stuck sunroof

[AmbideXtrous]

Just a little bit ago I opened my sunroof. It opened normally but after it stopped it continued to make a loud clicking sound as if teeth were skipping on a gear. Now when I try to close it, only one side tries and it gives up after a second. Any suggestions?

 

[Ruffian]

I don't have any suggestions. But my T4R was at the dealers a couple of weeks ago, I was complaining about the rattle in the roof, and they shot some lubricant onto the rails in hopes that would silence it. She said it was completely dry. I notice now that it does seem to slide quieter...but the darn rattle is still there!!
No I do not know where exactly they put the lubricant, or really even if they really did. Since our trucks are the same age, could be the same reason. Seems this Gen. needs extra lubricant everywhere!!

 

[dingo]

Could be hardened grease preventing travel. I have the moonroof TSB in pdf but it's too large to post. PM or email me if you would like it.

 

[mtngoat]

I have my '04 4runner LTD in for the same thing. It started as a "plastic gear stripping" noise. When I brought it in to the dealer, I demonstrated the noise as I retracted the sunroof. Heard the noise and then it would not close, PERIOD. The dealer just told me that there are two cables and he says that one of the broke, creating the noise. The other cable finally broke due to the extra stress. WHATEVER !!! It is covered under the extended waranty. They removed the whole headliner and are replacing everything except the tracks.
I hope this helps.
Good Luck!

 

[scott78945]

I went through this last Fall with my 05. They eventually had an engineer from Toyota Corp come out and look at my truck. They came to the same conclusion about the hardened grease. Now I have silver tracks in it. Mine opened, made the same type of noise, and then wouldn't close. Turn the car off and let it sit for about 10 minutes. When I did this it started to close and then I just grabbed it and helped it close. I was able to get it closed completely until I could get it to the dealer. This is the only reason as to why I just purchased the extended warranty, damn sunroof!! As much as I like it, never again.

 

[matthewcp]

I have 04 4runner, I barely drive it and it has only 27,000 miles (i live in nyc). I just took it out last weekend, opened the sunroof and after some clicking noise like gears slipping it got stuck in the open position and wont close (very similar to the post). Its out of warrenty ('04) and I took it to the shop and they quoted me $2600 to fix it. The resale value of the car is probably ~17k or less (perfect condition ex sunroof). The cost of the sunroof on invoice was only 900, dealer cost ~750. So I am expected to pay ~15% of the current value of the car to fix a sunroof? and 2.8 times the initial cost of invoice?? WTF? This seems completely unreasonable (just blowing steam here). Has anyone else paid to fix their sunroof or have suggestions?

 

[AmbideXtrous]

That does seem crazy. I haven't even taken mine to get a quote. As much as I love the sunroof I'm not going to pay that much to fix it. Perhaps I'll pull one out of a junkyard sometime in the future. Oh well.

 

[Fishy1]

I got my sport edition WITHOUT a sunroof because of my previous sun/moon roof issues with other vehicles..

Saved $900 and a lot of grief...

 

[juneau92]

I got my sport edition WITHOUT a sunroof because of my previous sun/moon roof issues with other vehicles..

Saved $900 and a lot of grief...

Ya but you lost a lot of joy of having a sunroof! :runaway:

 

[4runDiZZLe]

Ya but you lost a lot of joy of having a sunroof! :runaway:

lol... but these 4th gens are notorious for sunroof getting stuck or needing replacement... i read somewhere that if you want it replaced out of warranty it's over $2500...

one less thing to worry about, that's exactly why i searched for a t4r without a moonroof as well...

