TSB Aug 2006 - '03-'07 Moonroof Stuck
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loner
New member
mikefos said:
I used Rotella Heavy Duty lithium grease - It's red and it doesn't smell. Why? Because that's what I had. This was a spur of the moment project, and I knew it doesn't harden because I applied some on my garage door opener mechanism about 4 years ago and it is still fine.
I am not an expert in grease, so perhaps someone who is well-educated in grease selection can chime in and tell us what we should use....
Fro-Runner
New member
I've used regular old wheel packing/ball joint grease. It doesn't really matter as long as you DON"T use the white stuff which will thicken on you. I've been using this type of grease since the spring of 2005.
Get a fair amount of Q-tips with some alcohol or other solvent cleaner. Open the moonroof and moisten the Q-tips. Now clean away all of Toyota's white grease. It's better to do this when the outside temps are warm (80 degrees or higher) as this make the job easier. I got inside of my truck with my head out of the roof. I used a cheapo plastic tarp purchased from the local hardware store or Walmart over the front seats just in case some grease fell.
After you remove the white grease, use a dry Q-tip and get a light smidget of gear grease on the cotton end and work your way from the front of the moonroof to the back. Lube everything that moves with a very, very light coat of grease. REMEMBER that the hot summer hear will help melt and disperse the grease around the areas. Now close the roof and tilt up the back end of it. Apply a very small amount of grease to the lifting mechanisms at the rear of the roof. Remember to use just a weeee bit on the very tip of the cotton swab. You don't need much as you will do this again every spring. I live in southern Califunky so I chose to do my roof in March. The temps are in the mid 70's then. I've done this in '05, '06, and this spring. I was out yesterday enjoying the roof opened. I must have open and closed it about 15 times this weekend. You can't afford to leave your truck open for mere seconds out here as it will magically grow legs and walk (no, RUN) across the border to Mexico or via a chop shop before the cops locate it.
Do the simple about maintenence and save yourself a headache. I do NOT understand why people buy a vehicle with a roof and NEVER open it on nice days. Go figure!
Get a fair amount of Q-tips with some alcohol or other solvent cleaner. Open the moonroof and moisten the Q-tips. Now clean away all of Toyota's white grease. It's better to do this when the outside temps are warm (80 degrees or higher) as this make the job easier. I got inside of my truck with my head out of the roof. I used a cheapo plastic tarp purchased from the local hardware store or Walmart over the front seats just in case some grease fell.
After you remove the white grease, use a dry Q-tip and get a light smidget of gear grease on the cotton end and work your way from the front of the moonroof to the back. Lube everything that moves with a very, very light coat of grease. REMEMBER that the hot summer hear will help melt and disperse the grease around the areas. Now close the roof and tilt up the back end of it. Apply a very small amount of grease to the lifting mechanisms at the rear of the roof. Remember to use just a weeee bit on the very tip of the cotton swab. You don't need much as you will do this again every spring. I live in southern Califunky so I chose to do my roof in March. The temps are in the mid 70's then. I've done this in '05, '06, and this spring. I was out yesterday enjoying the roof opened. I must have open and closed it about 15 times this weekend. You can't afford to leave your truck open for mere seconds out here as it will magically grow legs and walk (no, RUN) across the border to Mexico or via a chop shop before the cops locate it.
Do the simple about maintenence and save yourself a headache. I do NOT understand why people buy a vehicle with a roof and NEVER open it on nice days. Go figure!
I totally agree with Fro-Runner,,,
I bought my '03 4Runner on Ebay from some guy on Staten Island (I live in Texas) The first day when I went to pick it up I opened the sunroof and got the infamous cracking sound, Freaked me out! I left the sunroof closed and figured I would mess with it when I got back to Texas.
I had read on a previous post that someone figured it was the factory lubricant which was solidifying and that was causing the problem. When I got back home I opened the sunroof and took out as much of the yellow factory grease that I could dig out (which by the way was caked up in several places) I then re lubed the whole sliding track with some white lithium grease. I have been using it on a fairly regular basis and It has been working fine since then,, Not one problem. Just my 2 cents.
I bought my '03 4Runner on Ebay from some guy on Staten Island (I live in Texas) The first day when I went to pick it up I opened the sunroof and got the infamous cracking sound, Freaked me out! I left the sunroof closed and figured I would mess with it when I got back to Texas.
