2000 LX470 jammed sunroof. (1 Viewer)

[TintedOut]

First off, hello. My name is James.

Im from Dulles VA and I just picked up 2000 Lexus LX470 and one of the issues that needs to be resolved is a jammed sunroof. The current state the sunroof glass is tilted up and shade panel slides forward and back freely.

When you press the Tilt button, nothing happens. No motor noise or clicking, nothing.

When you press the Slide button, the motor starts to turn momentarily then stops. Both pressing forward and backwards. Like something is jamming it.

I gained access to the motor behind the center overhead panel. Pulled the motor down and out of the pulley system and now the Slide button turns the motor freely in both directions.

Still nothing from the Tilt button with the motor is free and plugged in.

Second, I noticed this piece of plastic on the passenger side is broken. I also pulled this long trim from behind the the sunroof glass track. I know this has to be part of the issue but I think there possibly may be more than one issue.

Its broken off this piece located on the pass side of the sunroof track.

Ill see if i can get better pics of the piece later this evening.

 

[TintedOut]

So after some research I found a PDF service manual for the 100 series. I found the exploded parts view to hopefully clarify what we are looking at. The plastic piece in the first post connects to Part #11 in orange. The Pass side sunroof-drive cable assembly. It slides the rainguard back and forward. Which was that trim piece that I found floating back in the roof liner. Part # 10. Good news, these two things aren't jamming the the sunroof. Bad news is the little piece of broke trim is not sold separately. It only comes with sunroof-drive cable assembly. Talked to my local stealership, and its expensive.

 

[TintedOut]

I guess im asking if anybody has ran into a stuck sunroof or what is the common part that fails? Drive cable assemblies? What about the Cable guide case?

Is there a way I can manuel close the sunroof?

Or can you manually test the sunroof cable assembly?

Sorry for so many question.

I may need wait for this rain to break and start pulling the head liner down.

 

[YardPig]

Very common problem. Very labour intensive. Basically strip the entire interior to remove the headliner. It is the cables seize inside the guides from rain water intrusion and lack of lubrication. Yes the parts are very expensive. Most live without the sunroof, I never used it much when it worked, sometimes I will open the shade to let light in, but my wife doesn't like the sun on her head while driving.

 

[TintedOut]

Very common problem. Very labour intensive. Basically strip the entire interior to remove the headliner. It is the cables seize inside the guides from rain water intrusion and lack of lubrication. Yes the parts are very expensive. Most live without the sunroof, I never used it much when it worked, sometimes I will open the shade to let light in, but my wife doesn't like the sun on her head while driving.

Thanks for the reply. I’m gonna pull the liner and start with cables and guides. Try and see if I can save them. If not I sourced a complete sunroof assembly for a pretty good deal locally. Unfortunately times for me is not on my side. Have a lot going the next couple weeks. So I’ll have try and find some free time for the project.

 

[gatormark91]

Jam it closed and forget about it. Cable assemblies are ~$400

 

[yotaboy]

my buddy had his get stuck opened.... i don't think many if any pieces broke but we had to lubricate the p*** out of the slides and apply lots of forward and back pressure to get it to move... once we got it freed up it started to work agagin... but he has never used it since

 

[TintedOut]

my buddy had his get stuck opened.... i don't think many if any pieces broke but we had to lubricate the p*** out of the slides and apply lots of forward and back pressure to get it to move... once we got it freed up it started to work agagin... but he has never used it since

Thats pretty much what I was thinking. Would like to save it before dishing out cash on parts I dont want at the moment.

 

[tman100z]

Thats pretty much what I was thinking. Would like to save it before dishing out cash on parts I dont want at the moment.

What did you guys use to lube it??

 

[emcor]

First off, hello. My name is James.

Im from Dulles VA and I just picked up 2000 Lexus LX470 and one of the issues that needs to be resolved is a jammed sunroof. The current state the sunroof glass is tilted up and shade panel slides forward and back freely.

When you press the Tilt button, nothing happens. No motor noise or clicking, nothing.

When you press the Slide button, the motor starts to turn momentarily then stops. Both pressing forward and backwards. Like something is jamming it.

I gained access to the motor behind the center overhead panel. Pulled the motor down and out of the pulley system and now the Slide button turns the motor freely in both directions.

Still nothing from the Tilt button with the motor is free and plugged in.

Second, I noticed this piece of plastic on the passenger side is broken. I also pulled this long trim from behind the the sunroof glass track. I know this has to be part of the issue but I think there possibly may be more than one issue.


View attachment 1791689
View attachment 1791690
Its broken off this piece located on the pass side of the sunroof track.

View attachment 1791693


Ill see if i can get better pics of the piece later this evening.

I have the EXACT same issue, moonroof stuck on open tilt, no noise with tilt button, slide button engages slight gear noise. Were you able to jam it closed manually? I don’t want it working, just want it closed for now. Thanks in advance!

 

[TintedOut]

I have the EXACT same issue, moonroof stuck on open tilt, no noise with tilt button, slide button engages slight gear noise. Were you able to jam it closed manually? I don’t want it working, just want it closed for now. Thanks in advance!

Funny how things work. Well the truck has been in storage for about a year. I just recently got it over to my buddies shop and had him start trouble shooting my misfiring issues. He called me earlier today and told what he found.

I was actually googling replacement panels or something to replace the glass sunroof about an hour ago. Since we made progress on the motor and wanted to start tackling this next.

So unfortunately no I haven’t addressed it yet. I’ve tried just about everything to get this glass to sit flush but it stuck in tilt. The motor is actually good but I think cables are just seized in the housing. At the moment the glass is out and I have PPF over it to seal while it’s been in storage/shop.

End goal at this point also is just to get in sit flush. This is just a trail/camp weekend rig. So working order is not a priority. Keep posting updated, as will I. With this break we have going on I’m finding sometime to get back to this project.