 

[spo0587]

same thing happened to me

The SAME thing happened to me. I remember it clearly, it was December 1, 2007 and I went out that night. Beautiful night, I live in Mississippi so it was a mild night (in the 50's) and it got stuck open. For a temp fix, i put black plastic sheeting, and duct tape over the whole opening. I got some weird looks while driving it to the shop. The next day a cold front came though and the temp dropped to 30's. So i was freezing! I took it to a place that works on sunroofs (not the stealer, after reading on here after it happened to me, I wasn't about to spend 2G) and they removed the headliner and took the glass out and reseated it back to its normal place. They charged me $150 just to get the glass back in place. He did get it working, but it was sketchy and slow, so he unplugged the cable from the switch. He was going to get me a junk yard one for about 550 installed, but I said no thanks. It will only happen again. I heard Toyota was suspossed to redesign these after 04 i believe? Anyways, if i want a sunroof I pull the cover back so I can see the glass and i role the back window down. I can see the sun and feel the air. Good enough for me!

 

[Falls]

Yes a sunroof can have problems , as far as notorious I wouldn't go that far , probably no more than any other vehicle.

That replacement cost is NUTS !!!

I hope you find a cheap solution.

I myself have been lucky and have had many a moon roof and knock wood I have never had an issue.

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

AmbideXtrous, sorry to hear about the sunroof...mine did the same thing...on a good note, yr truck is lookin great! do you have more pics?

 

[AmbideXtrous]

AmbideXtrous, sorry to hear about the sunroof...mine did the same thing...on a good note, yr truck is lookin great! do you have more pics?

Well, of course. Just look at my precious baby!

I'll just post links. Some of these are not sized correctly.

Here I am squeezing between two trees. Notice the mirrors are in.
http://www.kifourwheelers.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=2528

http://www.kifourwheelers.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=2544

http://www.kifourwheelers.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=2396

http://www.kifourwheelers.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=2379

 

[loner]

Guys,
If you have a sunroof, take the time to search and find the pdf file for the sunroof TSB. It has been linked in the past and hioefully is still available.

If your sunroof is sticking and you are halfway mechanically inclined, you should attempt to disassemble the sunroof as per the TSB (it's not terribly hard), clean things up, and re-grease the parts. You may save yourself a couple grand for a couple hours work.

If your sunroof hasn't stuck, do the TSB anyway as preventive maintenance.

My sunroof was sticking and making the stripping noice and I did the TSB in my driveway. Everything is fine now and it cost me nothing.

Also, if your sunroof is stuck open, try pulling down on the wind deflector, as this may help it close.

HTH

 

[matthewcp]

sunroof repaired

Alright, i didn't have much choice as i live in nyc and have no place to tinker with the sunroof to get it closed. But what i did do is send a email to toyota corporate (they sent and email back telling dealer to discount costs) and went off on the guy at the dealer ship for the costs. All said, they dropped the price from $2600 to $1700, it saved a grand and admittedly still WAY to expensive but at least it is closed now.

 

[JungleJim]

Someone mentioned above that Toyota redesigned it after 2004.
Does anyone know if that's true?

There did seem to be more issues with the sunroof the first two years (03 and 04).

 

[Falls]

Guys,
If you have a sunroof, take the time to search and find the pdf file for the sunroof TSB. It has been linked in the past and hioefully is still available.

If your sunroof is sticking and you are halfway mechanically inclined, you should attempt to disassemble the sunroof as per the TSB (it's not terribly hard), clean things up, and re-grease the parts. You may save yourself a couple grand for a couple hours work.

If your sunroof hasn't stuck, do the TSB anyway as preventive maintenance.

My sunroof was sticking and making the stripping noice and I did the TSB in my driveway. Everything is fine now and it cost me nothing.

Also, if your sunroof is stuck open, try pulling down on the wind deflector, as this may help it close.

HTH

Great tip , like al lot of thing prevent. maint , may save us down the road. I'll have to try to fine that TSB.

AMB , Any solutions yet ?

 

[AmbideXtrous]

Great tip , like al lot of thing prevent. maint , may save us down the road. I'll have to try to fine that TSB.

AMB , Any solutions yet ?

Close the shade and forget that I have a sunroof unfortunately. I'm long out of warranty and not willing to cough up a couple grand to get it fixed. I am sure that my cable snapped so it is more than just taking things apart and lubing and reassembling. I'm hoping to pick one up from a junkyard sometime soon.

 

[Fishy1]

IMO sunroofs are just more trouble than they are worth....:bash: