Forester moonroof problems (merged thread)

[Scoobyaddict]

True!

[TRReynz]

Well add me to this list now.
Last week when I went to close the sunroof and the last bit kept stopping at the wind deflector and going back. I downloaded the PDF on how to reset the sunroof and now it won't open. It will drop down but will not go back. Luckily I can close back up all the way.
I'm not sure it's worth fixing this late in the season.
Anyone know of a good Subbie or sunroof shop in central CT other than a dealer that would be willing to take a look at this?
Thanks!

[Flatbedford]

Or one in NY

[Scoobyaddict]

I just got the call from SOA a few minutes ago.

They agreed to pay $300 of the $900 total dealer quote. They also gave me up to 6 months from now to decide.
Should I? or should I not?

[Rob]

Originally Posted by TRReynz

Well add me to this list now.
Last week when I went to close the sunroof and the last bit kept stopping at the wind deflector and going back. I downloaded the PDF on how to reset the sunroof and now it won't open. It will drop down but will not go back. Luckily I can close back up all the way.
I'm not sure it's worth fixing this late in the season.
Anyone know of a good Subbie or sunroof shop in central CT other than a dealer that would be willing to take a look at this?
Thanks!

If you find one, let me know. I am in the same boat where I am not too concerned with getting it fixed this year. Mine does open, just not all the way. I can actually here rattling above the headliner when I go over bumps so I think something in the track or motor broke off.

[wilbmeister]

I have an '09 Forester w/the sunroof and I have had a rattle/knock coming from somewhere near the sunroof on the passenger side of the car. The dealer has looked for it and now believes it is related to the wind deflector. They have tightened everything else up and are installing a new wind deflector today. They have rented a car for me for 2 days and everything is covered under warranty. I will see if the noise goes away.

[dsierra7]

Originally Posted by wilbmeister

I have an '09 Forester w/the sunroof and I have had a rattle/knock coming from somewhere near the sunroof on the passenger side of the car. The dealer has looked for it and now believes it is related to the wind deflector. They have tightened everything else up and are installing a new wind deflector today. They have rented a car for me for 2 days and everything is covered under warranty. I will see if the noise goes away.

I also have a 2009 Forester with a helluva rattle coming from the sunroof. It only happens when the sunroof is partially open on rough streets. It doesn't happen when fully open. I have had the car for 10 days.

The back seats also rattle due to the latching mechanism which allows for the rear seats to recline.

A brand new car that rattles. I hope that I didn't make a huge mistake buying a Subaru. I really like the car but the rattles gotta go. I'm taking the car in Monday.

[Stephman]

Originally Posted by wilbmeister

I have an '09 Forester w/the sunroof and I have had a rattle/knock coming from somewhere near the sunroof on the passenger side of the car. The dealer has looked for it and now believes it is related to the wind deflector. They have tightened everything else up and are installing a new wind deflector today. They have rented a car for me for 2 days and everything is covered under warranty. I will see if the noise goes away.

I'm on the fence wether to get a sunroof wind deflector or not
How do you like yours? Do you feel it's worth having it on there?
Thanks

[INSubbie]

Just curious as to what type of grease I can/should use on the tracks to help keep them lubricated and prevent this nightmare from occurring...

[3intheforest]

Originally Posted by Rob

If you find one, let me know. I am in the same boat where I am not too concerned with getting it fixed this year. Mine does open, just not all the way. I can actually here rattling above the headliner when I go over bumps so I think something in the track or motor broke off.

Hello All,

We've got a 2005 Forester with the same moon roof issues going on, reversing when 6 inches from closing. My Subaru dealer, Albany Ford Subaru of Albany, California, had the audacity to tell me the tracks are bent, and then went on to insinuate that it was something we've done to cause this. FYI, this dealer has tried to pin all warranty issues on us, we had a tire wear issue previously that we went to mat over.
Anyway, I know this is not our fault and the track isn't bent. One thing that seems to amend this issue in our Forester is to let the cover open and close automatically with the moon roof, this seems to give the motor the weight it needs to close completely.
I've tried this many times, and the moon roof works consistently this way.
Try it out, it's better than letting Subaru rip out your moon roof or disabling the safety on the motor.

-3intheforest

[peter]

Sunroof will not open.It will move up and down but no reverse.Love the car but hate this moonroof! pete

[peter]

Sorry. It's a 2004 forester that will not open.
pete

[Mikedks]

Just popped onto Subaruforester.org to see if anyone had any info on sunroof problems as my sunroof won't close all the way. Uh..oh... this doesn't look good.

I discovered just yesterday that the drivers side back corner of the sunroof on an 04 Forester XS is not closing all the way. The sunroof seemed fine, though it doesn't get used
much use because of the heat and bugs down here. So it seems most of you guys are having similar problems, thats not good. So I took the advice on the board and tried resetting, that didn't do anything, then I tried the manual crank to see if I could get it
to close all the way, guess what?, now it will not close automatically, and I have to hold
the wind deflector down with my hand to get the damn thing to close! AND, when it does close, the rear corner is still not sealing!!!

So I called Subaru to see what they would say, according to customer service, they have no knowledge of widespread sunroof problems or any bulletins out. But...they would
talk to the dealership I brought it to and see what they could do to help me out as a good will gesture!! Mind you, I just discovered the issue and had no idea that there is
and/or was any problem at all. That says to me they are well aware of the issue but are
hesitant to recall any vehicles. Why else would they offer to help?

Anyway, are you guys finding the motor as the issue? looking at the PDF posted near the
beginning, it looks like a fairly easy R and R, what do you guys think? Would much rather replace the motor myself, then have a $1000 repair at the dealer.

[pleiad7]

Originally Posted by Mikedks

So I called Subaru to see what they would say, according to customer service, they have no knowledge of widespread sunroof problems or any bulletins out.

Wow, what a crock... they know full well that the problem exists, particularly with the SG (03-08) models.

Have you tried cleaning out and greasing the tracks? My dealer did this for me earlier this year (free I might add, but that was only because I dealt with the BMW service advisor, not the Subaru guy). There was a slight improvement, but it's pretty obvious to me that it's the motor that's the issue. Mine sounds like it's going to die... if I use my moonroof at all these days I grab onto the frame and help pull it along. Sometimes I have to hold the wind deflector down too to get it to close completely.

[Mikedks]

Originally Posted by pleiad7

Wow, what a crock... they know full well that the problem exists, particularly with the SG (03-08) models.

Have you tried cleaning out and greasing the tracks? My dealer did this for me earlier this year (free I might add, but that was only because I dealt with the BMW service advisor, not the Subaru guy). There was a slight improvement, but it's pretty obvious to me that it's the motor that's the issue. Mine sounds like it's going to die... if I use my moonroof at all these days I grab onto the frame and help pull it along. Sometimes I have to hold the wind deflector down too to get it to close completely.

No, I have not tried to clean or grease the tracks yet, will probably try it this weekend. Though of course, it looks like rain right now and i'm not sure how sealed the roof is.

I made an appointment with the local Subaru dealership to look at the roof on Monday, past experience with them has been mixed. Service side has seemed fair and did not gouge me for belts and tuneups and oil changes, but the bodyshop was a different story. Brought the car in and asked for an estimate for refinishing nicked bumpers and a couple of door dings, WOW...estimate can back at almost $4000 bucks!!! I actually got the bodyshop estimator on the phone and called him an out and out thief! NO BODYDAMAGE, nicked bumpers!!!
So I don't know what to expect.

Anyone, is the motor available seperately?