I only have a leak in mine. I knew about the hoses in the front, but not the ones in the back. You taught me a lot more than I needed. Thank you. I will take the headliner out completely this weekend to see what's going on in there.
This past weekend my daughter and I tried to free the stuck worm drive cables in her 1996 4Runner roof window per the suggestions in this video. After disassembling the track to remove the cables, we spent hours trying to free the cables with WD40 and just before dark, one of the cable ends broke as we pulled harder and harder to free it. The next morning at our second salvage yard stop we found an intact window that operated freely when connected to my 19-volt tool battery. We removed and purchased the whole assembly for about $160. The cables seemed to be in excellent condition and we sprayed white lithium grease to hopefully extend the life of the replacement unit. Reassembly was a snap and it was a relief to find a satisfying solution to the problem.
This is awesome! As someone else mentioned, it is very helpful to see the sunroof "anatomy" to get a better visual of what is going on up in that hidden space. I haven't seen that in any other YT vids. Thanks for sharing, and glad you got it to work again.
Thank you, my 1996 Toyota sun roof had 25 years of gunk in the cables and rails. The old lube was like clay. Your video gave me the courage to disassemble and reassemble my 4runner. It was like a grenade went off inside, but afterward no screws or bolts left over and 100% functional now. Getting the alignment right took about 3 tries.
Trying to remove the sunroof frame. I have a bolt mid frame on the passenger side that is accessed from the top. With the sunroof stuck closed, I cannot access the bolt. Without removing this bolt, the sunroof frame will not drop. Did you have this scenario?
I must have went back to this video a hundred times. My 1998 Limited 4Runner had leaked for a year because the sunroof was rusted and jammed shut. I used this video and I ripped everything out - had to order the worm cables and the gutter piece. Today I got it all put together but the motor was not set in the correct position. I went back to your video for the last time today to set the motor in the correct position pausing your video right on the position where the arrow should be. Success!!! Thank you so much!
and I had to order the copper tube guides. If anyone is interested the tubes come prefilled with the grease. FYI the 1998 motor I had is obsolete; however, my motor still worked and was able to use. Also the worm cables come with the siding housings attached.
Brush scratches and dents are just my 4Runner telling the world stories about all our adventures 😁😁 Great video, im in the middle of pulling all my panels first
Just rebuilt mine this past weekend before I found your video. You're right, there's not much out there in terms of good detailed diagrams or videos on this level of disassembly. It is very good and shows the disassembly of the mechanism well, and the trick of aligning the motor for the park position. I too had to realign my motor to get the roof to cycle and close/open/tilt correctly. I used brake cleaner to remove the lithium grease that turned hard and seized up the worm-drive cables. I was pretty nervous about getting it all back together and working properly, but with patience and persistence it turned out just fine and works great. I had a little white plastic rectangular wear-pad for each track that I couldn't figure how they were held in. They just kept falling out, so I left them out and it still works just fine. If any one can figure out where they go and how they're held in place, it would be helpful to know. Great job, Stone Runner!
glad I could help. I believe those plastic slippers were the feet of the slide mechanism. not sure tho id have to look back to remember. but if it works without them... lets call it weight reduction to make the runner faster lol. slap a sticker on it for 5 more HP.
I am not a comment person, but this so filled a void in information I had to. Thank you. But I will not attempt this myself. I will take it so somebody and have them watch this video and see then if he/her is willing to try.
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I just got my 3rd gen back from my brother after a few years of him borrowing it. (Never again) the sunroof must have had a leak for a long time. Now it's stuck in the 1st position where I think it fell off the track or something, I can push the window up and I hear the motor trying but no go. I guess I got some work ahead off me after it dries out. Thanks for sharing and nice truck
Sounds like the same issue I had originally just pay attention to the position of the glass in conjunction with the motor when putting it back together. Good luck.
Videos like these keep 3rd gens ALIVE! I will be trying this on my 98 Limited which I saw all symptoms of the grease drying out now it wond budge. I was a bit intimated by the headliner before seeing this video
Have a 2004 4Runner with a troubled sunroof. Will move only slightly when attempting to open, about an inch or so. Your detailed breakdown/repair might just come in handy. Thanks!
Steve Hostetler let me know if you have questions. I had to figure it all out myself but I pretty much covered it in the vid. I have the copies of the FSM that show the alignment marks but mine didn’t have the ones for the tracks. Had to guess on that.
@@stonesgarage4240 Finally tackled it. Getting it out was a challenge, all 10mm bolts/nuts except for one devil clip on the left side over the driver door. Disassembly was a nightmare because of the seized worm cables. ...then the connector attached to the end of the worm was so brittle it just snapped off. ... I will just put it back together and live w/o the sunroof... lol... The video was helpful, it's just too far gone. Thanks!