I had read on a previous post that someone figured it was the factory lubricant which was solidifying and that was causing the problem. When I got back home I opened the sunroof and took out as much of the yellow factory grease that I could dig out (which by the way was caked up in several places) I then re lubed the whole sliding track with some white lithium grease. I have been using it on a fairly regular basis and It has been working fine since then,, Not one problem. Just my 2 cents.
G.I.G.
New member
I don't think so. From what I understand, only recalls are covered outside of the warranty period. You have to pay for TSB's if you are not under warranty
I just hit 36k miles on my '07 on Monday. :cry2:
Ill be there in a few as well, but im not too worried this looks like a very easy DIY/Maint item that Ill check during my OCI.
cknsls@adelphia
New member
I basically bought the extended warranty for two reasons-the poorly designed sunroof and the X-Reas suspension. You shouldn't had to fuss over the moonroof, you could have just shown them their own brochure.
As far as the X-reas is concerned, I used it already to replace one of the shocks in front that was leaking. It cost half of the warranty including the rental car for two days since the part wasn't available.
I am not a fan of X-reas-just too expensive to replace and it does get soft after 50K or so.....
Hello,
I need all your help. Yesterday, I was driving and opened my sunroof. AS it opened it made a huge loud bang noise. Now the sunroof open and closes very slow with little power. What seems to be the problem? Does it need a little WD-40 or there is a mechanism problem? Please advise. thank you!
I need all your help. Yesterday, I was driving and opened my sunroof. AS it opened it made a huge loud bang noise. Now the sunroof open and closes very slow with little power. What seems to be the problem? Does it need a little WD-40 or there is a mechanism problem? Please advise. thank you!
Uneek
Super Moderator
Sounds like the infamous moonroof failure.
CAD_GA1390
New member
this issue is ridiculous....i've had problems with mine since it was new...never thought much of it until i saw all these posts...but i think i had about 7k miles on it when i started getting that awful grinding noise, dealer fixed it under warranty...now it just creaks when i have it vented, and so the dealer has lubed it a few times since...still creaks, but at least it works.... (I use it A LOT) :biggrin2:
2006 4Runner Sunroof Not Closing
Hi, I couldn't get my sunroof to close. The motor was working fine and it would close about 1/4 of the way and then retract back. Worked on it for about 30 minutes and discovered that spraying canned air on each side of the track must have cleared up the sensor. Sunroof closes and opens fine now.
Hi, I couldn't get my sunroof to close. The motor was working fine and it would close about 1/4 of the way and then retract back. Worked on it for about 30 minutes and discovered that spraying canned air on each side of the track must have cleared up the sensor. Sunroof closes and opens fine now.
Not to make a necrothread, but I spent my afternoon trying to fix this issue in my '03. I took apart the gear housing, and the left side track was a little chewed up. Not terrible, but still had some damage. However, I found out that no matter what I tried to do, the track wouldn't budge at all, even after I took off the motor, sunroof panel, and other smaller items. I tugged at that as hard as I could, and tried to manually move the sliding arms, but it didn't move at all. The right track moved relatively freely, but no matter what, the left wouldn't. Has anybody gotten to this situation before? I worked through both the TSB and a few of the other links on this thread.Anybody have any other ideas?
sunroof stuck closed
My sunroof is stuck closed on my 2006. It will sorta raise the back but when i try to open it, the left side moves back but the right is really stuck hard with ot much play. I get the loud clicking at the motor. I took the motor out and it seems to work fine, I can't budge the sunroof. It seems that one side is just stuck and the sunroof wont go down in the rear as well. Has anybody ever found a way to open a stuck closed sunroof? One of my front drain holes must be clogged as I got some rainwater coming down from that side.
My sunroof is stuck closed on my 2006. It will sorta raise the back but when i try to open it, the left side moves back but the right is really stuck hard with ot much play. I get the loud clicking at the motor. I took the motor out and it seems to work fine, I can't budge the sunroof. It seems that one side is just stuck and the sunroof wont go down in the rear as well. Has anybody ever found a way to open a stuck closed sunroof? One of my front drain holes must be clogged as I got some rainwater coming down from that side.
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