Hey guys my sunroof won't open and it leaks, i bought the car about 2 months ago, the previous owner never opened it so thats pretty much all i know, the weird thing is that when i push the botton it makes a click sound but thats about it...... and its leaking all around the roof panel not the actual sunroof, i actually hear water slushing all over my head and when i break it comes out the rearview mirror or when i turn it goes out the rear windows.... Havent really even tryied to look at it, but before i start taking it apart, what could it be??? do i have to take off the whole roof panel to get to the motor of the sunroof?? Thanks

 

What most often happens with these 4Runners roofs is rust.

Especially in salt-using areas, the drain tubes build up with junk. That causes water to back up in the tubes, and get into the cable system. It then rusts, and turns your sunroof rails into a rusty mess. The drain tubes being backed up and filled with gunk is whats causing the sloshing water problem.

You will have to drop the sunroof assy out, and clean it up and replace anything that is rusty or broken. Make sure you clean out the tubes too.

 

ok so thats kind of what i thought it could be, now figure out if thats what not letting the sunroof open or if its the motor burned out.......... thanks

 

How does one clean the drain tubes?

 

With some pipe cleaner or spend the money at home depot and replace them. Won't cost that much.

 

Is there a write-up on sunroof maitenance?

 

I've never done my 4Runner but string trimmer string has worked well on my other cars.

 

I have heard of people sticking a metal clothes hanger down the pipe with tape on the end to make sure it doesn't perforate it. As far as maintenance goes, just grease it once in a while. I use HONDA High-Temp Urea Grease. It is super expensive ($12 for 2 oz), but lasts forever. Especially awesome using on sliding parts on brakes (long bolts with a very small portion of threads) where the caliper moves when it brakes. It will still be there when you go back 80K later and do them again. Lasts much longer than the Toyota grease.

 

check out GROOVY GREASE..its some GOOOOOOOOODDDD stuff...use it on all the brake jobs i ever do..its like the honda stuff..it just doesnt wear off..lol..its an anti-sieze..

 

Neither does the Honda stuff.

 

I have the same exact problem with mine. Need to fix it before our rainy season starts in 2 months. Did you have any luck unclogging the lines yet? I am not even sure how to get at mine since it doesn't open.

 

Typically pressurized air is used to unclog/clean the tubes.

 

That's what I was going to say since that's what I do if my Washer hoses get clogged. . Also Honda Bond is great stuff pretty much can use on nearly anything, lol

 

So, I just need to figure out where the tubes exit, since I can't access them from the sunroof? I actually don't even care about getting my sunroof open, I just don't want it to leak once the rains begin.

 

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/s...writeup-15914/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/o...p-tray-109635/

 

Thanks. And those link to several more...so many threads, so little time...

 

FWIW, the guy I bought my 2000 4runner from told me that the Toyota dealer said these sunroofs are notorious for the white grease caking up and causing them to stop moving. I've read in other threads here that the grease resembles clay when it dries...... ie sunroof no work-y!

I have yet to find a diagram of how to disasemble the sunroof and get to where the grease is. If you can get to even part of the mechanism you might try a penetrating spray like, InForce (car quest) or Penetrol? You really need some elbow grease, then relube.

Any good links to how to disasemble????