Sunroof - a couple of very loud creaks during open/close

[m@x]

Hello everyone.

My joy regarding the nice weather didn't last long after I decided to open the sunroof on my way back home. It is definitely having some issues.. :help:

I will post the video and pictures later, but I just thought I would start the thread first.

I hear very loud creaks 2-3 when the sunroof starts opening, and then same 2-3 creaks when it is almost done opening.
Also same thing when it starts closing and finishes closing. The creak is coming from the front left (driver side) corner. For now, I was able to determine that the creaks are somehow related to the spring loaded plastic "wing" that goes up and down when you open and close the sunroof.

I also noticed that when I open/close sunroof, it is being pushed and pulled only by the mechanism from the passenger side. The driver's side rail looks dead. And whenever I open/close the sunroof, the passenger side starts moving first and looks like the driver's side is being dragged along.

I will post the video later tonight so you can see what is exactly happening.

But, any ideas so far? Any know issues?

Thanks!

Max

 

[CookieRoe]

What year is your runner?

Anyway, it's well known that some sunroofs (not all) have issues with the symptoms you are describing. Taking it to the dealer will result in a $3K hole in your wallet. Some people (like me), lube the tracks and anything that hinges on it. I do this every several months b/c I love using it AND I don't want to pay that much to get this repaired. So far, my squeaks are gone. This works for some, not for others. Try lubing, it CAN'T hurt.

THERE IS a TSB for it. Check this link out for info (Scroll to reply #7):

sunroof / moonroof leak - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

*you might have to become a member to be able to download "sunroof rattle TSB "............... FYI

EDIT: Opps, I gave you a "rattling" sunroof. Here is a TSB on creaking sunroof (see reply #2):

http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3768

There, that should help you. BUT, the first link certainly is interesting though...........................

 

[m@x]

What year is your runner?

Anyway, it's well known that some sunroofs (not all) have issues with the symptoms you are describing. Taking it to the dealer will result in a $3K hole in your wallet. Some people (like me), lube the tracks and anything that hinges on it. I do this every several months b/c I love using it AND I don't want to pay that much to get this repaired. So far, my squeaks are gone. This works for some, not for others. Try lubing, it CAN'T hurt.

THERE IS a TSB for it. Check this link out for info (Scroll to reply #7):

sunroof / moonroof leak - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

*you might have to become a member to be able to download "sunroof rattle TSB "............... FYI

EDIT: Opps, I gave you a "rattling" sunroof. Here is a TSB on creaking sunroof (see reply #2):

Moonroof lube? - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

There, that should help you. BUT, the first link certainly is interesting though...........................

Thank you very much! I went quickly through the TSB and now at least I know how to take things apart. When I open/close the sunroof, it looks like something is broken in the rail on the driver's side. There is a metal rod on each side of the roof. The side that doesn't creak and works well has the rod in a fixed, solid position. On the driver's side, when I play with the roof forward-backward, I can see that the rod is moving 2" forward/backward in the direction of the sunroof. And the plastic tab that should hold the rod in place moves as well. But the creak - still not from there. It's from the corner, under the aluminum rail. I will post the video today.

Much appreciated!

 

[CookieRoe]

Thank you very much! ...............I will post the video today.

Much appreciated!

No problem! Glad I could help. :thumb:

Seeing the video would be cool to see. Hope you get creak solved.

 

[Bob J]

I have what I think is the moonroof rattle.... It's resonant frequency is right at my idle rpm which makes it very annoying.... Will check out the TSR as soon as the platform forum mods add me....

What year is your runner?

Anyway, it's well known that some sunroofs (not all) have issues with the symptoms you are describing. Taking it to the dealer will result in a $3K hole in your wallet. Some people (like me), lube the tracks and anything that hinges on it. I do this every several months b/c I love using it AND I don't want to pay that much to get this repaired. So far, my squeaks are gone. This works for some, not for others. Try lubing, it CAN'T hurt.

THERE IS a TSB for it. Check this link out for info (Scroll to reply #7):

sunroof / moonroof leak - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

*you might have to become a member to be able to download "sunroof rattle TSB "............... FYI

EDIT: Opps, I gave you a "rattling" sunroof. Here is a TSB on creaking sunroof (see reply #2):

Moonroof lube? - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

There, that should help you. BUT, the first link certainly is interesting though...........................

