Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

[wallon Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wallon]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

Hi there Wallon, Id be interested to ask if you have actually checked it for rust, as per my reply below, its not the body of the car that rusts it the metal plate that is attached to the glass itself, Reply below on how I found it. Regards Steve

Car has no sign of rust at all and has been wash regulary, I'm thinking to leave it closed and spend the $ 0n accessories
Cheers Thierry

Hi Steve,
Can't really check for rust since the sunroof is closed and I'm to worry to open it and found out that I can't closed it again ($385.00 to get it closed manually by Toyota Dealer)
Haven't been using the sunnroof heaps, our Victorian summer has been pretty poor.
Cheers Thierry

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

mines an 03 and it has the same problem . no rust anywhere else . always garaged , washed and polished , so that theory is out the door , its a common problem only in the frame. heres a tip get GLASS INSURANCE you never know when a rock may fall on the roof.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

'''its a common problem only in the frame "" Kav, that is what I said above :? ""Quote" the rust wasnt in the rails or anything they were all in the same spot which was right at the front of the sunroof on the !!! glass panel itself !!! "".The roof of the vehicle itself is rust free so is the metal that is folded where the sunroof closes up into. Everyone I looked at was in the sunroof panel itself (metal plate/rubber attached to the glass) seperate from the actual vehicle roof. No doubt there is probably an area where the 120 will trap water and possibly rust in other areas of the vehicles but other then the glass sunroof panel itself I didnt come accross any rust in any part of the rest of the cars in the 120's I looked at which hopefully is a good thing for all of us with 120's, mind you I did not have any rust in the two 95 grande I owned either. The front guards popping out from the spot welds behind headlights is a bit of an issue/worry :shock: :shock: , just read that from another post on here (120's). Obviously been on the beach alot and not washing the vehicle down afterwards would lead to early rusting I would imagine. Your comment on glass protection did come to mind when I was looking at buying the grande as I have that on all our vehicles and could see the ladder falling from my garage roof and landing on the sunroof :shock: :shock: New I should have strung it up better :!: :!: But guilt would have got the better of me and wasnt worth the hassle. Regards steve

mines an 03 and it has the same problem . no rust anywhere else . always garaged , washed and polished , so that theory is out the door , its a common problem only in the frame. heres a tip get GLASS INSURANCE you never know when a rock may fall on the roof.

[Justo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Justo]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

There is only one drive motor for the sunroof, so they are pulling your leg on that. If you pop out the light and sunroof switch control panel you will find the motor there. Undo the 2) 10mm bolts and the drive motor will pull out easily. You then should be able to shut your sunroof if it happens again.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

I Liked the days of the old cressidas or SR5 4runners, they had a little flap that you opened and there was a hole like a star shape that you put like an allen key into it and either shut or opened the sunroof manually, must have been to hard to do it in the later ones ?? Didnt think they twin motors but wasnt sure on that one..Regards Steve

There is only one drive motor for the sunroof, so they are pulling your leg on that. If you pop out the light and sunroof switch control panel you will find the motor there. Undo the 2) 10mm bolts and the drive motor will pull out easily. You then should be able to shut your sunroof if it happens again.

[PradOz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradOz]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

hey justo thanks for the great info. just wondering what you need to do after removing the 2 bolts and motor? is it just a matter of simply pushing it to slide it shut by hand? sorry if it sounds dumb question, i havent got the problem but i want to put this away in my memory bank just in case i need it 1 day (hopefully not!)

also do you know if there is there anyway to change the way it shuts, so that its simply push the button and it closes rather than having to hold the button until glass gets half way, release button then push and hold button till it closes. would be easier if it was like the auto up/down window buttons. anyone know of an easy mod to change this? cheers mick

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

Hi PradOz, No doubt there would be a way to change the procedure in the way it closes (probably an auto elec job) I asked the same (auto elec) about my 90 series grande, exactly the same procedure to close it (push button twice and hold) but was told by auto elec I couldnt do it as its a safety feature to make sure no one has their hand or head in it prior to closing, my answer was "well they better change all 4 windows then as they have auto close on all 4 windows"" must be some thing wrong with it he says !!! I said well they better recall all 120's with auto up windows as they all do it (not sure on gx model), I even showed him the control panel where it says it, mmm never seen that before. Well can I say he will never be touching my prado, or maybe there just that good they never need to go to auto elecs ?? LOL. Regards Steve M

hey justo thanks for the great info. just wondering what you need to do after removing the 2 bolts and motor? is it just a matter of simply pushing it to slide it shut by hand? sorry if it sounds dumb question, i havent got the problem but i want to put this away in my memory bank just in case i need it 1 day (hopefully not!)

