Is my 02 LC sunroof fully closed?

[41togo]

So just get ready to clean the drains after reading several posts. Then press the slide open button then a clunk sound and stopped. I quickly pressed the close position but no response. With the rain coming this week forecast of 4-5” I decided to hold the project. I had a small leak in the driver side corner which prompted me to check the drain.
Questions:
1. Is my sunroof in fully closed position? Seems to have a small step never noticed before.
2. Anyone completely just seal the sunroof or just leave it as is?

I took a quick drive and no obvious air leaks or noises at highway speed. After watching the car care guy video, kind of disappointed because this could be a big job, although this Land Cruiser is well loved she is getting up to my other high performance cars close to the e39 M5 maintenance cost with $15k in the last decade. Yes I’m frustrated, still in my baseline maintenance. Lol!

Pictures indicate the front is slightly dipped with 1/8-1/4” depth while rear is flushed. May be this is normal? Thanks !

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Front looks the same on mine.
2000 year.

 

[41togo]

Ok thank you Hugh!

 

[Malleus]

The service manual has a tolerance for the closed height. If memory serves, and it has to because I didn't look it up, it's flush to -1–mm (low). You're right on the limit.

 

[dbfw]

There is some adjustment possible to get it flush, explained in the FSM. There are a series of screws at each corner in vertical slots you can loosen, push the glass up flush, then tighten down. You can also pull the trim and remove the 4 nuts holding the glass to the cables and lift it straight up and off the truck to clean the drains. Then just set it back down and bolt it back on.

 

[41togo]

Thank you @Malleus and @dbfw !
That’s excellent news, will look into that during the holiday. Out of frustration I looked into a replacement vehicle like the new Honda Passport, but something about these old LC somehow seems to be non replaceable. Lol

 

[vipergrhd]

Did you try the dollar bill method? Basically, close the sunroof and put a bill between the gasket and drag it out and see how snug it is. There are some adjustments with the height of the glass if it needs it other than that I would lube the rubber to keep it in good shape.

 

[41togo]

So we are in between storms here in LA, I’m was curious so I took the aforementioned advises. First check gap with a dollar bill per @vipergrhd tganjs! So most area are no go except corners and may be 2-3 bills gaps.
Removed the plastic trim pieces to explode the 4 nuts, remove the glass roof assembly.
Upon close inspection, the outer sunroof seal looks original and a .050” gap in the center front where the rubber comes together, not soft but for 23 years old not bad and no other defects. Run water on the L and R drain holes, the left side was clear and just poring out, the right side was dipping at 1 drop per 15 sec. Using a .035” 12 gauge wire I cleared the left again but unable to go further than 2 feet on the right. Then the rain starting to pour again, I placed the glass roof back on and shim the front with a washer to allow the roof to sit higher. It looking much better than before ie below max spec per @Malleus thanks!
I put plastic sheet on the seat and open the roof cover, after sitting overnight there must be half a tall Starbuck cup in the driver seat. So this is my findings, although the right drain is not functioning but the overflow will be carried over by the left drain quite effectively when I pour extra water to the right side it moved to the left. I order a kit from Amazon appears my .035” wire may be too stiff. Now when it’s raining hard I see the water is actually coming from the rear plastic cover trim so it must be leaking from the sunroof seal into the cover while escaping the channel around the roof. It was dipping 1 drop every 3 seconds with the cover open into the seat. Would replacing the sunroof seal be the remedy?

 

[Malleus]

Yes. a new seal will fix the problem. Pay very close attention to how it's installed BEFORE you remove it. Also, note how the (4) nuts that secure the glass are positioned; you can mark the mounting tabs if you want, to get them back into the same (approximate) position).

Take lots of pictures. And read the service manual.

The new seal is marked so that you can correctly orient it over the corners of the glass. Look for the marks.

Also, I'd recommend using compressed air to clear the drain lines, rather than running a wire/string trimmer line/etc. down them. The clog is at the top; you don't want to push it farther down, you want it out. Remove the plastic trim panel at your feet and reach into the pocket. Pull out the drain line and blow air into the lower end. I'd put a damp paper towel over the pan drain hole, to catch the trash you dislodge. Do this on both front sides, not just the one you think is blocked.

You should also do this for the rear drain lines. They exit behind the wheels. Crawl under the rear of the truck and look up; you'll see them.

Obviously, you want to open the sunroof before you do any cleaning. I'd clean the drain lines while the glass was out for the new seal. Clean and lubricate the pan and guides while you're at it.

