Moonroof won't tilt all the way closed

30144 Views 42 Replies 5 Participants Last post by daler, Jul 23, 2011

frighte

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2011

Hey all, I've got a prob that I just noticed when I got to work this morning. The rear driver's side corner of my moon roof is sunk into the headliner/roof (see pic below). The motor seems fine and when I try to tilt the moonroof open that corner seems to be stuck under the body of the roof. The passenger side goes up a little, but can't make it all the way, being the other side is stuck. Sliding open and closed works, but I can hear the motor struggling probably because the whole assembly is misaligned. I didn't try it more than once so as not to warp the tracks. I might try to hit that corner with some silicone lube at lunch but before then would appreciate any insight from people that might have experienced something similar.

btw, the car is a 3.5 coupe.

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1 - 20 of 43 Posts

Perkins

· #2 · Jul 18, 2011

you have to remove the headliner and adjust the track. over time they can get slighlty out of adjustment.

frighte

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 19, 2011

After closer inspection and a little online research I suspect that a cable/wire on that side of the track has broken. At this point I can't be sure as I haven't found any diagrams online. I'm not even sure if the system on the car would use a cable similar to how a power window regulator works. There's no section in the DIY sticky about moon/sunroofs.

All I know is that the moonroof slides open and shut just fine but the tilt function fails to lift up the driver's side. I didn't see any obstructions in the track either.

Any more ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. :headbang:

dc_98_cam

· #4 · Jul 19, 2011

Not sure if this is relevant ...
I have a Gen 5 Camry with a moonroof.
The owners manual says that when the battery has been disconnected you have to 'reset' the moonroof. Basically, you just retract the roof to its extreme rear limit position, and then go forward to its full forward position.
This is covered in the owners manual.
I don't know if this is the situation you have, or whether something is actually malfunctioning.
However, the reset procedure on the Gen 5 did correct a slight non-closure problem ....
before there was a gap .... afterward it was properly sealed.

frighte

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 19, 2011

Ah, yeah I read that re-initialization procedure a bit earlier. Unfortunately I don't think it's applicable in my case. Thanks for looking out tho.

I took yet another look and from what I can tell it looks like a roller/peg on the driver's side is not moving in a _/0\___ shaped guide track (o is the peg/roller). I at least got the glass panel to the normal closed position by manually pushing that roller to the right, in the diagram. That lifted up the sagging portion so I think I'm good if rain hits.

I also found a diagram of a celica power sunroof here: http://www.celicatech.com/trance4c/sunroof/
I don't mean to break any rules but again, there's nothing in our gen3 DIY sticky.

It's probably a very similar design. But I'm having a hard time figuring out what mechanically moves that roller to make the thing tilt. Is it a plastic flexible cable with teeth, or a metal cable like a throttle cable?

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razr988

· #6 · Jul 19, 2011 (Edited)

Your correct. It is the cable/wire that is broken. Mine is too.
I use a screwdriver to move that roller.

If im right its a metal cable that makes it tilt.
I'm going to remove the sunroof(moonroof) tomorrow to try to fix it. I may take pictures.

frighte

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 20, 2011

Yeah, please take pictures if you remember! If it is an unshielded metal cable and it's broken away from any angles then first I'd try reattaching the 2 ends with a small cable crimp. If it's shielded I'd try to replace the entire length with maybe a shielded bicycle brake cable. Unfortunately I don't have anywhere to work on it until Saturday so I'll be stuck guessing for a bit.

razr988

· #8 · Jul 21, 2011

I took pics but couldnt upload today.
The cable did break from the end. Were it pulls that roller.
Looks like i wont be able to fix it. Only replace maybe.

frighte

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 21, 2011

So is the cable a loop around the roller or just a single length fastened to the roller? I'd imagine if it was just broken at the very end it would be easier to fix, but I haven't seen it myself so I can't say for sure.

razr988

· #10 · Jul 21, 2011 (Edited)

Its not a loop around the roller.
Its something holding the cable and roller together. Don't know what is called. Maybe the only way to fix the problem is to replace. I'm not sure though. I guess I am going to keep using the screwdriver to use the moonroof. haha

CLICK PICS FOR BIGGER SIZE.

edit:

1. (The roller) is seperated from the 2.(Cable) thats why it stays sunk and cant move it unless if you push that roller.

different angle.

Not great pics. Sorry.

. If you push that to the right(roller) while pressing the tilt button then it will tilt. (You can use a flat screwdriver or Phillips screw driver. ) For whenever you want to use it.

Tip.When sunk push that(roller) to the right and press the tilt button to tilt the sunroof. It will tilt and close normally. It wont be sunk no more. Temporary fix.

. If you want to open the sunroof fully then just press the button to open. But when you want to close it, Use your hand to push the window while pressing the close button at the same time. Then do the tip i told you to temporary fix the sunk problem.

I'm Sure you know that. Its just if others have same problem.

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3

frighte

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 22, 2011

If I'm seeing correctly there's a flat pieces of metal that broke from metal fatigue. If the same thing happened to my moonroof and that piece isn't aluminum I'm going to try to weld that back together and see what happens. Plan B is to drill 2 holes and put a bracket there with rivets. I'm so annoyed I can't even take a look at mine until tomorrow.... bah.

Thanks for updating those pics btw!

razr988

· #12 · Jul 22, 2011

Yea no problem!

Plan B is what i was thinking too.
I may have to do that.

Well tell me how it hows and what options to go for.