Steve Hostetler best bet is try to junkyard find some cables and get that thing going lol. I’m from Cali and now in WA and have been using mine past few days it’s so nice out.
@@stonesgarage4240 Too much work.. lol, I did go to my local U Pull & pay, found another '99 Limited and pulled out the entire sunroof assembly, glass, motor, sun shade and bracket for $50, and bolted into mine... plugged in the connector and BAM ... it worked. Just in time for Spring here... I DO appreciate your work on this video. It's literally the only one... even tho it wasn't MY fix, it did show me the anatomy of the thing, enough to tackle it ... end result was still a working sunroof!
It's finally the end of the winter and I wanted to open my sunroof the other day, but when I did the motor sounded really labored. I was too afraid to keep holding the button in case I never got it closed again, so I only opened it about 4 inches, when i shut it it went a lot easier. Do you think it's the motor or the cables. Not sure from all the chatter about cables and the gunk. Thanks so much for any information you have. (1999 4Runner)
could just be gunky cables. id try that first before going to find a new motor. its labor intensive yes but cheaper than finding the motor. if that doesn't fix it I'm sure eBay has a cheap motor. just snag the part number off the old one and search it.
Thanks for the video. @Stone's Garage, how did you pull the cables out? did you have to break the welding on the copper tubes? Additionally, how did you get to the screws that were blocked by the sunroof visor? Please help! Thanks.
One morning my sunroof was stuck open. I sprayed the channel’s pretty good with PB Blaster, waiting about five minutes or less, tried to close it and it worked.
Great video! One of the only ones I can find dealing with this issue. I just pulled the entire moonroof assembly but I can’t figure out how to remove the worm drive tubes. Seem like the screws I need to get to are on the other side of the glass which won’t budge... any pointers?
I attempted to resurrect my frozen drive cables and guides but did not have any luck. The cables did not free up no matter what I tried. I hate starting a project and not being successful so I never would have attempted to fix the sunroof if I knew I was gonna eventually drop $400. Oh well. Below are the part numbers for the guide tubes (all of them come together) and 2 drive cables. The drive cables come complete. Once I had the parts I had it back together and working in less than 2 hours including headliner reinstallation. It’s very doable. $400 and call it 4 hours start to finish if you’re handy and don’t have any setbacks. Only basic tools required. If you’re hell bent on fixing it order the parts first, don’t count on being able to free the cables. Part Number Part Name Price Quantity Total 63221-35010 Cable Case $129.45 1 $129.45 63223-35030 Drive Cable $132.15 1 $132.15 63224-35030 Drive Cable $132.15 1 $132.15 This was for a ‘99
@@stonesgarage4240 Thanks mate. We call them surfs here downunder and yeah i love my rig. Im currently working on my sunroof with all the bits off and honestly your video helped so much with no info about this sunroof anywhere. I hope i get this alignment right 😯
Trying to remove the sunroof frame. I have a bolt mid-frame at the pillar between the front and rear door on the passenger side that is accessed from the top. With the sunroof stuck closed, I cannot access the bolt. Without removing this bolt, the sunroof frame will not drop. Did you have this scenario?
Hello, I have the same forerunner and the same issues is there a way to fix the problem without disassembling out disassembling the whole thing out of the foreigner itself?
Thank you Very much. It’s taken months just to find your video. Grateful for your post. Finally I’ve a starting point, and then some. ‘02 with water stains, moonroof stuck closed, can hear the relay click both directions, no motor sound but guessing it’s from stuck, gunked up drive cables. Much appreciated.
Good luck pulling those forms out the tubes. Hopefully they are not as hunted up as mine were. I wish I had more of a following so my videos were easily found on here. Hope it helps out tho.
When you took things apart, were you able to find what was causing the rain drainage system not to work and how did you fix that to stop leaking? Appreciate this informative video and hope you will answer this question I have. Thank you!
If you haven’t found an answer for it yet you have to unscrew the glass and there’s two holes on the corner. Run some weed wacker wire through to clear the drain
Overall great write-up! I am hoping you are around to shed light on my dilemma. I have not found anywhere that talks about this (online & repair manual) and has me super puzzled. I removed a full sunroof assembly the other day from pick-your-part (PYP). My sunroof assembly is still in place with headliner out (I'm certain my cables are the culprit). When I was removing donor at PYP, on the passenger side about 1/2 way back the assembly there's this weird silver clip that does not allow the assembly to drop even after removing the 8 bolts (along the sides) and 2 nuts (upfront). It seems to be attached to a bolt that's connected to the roof support because when I got desperate I ripped the assembly down and part of that support ripped from the weld attaching the support to the underside of the roof. That same clip is on my vehicle and I do not know how to get past it. Obviously, I do not want to repeat what happened at PYP. I assume you also had that clip?? What did you do? I was able to balance and hook up the donor assembly on my front seats to make sure it actually worked and it does. I am excited to get it installed. Been probably a few years since deciding to tackle this. If I end up using my glass instead of donor's, whole assembly is going to cost me under $15 (plus my time but I'm not with much. lol). :) btw, I do have pix of that clip if you'd want to see them...