 

[Sungod]

I had some creaking and popping with mine. I didn't have the time to take everything apart as stated in the tsb, but greased the tracks and spayed some lubricant in the parts I could see and creaks and pops are gone.

 

[m@x]

No problem! Glad I could help. :thumb:

Seeing the video would be cool to see. Hope you get creak solved.

Sorry I didn't answer your question - mine is 2006.

I decided to go all in and remove the sunroof panel as well.
I am putting it back tonight and I have some videos with my steps.
I also found a couple of tricks how to align the brackets, after my failed 5 attempts. The TSB says to align the link with the mark but the problem is that both brackets to be aligned have some free play. If you align them as per TSB and then open/close the sunroof (my sunroof panel was removed but I was able to "open/close" without it) then you will notice that the link is out of alignment a bit on both sides. Anyway, I will finish the work tonight and I'll post some stuff here!

m@x

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I wish you the best of luck, sunroofs are just a pain in the arse... almost every manufactuer wants to to tear them down and replace small components (which by the time you break the assembly down, you've damaged/broken other parts, if you're lucky you don't break more putting it back to gether and testing it to make sure it works...) All the experience most of the guys have with sunroofs at the dealership leave us with a bad taste in our mouth and higher blood pressure...

 

[JohnnyT]

Do yourself a favor and leave it closed FOREVER. Don't press your luck. Those things are nothing but problems......and always at the worst times.

 

[JB.]

Mine was loud and scary sounding and it took a few cleaning and greasing attempts to quiet it down.

I now make it a point to open/close it virtually everyday and that seems to keep it working properly. Any time I let a few days pass without operation, the first pass is noisy.

 

[m@x]

I wish you the best of luck, sunroofs are just a pain in the arse... almost every manufactuer wants to to tear them down and replace small components (which by the time you break the assembly down, you've damaged/broken other parts, if you're lucky you don't break more putting it back to gether and testing it to make sure it works...) All the experience most of the guys have with sunroofs at the dealership leave us with a bad taste in our mouth and higher blood pressure...

Thanks BlackWorksInc,
For me it was a learning experience. I managed to remove all the bits, clean everything up and put all the pieces back together without breaking anything. However, this is a very time-consuming process, and I can see why sunroofs are headaches. There is no way a tech can do all this in 1-2 hours, as per book, without breaking something. I drive another car right now so my t4r is idling now and my project spread over the weekend and monday, whenever I had some free time. As far as the repair went - it was a success! Everything working just great now! Special thanks to CookieRoe!
Still, I didn't finish the job without screwing something up - I managed to strip threads on 1-2 out of 4 screws that attach the sunroof panel to the carrier brackets. =( P/N 90159-50336 (4).
I hope the threads inside the brackets are fine. The screws are ordered and the sunroof panel is off. But it was on and working just great. No more creaks!

BTW is there a way to check the condition of the inner threads?

Do yourself a favor and leave it closed FOREVER. Don't press your luck. Those things are nothing but problems......and always at the worst times.

This is going to be my plan B, in case I fail or break something =)
But you are right - always at the worst times!

I know I haven't posted media yet, but I will for sure. The videos need some light editing.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

On BMWs there are plastic components that are one-use only, so if you mess up and forget to install something or the assembly doesn't go back together right and you have to take it apart; you gotta buy more...

My first experience with sunroofs was on a '05 BMW X5 with the panoramic sunroof that was locked up and not working, after about a week or two we ended up wholesaling the vehicle because even when we sent it out to another shop to finish the job (I was pulling my hair out and still having trouble putting it together WITH BMW's bizarre instructions...) it wasn't working right.

The Toyota ones I haven't played with yet, but my coworkers don't like doing them when they come in because its a time sink as you found out.

 

[b4ubuy]

Sunroof issues

Black grease on everything related to the rail, hinges, etc. fixes squeaks and rattles. Dealer has no idea of simple fixes like this. Try and it will probably cure almost all ills.

 

[Cory619]

Mine is doing what was described by the OP. Tonight, had the roof open and it started raining. Went to close it, and it moved back and forth about 2 inches or so with each attempt. I was lucky and found a bank to pull in to get some cover. Started googling the issue. If you have this problem, hold the close button down for 15 seconds and it close.

My wallet isn't lighter......yet.

I suspect I need to lube it up.

 

[yeauxkna_at]

Any links to maintain the sunroof? Its been a few years since this has been done.

I want to add some grease etc. Mine has always had white grease on it.