I need to take it off again because i forgot to put a screw back on.
Thanks!

daler

· #13 · Jul 22, 2011

loose or broken cable at sliding-truck ?

Yep, I have a very similar problem with our '96 Camry. The window will slide in and out but the D/S corner won't finish off closure (come up flush with the roof surface) unless I wedge the cam up into its keeper in the slot -- like the previous advice and pics show. This also means the tilt feature won't fully work: the D/S lip not tilting up.

Without yanking the whole works apart I am thinking on just removing the glass to gain better access to the cable and its sliding-truck. I have a feeling the cable has either broken at the sliding-truck or simply slipped through some sort of truck clamp (the tail of the cable shows on the P/S assembly but no longer on the D/S).

As we are on this topic, it may help to know if the cable is swedged to the sliding-truck or is locked onto the sliding-truck via clamp and bolt?

In other words, is the cable and truck manufactured as one piece or is the cable obtainable separately? If the cable and attached truck are mechanically separate pieces then perhaps the cable can be more easily repaired or sourced.

Anyone have experience with replacing these cables -- how do they appear physically?

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frighte

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 22, 2011

Oh, forgot to ask, how did you get the glass off without dropping the headliner? Are there easily accessible screws that just hold the glass on? I may try to take a look real quick when I'm on lunch a little later.

daler

· #15 · Jul 22, 2011

frighte said:
Oh, forgot to ask, how did you get the glass off without dropping the headliner? Are there easily accessible screws that just hold the glass on? I may try to take a look real quick when I'm on lunch a little later.

For me, I haven't yanked the glass yet as I'm still gathering info on whether the cable and sliding-truck are able to be mechanically separated ..or are manufactured as one piece.

The info I got on taking out the glass is from a Camry body repair pdf I found a long while back -- I can try to upload the relavent pdf to this thread if someone can show me how to do it :thumbsup:

razr988

· #16 · Jul 22, 2011 (Edited)

frighte said:
Oh, forgot to ask, how did you get the glass off without dropping the headliner? Are there easily accessible screws that just hold the glass on? I may try to take a look real quick when I'm on lunch a little later.

I didn't take the headliner off.

Don't know if its the same as mine but,
. remove the frame (left and right) around the window which then reveals all bolts.
.

remove three bolts from each side. 6 total.
That just removes the glass. You can see everything now.
May need another person to help you with the glass. Its kinda heavy. haha

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razr988

· #17 · Jul 22, 2011

daler said:
Yep, I have a very similar problem with our '96 Camry. The window will slide in and out but the D/S corner won't finish off closure (come up flush with the roof surface) unless I wedge the cam up into its keeper in the slot -- like the previous advice and pics show. This also means the tilt feature won't fully work: the D/S lip not tilting up.

Without yanking the whole works apart I am thinking on just removing the glass to gain better access to the cable and its sliding-truck. I have a feeling the cable has either broken at the sliding-truck or simply slipped through some sort of truck clamp (the tail of the cable shows on the P/S assembly but no longer on the D/S).

As we are on this topic, it may help to know if the cable is swedged to the sliding-truck or is locked onto the sliding-truck via clamp and bolt?

In other words, is the cable and truck manufactured as one piece or is the cable obtainable separately? If the cable and attached truck are mechanically separate pieces then perhaps the cable can be more easily repaired or sourced.

Anyone have experience with replacing these cables -- how do they appear physically?

The way I see it. The cable is pretty hard to get to but i doubt the cable and truck is manufactured as one piece. I am not sure about that at all though. If its one whole thing then its like buying a whole new sunroof. haha

daler

· #18 · Jul 22, 2011

razr988 said:
I didn't take the headliner off.

Don't know if its the same as mine but,
. remove the frame (left and right) around the window which then reveals all bolts.
.

remove three bolts from each side. 6 total.
That just removes the glass. You can see everything now.
May need another person to help you with the glass. Its kinda heavy. haha

The pdf I'm looking at also says to be careful of the shim locations, number and orientations for when reassembling.

daler

· #19 · Jul 22, 2011

razr988 said:
The way I see it. The cable is pretty hard to get to but i doubt the cable and truck is manufactured as one piece. I am not sure about that at all though. If its one whole thing then its like buying a whole new sunroof. haha

Buying a new complete unit is out of the question. No local wreckers have any, and if they did it would be about 1/3 dealer price!

Anyway, either I leave the unit permanently closed or continue on trying to figure out a "farmer's solution" :facepalm:

Again, if someone here is in the process of working on their moonroof and has a photo looking down on the track (with the glass off) it sure would be helpful. And ..having a closeup look at the cable and slider-truck to see if they are separable?

razr988

· #20 · Jul 22, 2011

daler said:
Buying a new complete unit is out of the question. No local wreckers have any, and if they did it would be about 1/3 dealer price!

Anyway, either I leave the unit permanently closed or continue on trying to figure out a "farmer's solution" :facepalm:

Again, if someone here is in the process of working on their moonroof and has a photo looking down on the track (with the glass off) it sure would be helpful. And ..having a closeup look at the cable and slider-truck to see if they are separable?

OH yeah! Its really expensive.
Don't permanently close it. Its your choice though.
Im sure someone is going to find something. I'm seeing what i can do.

I had a pic.sorry.

daler said:
The pdf I'm looking at also says to be careful of the shim locations, number and orientations for when reassembling.

Oh yeah. i forgot about them shims. There is 8 in total on mine(i forgot to mention they are between the sunroof and brackets.my bad

).

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