 

[Malleus]

So we are in between storms here in LA, I’m was curious so I took the aforementioned advises. First check gap with a dollar bill per @vipergrhd tganjs! So most area are no go except corners and may be 2-3 bills gaps.
Removed the plastic trim pieces to explode the 4 nuts, remove the glass roof assembly.
Upon close inspection, the outer sunroof seal looks original and a .050” gap in the center front where the rubber comes together, not soft but for 23 years old not bad and no other defects. Run water on the L and R drain holes, the left side was clear and just poring out, the right side was dipping at 1 drop per 15 sec. Using a .035” 12 gauge wire I cleared the left again but unable to go further than 2 feet on the right. Then the rain starting to pour again, I placed the glass roof back on and shim the front with a washer to allow the roof to sit higher. It looking much better than before ie below max spec per @Malleus thanks!
I put plastic sheet on the seat and open the roof cover, after sitting overnight there must be half a tall Starbuck cup in the driver seat. So this is my findings, although the right drain is not functioning but the overflow will be carried over by the left drain quite effectively when I pour extra water to the right side it moved to the left. I order a kit from Amazon appears my .035” wire may be too stiff. Now when it’s raining hard I see the water is actually coming from the rear plastic cover trim so it must be leaking from the sunroof seal into the cover while escaping the channel around the roof. It was dipping 1 drop every 3 seconds with the cover open into the seat. Would replacing the sunroof seal be the remedy?

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Some blue painter's tape around the perimeter of the glass works well as a temporary seal until you can get a new Toyota seal installed. It'll last you weeks; just make sure to clean the glass, seal and body before you tape it up.

 

[Malleus]

Also, you will not need any sealant; the new seal has sealant embedded in the groove where it meets the glass. You have to really push it onto the glass to get the sealant to contact the glass well. You'll feel it when you get it seated correctly.

Make sure you completely remove all the old sealant before you install the new seal. This works well for removing all adhesive from all areas of the body:

 

[dbfw]

The water dripping from your plastic trim is caused by the leak where that hard inner plastic/rubber seal is separating at the front and rear center where it's joined. If you put some sealant in those areas it should slow/stop that. Leaks from the soft outer seal that seals against the roof sheetmetal will be farther outboard, so will leaks from the drip tray overflowing with blocked drain. I just had to re-apply sealant to mine for the same issue and symptoms were identical.

Try this to verify, take your glass off again next time you're between rain squalls. Flip it upside down and take a hair dryer and blow all around the inside edge of the glass where it meets the plastic. Then flip it back over and see if you've blown water out from those two joins in that hard inner seal, my guess is you will. There is quite a bit of a void apparently underneath that where water will collect before it starts dripping down.

 

[41togo]

The water dripping from your plastic trim is caused by the leak where that hard inner plastic/rubber seal is separating at the front and rear center where it's joined. If you put some sealant in those areas it should slow/stop that. Leaks from the soft outer seal that seals against the roof sheetmetal will be farther outboard, so will leaks from the drip tray overflowing with blocked drain. I just had to re-apply sealant to mine for the same issue and symptoms were identical.

Try this to verify, take your glass off again next time you're between rain squalls. Flip it upside down and take a hair dryer and blow all around the inside edge of the glass where it meets the plastic. Then flip it back over and see if you've blown water out from those two joins in that hard inner seal, my guess is you will. There is quite a bit of a void apparently underneath that where water will collect before it starts dripping down.

Ok will do! I was thinking even if my outer seal is bad the drain should be able to handle it. Although I still need to check the two rear drains. Having saids this leak drips into my face and headrest. While stationary into the headrest so I think you’re right. Finally the storms passed and the painter’s tape works great for a temporary seal. Ordered a seal and some other parts so will tackle this leak next week. Kind of looking forward to this project as it been leaking occasionally it not this bad tho. Thanks!

 

[100d ua]

The water dripping from your plastic trim is caused by the leak where that hard inner plastic/rubber seal is separating at the front and rear center where it's joined. If you put some sealant in those areas it should slow/stop that. Leaks from the soft outer seal that seals against the roof sheetmetal will be farther outboard, so will leaks from the drip tray overflowing with blocked drain. I just had to re-apply sealant to mine for the same issue and symptoms were identical.

Try this to verify, take your glass off again next time you're between rain squalls. Flip it upside down and take a hair dryer and blow all around the inside edge of the glass where it meets the plastic. Then flip it back over and see if you've blown water out from those two joins in that hard inner seal, my guess is you will. There is quite a bit of a void apparently underneath that where water will collect before it starts dripping down.

I just applied some black RTV to the back side of my sunroof seal where it joins (top and bottom). Is there also one on the front side? I initially just popped open the sunroof and was able to get the back side top and bottom that way but it appears i'm still leaking. (gutters have been cleaned thoroughly)

 

[dbfw]

I just applied some black RTV to the back side of my sunroof seal where it joins (top and bottom). Is there also one on the front side? I initially just popped open the sunroof and was able to get the back side top and bottom that way but it appears i'm still leaking. (gutters have been cleaned thoroughly)

There is the same join in the center of both the front and rear of that hard seal, although one might be separating worse than the other. Where does your leak appear? If it's soaking the headliner or you see water pooled up in the drip tray, it's likely blocked drains. If the leak comes out from the joins in the black plastic trim covering the nuts holding the glass on, it's likely from the hard rubber inner seal.