Hey, I'm working on my 2002 now. I have the same problem with the silver clip that screws from the top which is not accessible. How would I take it out without damaging it like you did? Thanks in advance.
@@ericson4621 Hi Eric, you won’t reuse that clip. If I remember correctly, I used screwdriver/pliers to basically bend/pry it off. There are some sort of “fingers” (for lack of better term) on the inside of that clip that puts tension on that bolt and keeps assembly from dropping. They work one-way. Think when being assembled in factory, installers pushed sunroof assembly up into position and that clip kept it from falling while they went around and tightened all the other nuts. I used screwdriver to pry each of those “fingers” away from bolt enough to get it to slide down…you may still need to put some effort in dropping assembly (depends on how much you bend those fingers) but when I did that nothing got damaged (except for the clip obviously). There might be an easier way to do it but that’s all I could think of. Hope that helps and good luck!
Mine doesn't work in my 96 4Runner either you push the button you just hear like a cell annoyed up there move or something? I don't think I want to pull the headliner out and go through all that work end up with it broken and chasing after a new sunroof
So did you have to get new motor for the sunroof ? I have a 2000 4runner and my issue is that it doesn't move at all and i was thinking of getting a new motor but looking at your video makes me think the worm drive is the issue ??? please message me for more info man really need some advice.
I’m having the same problem when I hit my switches I hear clicks but that’s all so I’m assuming it might be the cable? I don’t have the time to work on it right now but hopefully that’s all it is it’s too hot to have a sun roof that don’t work
Thanks for the video. I pulled a donor sunroof assembly for my 02 and wanted to clean up the old grease and cables before i replace my current sunroof assembly. What did you use to re-grease? Ive heard many say avoid the lithium because it hardens over time. Seen recommendations for ptfe dry lube, or silicone based grease. Next question, if i pull the cables and leave the glass in its current position, will the cables just go back in to where they are supposed to sit/align? Is this just wishful thinking? Thanks again for the video.
this is great thanks for doing it. I have an 89 with the same issue. Were you able to see the worm gears before tearing into the roof? I can pull the motor down and see into the space around where the gear goes but couldn't see the worm gear.
Awesome video,,, I have a 97 that has the same problem,,, will use your video to fix!!!! On another note,,, what is your lift setup and tire size?,,, rig looks good!!!! Thanks!!!
@@stonesgarage4240 well my sunroof wouldnt open. And I took to a garage they said it wasnt electrical. So I looked and found d your video about the worm drives. I replaced the driver side one as it was the one not allowing movement. But upon reconnection. My tilt switch tilts but it also controls about 15% of the going back fu ton. Then I have to use the slide to make it go back the rest of the way?? I'd there a way to rest the motor. Do you have an communication app??
where can i get my sunroof fixed '96 4runner. i drove it for 4 years with it covered with plywood & sheetmetal. i just took another look at closing it. i got it to close but it doesn't tilt back upward to seal. i want to find someone who can get i working. no more sheetmetal & duct tape!
Wow my sunroof doesn't work on my 96 4Runner I just picked up been working on everything else and thought that I would maybe try to figure out what's wrong with it? After seeing this video I don't want to tear anything apart wow it ain't worth it to me to go through all of that. Does anyone know how to just make the window work manually by sliding it back and forth by hand?
I finally pulled mine out, my cables are missing the rubber coating. I can't even pull the cables out, will try again tomorrow when I have light. They are gunned up from what i can tell.
Hey, great video. I just pulled my sunroof with the help of you video. The PO removed the motor and the worm rails. However, the worm gears are stuck in the copper tubing. Am I fucked or is there a way to extract them? I'm about ready to give up and seal my sunroof 🤨
Aaron Simpson mine were similar. I had to have my wife hold the tubes while I pulled the cable. It took a lot of yanks at it but it came free eventually. Try not to bend the copper tubes! Good luck lol
i find this vid very confusing with missing info is the do you have to have the sunroof all the way back then take control of the motor itself and have that go all the way back and your done. ? my cables are all fine its just that my sunroof isnt shutting all the way
b50richard personally I’d use some type of grease just so it will last longer. I thing WD40 will def lube it up but not for long. I just wouldn’t want to pull it apart again sooner than you need to.