also do you know if there is there anyway to change the way it shuts, so that its simply push the button and it closes rather than having to hold the button until glass gets half way, release button then push and hold button till it closes. would be easier if it was like the auto up/down window buttons. anyone know of an easy mod to change this? cheers mick

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

The auto up windows have sensors which stops the motor when it detects an object/silly kid.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

Will have try that out (not with my head :shock: ) My neighbour trapped his sons arm in there pajero exceed, was waving buy to some one and his dad hit the auto up for that window not realizing his sons arm was hanging out it till he started screaming :cry: , wasnt popular with the wife or his son :evil: , mind you would have thought his son would of pulled his arm in as soon as he felt it going up :idea: , kids are kids I suppose, That is some thing Im wary of when our 3 year old waves by to grandparents when Im taking off, as she likes to put her hand on top of the glass and hang onto it while its going up, Have cought her doing it and she does let it go when I tell her to but there always that chance your not watching or concentrating properly one day...... Not sure it would stop with little fingers in there ?? Regards Steve

The auto up windows have sensors which stops the motor when it detects an object/silly kid.

[grande120 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close grande120]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

Hi all new to the forum and noticed that Wallon has had the same problem as myself with the sunroof and thought i could add my two cents worth. I had purchased my 2003 grande about three months ago and all was great, only i had the sunroof open a week after owning it and while driving along i heard it move after resting my hand on the wind deflector. Got home and the roof would not shut it just kept jamming on one side :evil: . After ringing two toyota dealers (one who did not want to help for a week) i got the car to one of them telling me one of the motors has packed it in and i would be up for $1800.00 in parts plus labour all around $2500 or $50.00 to shut it and unplug it. So i opted for it to be shut. After reading this post and people saying there is a rust problem i really wanted to check mine and seeing as though Justo wrote that there is only one motor i thought toyota's opinion was suss and i checked my workshop manual and yep there is only one. I plugged it in the other week and it is working perfectly fine so i am not impressed with toyota i can only assume that by putting my hand on the wind deflector made it sense a jam up. So much for toyota's help and i dont know why they are telling people there are two motors. They must short on cash :roll: . Oh and good news no rust at all . Long post i know but hopfully it makes others aware that somtimes dealers are looking after there own pockets.

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

Re: Sunroof Prado 2003 Grande

...white coloured grease Toyota use to put on it. ...

That is a ZINC grease, that doesn't stain. I have an old tin of it and it is manufactured by BP. use it on door locks etc.

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Now besides the Dash cracking I too have a sun roof rusting to pieces, have never used the sunroof since I got the Prado. Went to take a look since reading about it and hey bingo rusted all the way along the front edge. So now got to fight with Toyota about the sun roof and the dash, don’t think I’m going to win much,,,,

[jamese_boy345 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jamese_boy345]

Hey guys I was lucky enough to pick up the rust while still in stat warranty so had the dealer pay for the new sunroof (ex Japan 1400 inc fitting) now I knew it would rust again but didn't think this quickly I had the new sunroof fitted January this yeah and I only yesterday checked the same spot it was rusting along the front and guess what already rusting again, now this is still covered under the part warranty however Toyota recon it only covers the part cost not labour. Like hell I say. Along with my dash board which has just been fixed and everything the stuffed up also been fixed (after it being back 3 times and they having to call Toyota AUST about a beep the satnav was making they they had never heard) now I have to start fighting about the tail shaft which only got a grease up today (which will do nothing). I'm sure buying Toyota was a good idea at some point (frustrated)

PS I love my prado and I wouldn't own anything else seriously

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I was browsing a dealer's site and looked at the RACV reports for a couple of used 03-05 120 Grande's they had, both mentioned rust in the sunroof frame but described it as minor. I would be concerned as a purchaser if I saw that, would certainly make me think twice.

Is this problem confined to 120's or do the 150's suffer from it too? I must admit I have not checked the sunroof on my 09 Kakadu, not sure if it's of the same design as the 120.

[jamese_boy345 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jamese_boy345]

Not sure mate, I would like to hope Toyota has fixed this kind of a problem