My Sunroof Is Stuck!

[sjray]

Hi,

Does anyone know how to take apart an electric front sunroof on a 97 Previa?

This roof has always been dodgy since I bought it and so I never use it. But it looks like someone has been tinkering with it - should have disconnected that switch long ago - and now it won't quite go down flat allowing some water in at the back edge.

Any diagrams or instructions how to get this flat would be greatly appreciated. Once it's down that switch is getting cut!

Thanks,

Steve

[sjray]

Panic averted! I managed to sort the problem out today. By removing the motor I could see that one of the brass coloured tubes that holds the drive cable had come out of the housing. It was just a case of releasing the the gear the motor connects onto to give me enough room to line the brass tube back up with the housing. I placed a pair of mole grips on the gear and turned it manually until the sunroof was completely lowered. After putting everything back, I disconnected the motor so no more incidents like this again.

[Boro Sera]

Result........although you should really fix it and get the sunroof working properly !

There was a thread recently about a faulty sunroof ( possibly in the Landcruiser section - can't remember ). Dealers will replace the whole unit for thousands of pounds claiming it's not a viable repair. Sounds like a gauntlet being thrown to me !

[sjray]

That's a gauntlet i'm going to ignore! I asked at the garage where I take the Previa servicing if they could look at it but was advised they're notourious for going wrong + the parts aren't readily available.

I haven't seen how far this sunroof opens either. Should it open, tilt and slide back allowing a good blast of air through or does it just open and tilt (as mine has in the past)?

[Boro Sera]

That's a gauntlet i'm going to ignore! I asked at the garage where I take the Previa servicing if they could look at it but was advised they're notourious for going wrong + the parts aren't readily available.

It winds me up when technicians/mechanics come up with the 'parts aren't readily available' line - especially for a sunroof . We're not talking about a massively complex mechanism utilising NASA developed mechanicals are we? I'd rather they said that they didn't want to do it/weren't up to it/scared * ( delete as appropriate )

I haven't seen how far this sunroof opens either. Should it open, tilt and slide back allowing a good blast of air through or does it just open and tilt (as mine has in the past)?

No idea ! Someone else will have to answer that one for you.......unless they are all in the same boat as yours !

[propnut]

Hi Steve

Last chatted with you on the old Previaowners site, pity it died.

Anyhow sounds like you have GS spec cause as far as I know they were the only one fitted with the electric front roof. My GL has the tilt front and the large central electric moon roof.

I don't actually know the answer to your question but take a scan through my previous posts either here or on the old site and you will find a link to the online Previa manual, it might cover that sunroof.

[sjray]

Hi Propnut, yes it was a pity about the Previaowners site - there were nice bunch of members.

Fixing the sunroof is low on the list of priorities at the moment as I've through a rash of problems, no major mechanical incidents just what seems to be old bits failing and needing replacement - heater matrix (£700), petrol filler pipe (£250), two tyres (£200), + the regular service (£200). I'll take a search through the site to see what's there.

[stag man]

hi ihave a 99 previa gs with probably the same zani sunroof as yours which wasnt working when i bought the car was quoted £350 for a new motor from toyota I eventually contacted a sunroof company who were very helpfull and told me to contact scc marketing in bradford who fitted these sunroofs to the previa gs when they came into the uk the same zani motor cost £50 from them!!!!!!!!! just shows toyotas markup on spares you can actually buy a complete new zani brezza roof for £250 the contact number for them is 01274 688795 i hope this helps as i hate things that dont work[

[sjray]

I replaced the electric motor for the sunroof shortly after I bought it as the sunroof would go up, but not come down. I sent a photo of the motor to a couple of breakers on eBay and got a motor for about £35. It solved the problem and was working quite happily for a few weeks. Then it started on lifting the sunroof only on one side and at this point I stopped using it - that's the time I should have disconnected the switch!

I would like to get this working but it will have to wait for the moment. Thanks for your reply.

[stag man]

hi it seems like the cable has broken on one side i have also replaced this on mine you can buy this for about £100 from the same supplier it comes as a complete unit ie both cables and mountings. cheers grahame

[JappyBeast]

My dad once reversed into his garage with the sunroof on the tilt position and ripped it off!!.. he took it to Toyota and they said they couldnt get the parts needed to fix it!!

He ended up taping a sheet of perspex into the hole and then trading it in for a newer Previa!