noise from my sunroof - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

04sev6camry · 12-02-2004, 07:01 PM

i have an 04 se and ive been having a whistleing noise from the sunroof that only happens at 80+ mph and/or its really windy. my question is does anybody have this same problem?
i know some people would say to take it to the dealership and get it worked on...and i have...6 or 7 times total between 2 different dealerships.
at first it started out with a rattle in the sunglass holder/console in the headliner. when i took it to the dealership the first time for that they recomended a new rail for the sunroof (apparently the 4runners had that problem so they assumed it was the same thing) so they replaced the rail and i think they put foam behind the console, but after i got it back, i was hearing wind coming the sunroof.
so, the next few times i took it in they adjusted how the glass sat in the roof and it didnt work, i was still hearing a lot of noise. i talked to the service foreman at that dealership and he drove with me and said there was nothing wrong.
i took it to a different dealership and had the service manager ride with me and he said there was a problem with the glass itself and had the technition replace the glass. but after they replaced the glass i started hearing a whistle. i took it in again and they adjusted it and said it shoudl be good, but on my way back from ca, i head that noise for an hour straight driving through indio and part of the desert.
today i got it back from the dealership and they said there was nothing wrong and nothing else they could do.
now im stuck with nothing left to do except to try and do lemon law stuff by starting whay they call arbitraion
im gonna try and see if they will replace the glass and rails but i dont think they will if they dont think there is a problem.
just looking for some help cause i am tired of this noise that they say doesnt exist

Toysrme · 12-02-2004, 07:06 PM

...

Don't close the sunroof with over 70mph of actual airspeed over the sunroof. Toyota has never made one that seals properly under those conditions. My '93 does it.

Another reason not to do that is there have been several occurances of GS300 and GS400 sunroofs being sucked off the top of the car traveling 100mph and up.

04sev6camry · 12-02-2004, 07:09 PM

i rarely open it on the freeway though, and if i do its normally only in traffic so i save a little bit on gas, but i mainly open and close it on the streets

im just tired of this noise

dna59 · 12-02-2004, 07:15 PM

I have the same noise with my '93. it doesn't bother at al anyways since my music drowns it out.

trixx · 12-02-2004, 09:27 PM

Yeah, when I close my sunroof at high speeds, it slips off the track. I have to get out and pull it back on. After the car's stopped, of course.

Toysrme · 12-02-2004, 09:40 PM

Mine doesn't slip, it just whistles because it can't seal. That being said!

FYI the aerodynamic drag of an open window, or open/tilted sunroof is greater than the parasitic loss of the air conditioner being on when driving at highway speeds.

brazilgoal · 12-04-2004, 04:40 AM

Sunroof open, the music loud, speeding along the expressway - no better feeling of intimacy between you and your car.

dna59 · 12-04-2004, 09:32 AM

^^I agree. Well for me it isn't the expressway, but highway. No express ways here in Belize. When ever I get another car, I'll make sure it has a sunroof. I just love it. Never going back to a car without one. lol

amerikim · 12-04-2004, 11:51 AM

I just love that open air thing without the hassle or wobble of a convertable.
Nothing clears a fart out faster.

My sunroof squeaks goin over bumps and leaks in the carwash when waterjets hit it.
However, the squeak is muffled when I slide the inner cover closed. Also the factory drains take care of that slight dribble.

The air leak thing on the 04, you are right in not having to deal with it, it's the dealers and Toyota's responsibilty. Just wondering if it really is the sunroof or something else.

04sev6camry · 12-04-2004, 05:54 PM

i really cant tell if it is for sure the sunroof or not, but the whistle only started after they replaced the glass, but each time i take it to the dealership they dont hear it at all so they dont do anything about it

amerikim · 12-04-2004, 10:53 PM

Maybe a few years back I would swallow that. Now?

I would ask to see the Service Manager, when I see him, I will start to walk towards the showroom floor. At the sametime I would be speaking pretty loudly about how you wonder what Toyota will do since they as a dealership are unable to correct an obviously irritating malady. About how logic says where wind goes, water goes too. About how sure he is about his crew's workmanship that they did not forget to put anything back, right? You just know Toyota will make good or you are going to mass mail everybody you can find including any potential customer thats in there that day.
Would anyone be interested? I mean if it's sloppy assembly, it can be fixed here or if it's sloppy design - Toyota will make good, right? right? right?

Before you get to this point, he should make you some offer.

brazilgoal · 12-05-2004, 05:05 PM

My sunroof sueaks a lot when with the inner cover open and the glass closed. Once the cover is shut too, the noise is gone.

04sev6camry · 12-05-2004, 05:12 PM

thanks for everybodys input. i only hear the whistle, i dont hear anything else wether the shade is open or close. im gonna email toyota headquarter and see if i can get something done through them

04sev6camry · 12-08-2004, 10:42 AM

i just got a message back from toyota and it basicly says their sorry and i can either keep taking the car in to try and get it fixed or i can go through arbitrations. that is basically just a independent company that looks at everything and tells toyota wether or not the car is a lemon or not. if they say its not, the next step is to then consolt a lawyer about lemon laws in AZ and then possibly file a lawsuit. i really dont wanna go that far, but i might have to cause this problem is VERY annoying.

quick question. any gen5 owners have this problem with their sunroof? at 75+ with high winds theres a whistle noise from the sunroof. cause if this is just my car im gonna fight this thing all the way.

Toysrme · 12-08-2004, 11:08 AM

There are a million car wishields, windows, and sunroofs that whistle because of an air leak.

Not to be a downer, but
The simple fact that your car has to exceed 75mph means you'll never win.
You'll have to have someone fix the seal for you, which basically means glob nasty ass window sealer around the sunroof. The only other option is to take the entire thing out and have the seal replaced.

I just don't see a feasable option to have it fixed without you paying money. Sorry