sunroof rattle

[TRD73]

Hey what's up guys?? I have a 06 SE Sport V6, everytime i drive above 40mph with the sunroof fully open it rattles violently (the metal bar that pops up after sunroof fully opens). I thought that this was a problem that could be fixed. I took my car to Ourisman Fairfax Toyota and they told me that the problem could not be fixed, and showed me page 34 of the owners manual, it states that the sunroof will have wind throbs if fully open. I was thinking of putting in a wind deflector to see if that goes away. Does anyone else have this problem?? Why would Toyota make a car that would do this?? it's pretty insane.

[kingkakyle]

i thought that metal thing WAS the built in deflector lol
i dont have a problem with mine even at 80
it just hurts my ears with some weird wind sound

[PhreakdOut]

i thought that metal thing WAS the built in deflector lol
i dont have a problem with mine even at 80
it just hurts my ears with some weird wind sound

Correct, the metal bar is to deflect some air to reduce cabin noise while open.

As for the cavetating noise, just crack both windows a bit to equalize the air in the car. You'll see the noise drop off. (Kind of wierd.)

[HID04V6]

If you open the roof and let it stop where it stops, you will be fine. When you push the button again to slide the roof the rest of the way into the car, thats when you will get the problems. If you open the roof and let the car stop it, you shouldnt get the wind throbs. Otherswise, you'll have to open the windows to eliminate the problem.

[theprodigy79]

Hey bro,

It should not rattle VIOLENTLY at 40... That, to me, sounds like an issue... I usually open mine all the way (past the mechanical stop), but when I do I usually have the windows open as well... I'll have to test HID's theory with mine today...

Who did you see at Ourisman? I'm there a lot (up to once every couple weeks). Where in Fairfax are you located?

[PXLpainter]

I had a Camry (ex-wifes now) and the sun roof fully open worked fine if back windows were cracked slightly - otherwise there was a throbbing air pulse blasted your ears.

BUT - rattling mechanical crap at any speed is not acceptable - keep after that dealership and contact Toyota Regional directly to complain if they refuse to fix the problem!!

[theprodigy79]

I tested mine out today under many scenarios and didn't get any rattling (let alone violent rattiling)...

I tried with the sunroof open to the mechanical stop with my windows up, then I tried it with windows down...

I tried it with sunroof open all the way and windows up, then windows down...

I tried at speeds between 40-80 for the above... I got NO rattles...

Let me know who you spoke to at Ourisman and I'll refer you to someone better... You may need stiffer springs, or a touch of weather stripping on each side may solve it. Either way, they need to do something.

-James

[TRD73]

hey what's up Prodigy 79 i'm located right off of Guinea Road across from the bowl america. I went and saw Mel he's a pretty good friend of mine. I tried all the scenarios listed and i still get the same thing violent rattling from the wind deflector. i seriously don't know what else to do, I went ahead and placed an order for the wind deflector (the black plastic one).

[theprodigy79]

I live right down the street from you off of Burke Road (the light after Twinbrook turns into Guinea). I go to that Bowl America every once in a while for cosmic bowling... Good stuff

Mel is definitely a cool guy, as is Bill Thompson over there, but someone needs to get creative with a solution for ya... your sunroof should not do that, and you shouldn't have to purchase a deflector... As I mentioned earlier, the two best solutions I can see are #1 stiffer springs and #2 placing a bit of insulated tape over the bar where it comes into contact with other metal.

Anyhow, let me know if (or they) come up with a reasonable solution, or if your deflector solves the issue... Either way, I'd put the weather tape on there just to see what it does... It should just take a second.

[TRD73]

where can i get some of that insulated tape?? I've seen you around on the roads before (prodigy 79), what do u go up to Ourisman for?? maybe we can meet up sometime and get all the local guys together. I'm definately gonna have to go back to Ourisman and see what they can do for me, but if they say they can't do anything then i guess i will have to complain to Toyota Regional like PXLpainter suggests

[theprodigy79]

I'm sure they'd be willing to do something... They're good people over there.

You can get the tape from Home Depot or any place like that... We can meet up some time and get what you need (and also do a direct comparison between our sunroofs to see if we can find a difference), or head to Ourisman and see what they'll do for you; I need to swing by there anyway, they owe me a TRD lock nut for my passenger side front rim...

[TRD73]

that sounds good to me, what days are you available?? i work M-F 8:30 to 5. Unless you want to do it on the weekend? i'll like to compare the sunroofs and see what's goin on. Just let me know. By the way what's your name so i dont keep on calling you by your screen name, my name is Rodney

[theprodigy79]

Hey Rodney, I'm James. I have a 9 to 5 as well during the week in Chantilly, so I usually get home at around 6. I could do tomorrow (Monday) if you're up for that; any time between 6-6:30 would be fine. Give me a head's up if that's cool, or whenever you'd be able to meet up. We could meet in front of the Twinbrook Safeway or something for simplicity. I'll check to see if I have any insulated tape.

-James

[MikeATL]

I have had this problem since I bought the car a year and a half ago. Its a VERY strong vibration that shakes the rear-view mirror so much it is useless and you can even feel the vibrations in the steering wheel. And this is all with the windows down. However, it only really happens around 40-50mph, any other time its silent.

I have brought it to toyota a bunch of times, and they still say that its normal. I even mentioned stiffer springs, and they said they couldnt do it.

The only fix that I have found is this: I put those little rubber bumper pads like these,



on the part of that metal wind deflector that touches the frame when the roof is open. There are already rubber pads on this part, you just put these on top of those. That just makes that metal bar not raise up so far and keeps more tention on the springs, thus eliminating the vibrations.

Its hard to explain exactly where i put them, and its hard to reach them, but if you open the roof and push the metal bar down, you can see where i am talking about, there are two points, one on each side.

I would REALLY like to see a TSB for this, these vibrations are way more than the helicopter sound you get when the windows are up and the roof is open. Its definately the metal bar that vibrates and shakes the whole car, and I think stiffer springs are the fix.