SR is opened, lube the tracks and anything that pivots/moves. Seems as though the white grease applied at the factory drys out over time. I've maintained my SR for years (all the cars I've had since I was a teenager) and NEVER had any issues. Sad to see folks write off their sunroofs. I won't buy a car without one (flame suit on.............)

Anyway, if you have time and are mechanically inclinded, try doing Toyota TSB (on the link above) and you should be good.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Thanks, this helps.

I actually did the TSB up to the moonroof realignment portion, but re-used old parts. I plan on trying battery disconnect/reinitialization and performing the full TSB including replacing the supposedly upgraded wind deflector guide rail holders as soon as I get a free weekend.

Hopefully it's leak-free until I can dig into it
 
cspensky said:
Did you ever solve this? I'm having the same issue on my '07. Would love to hear if you had some advice.
Click to expand...

LOL I actually never dug back into it, I just stopped using it and forgot about it.

At some point after I get some other more pressing priorities addressed, I'll revisit. If there's any specific questions I can answer, happy to help as I have a mound of research on the issue, just no real-world expertise to share.

Or, if you dig in, it would awesome if you could document your approach for others. I'm sure this will be more and more prevalent as the 4th Gens age.
 
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