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Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience

57 messages,  Last post on Jul 11, 2011 at 10:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 6

#18 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [nhnissaninva] by occking

Feb 24, 2007 (10:30 am)

Replying to: nhnissaninva (Feb 21, 2007 7:30 pm)
Although I presently own a Tribeca with moonroof (they all do) I thought I would respond. For probably the last 20 years from a 1986 Mercury Sable through the gamut of vehicles MDX, RX300, Infinity I30, Malibu Maxx, a few Buick Park Aves, and, most recently 05 Outback (the best of them all!) and now my Tribeca have never had a problem with a roof leaking. Now that I am thinking about this, first roof was in 61 VW. It was made out of heavy canvas, and, now that I think of it, was "manual" First "automatic"
moor roof was in a Renault R16 (boy, I loved that vehicle) I think it was around a 1979.
 
Worst thing about the Tribeca roof is that it is so small in comparison to the one I had on my Outback. I think the ones on Forester's is almost as large.
 
I could not live without a sunroof, with one so bright & more cheerful during the day.

#19 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [occking] by ateixeira

Feb 26, 2007 (11:20 am)

Replying to: occking (Feb 24, 2007 10:30 am)
Actually the Forester has the largest of all, by far. It's enormous.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the Forester's is 3 times bigger than the Tribeca's in terms of the area of the opening.
 
-juice

#20 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [springday] by cparrish

Mar 06, 2007 (9:23 am)

Replying to: springday (Feb 13, 2007 6:31 am)
My huge Forester sunroof ran great for four years, and then got stuck one day. The dealer said that they couldn't repair it, so I had to buy a new one. $650 plus installation. Ouch! And then the bonehead tech didn't know how to adjust the stops, so it takes two button pushes to open and close it. They work great though, and it really is like a convertible.
 
The only problem is that above certain speeds, the wind creates a harmonic in the large opening and will hum loudly. So, I have to close the roof some at highway speed.
 
Chris Parrish
Atlanta, GA

#21 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [cparrish] by ateixeira

Mar 06, 2007 (9:36 am)

Replying to: cparrish (Mar 06, 2007 9:23 am)
Didn't it always take 2 pushes of the button?
 
Also, for the noise, crack both rear windows just slightly, and it stops the noise, so you can keep the roof open.
 
-juice

#22 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [cparrish] by twobigdogz

Apr 18, 2007 (6:31 pm)

Replying to: cparrish (Mar 06, 2007 9:23 am)
The moonroof on my 2001 Forester stopped opening recently. The motor works, but it gets stuck after about an inch of movement. The local dealer's diagnosis was that some plastic parts (guides I think) broke and that allowed some metal parts to become damaged beyond repair. Estimate to fix, $800 parts and labor.
 
I understand that its a lot of labor because the headliner needs to be removed, I'm just real unhappy about needing this repair. The service manager claimed he had only seen one of two others with this problem. Don't know if he is telling the truth or not, but if he is, that also means they don't have much experience fixing them. Haven't decided yet what to do, but will probably do without fresh air from the roof for a while.
 
BTW - I love the car overall. This is the first major problem.

#23 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [twobigdogz] by p0926

Apr 20, 2007 (11:39 am)

Replying to: twobigdogz (Apr 18, 2007 6:31 pm)
Ooh that's not good news. I wonder if you could get an independent shop to do the work for less. You certainly don't need a certified (and well compensated) Subaru mechanic to fix simple mechanical problem.
 
-Frank

#24 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [cparrish] by subewannabe

May 05, 2007 (7:22 am)

Replying to: cparrish (Mar 06, 2007 9:23 am)
I have the moonroof of my 2004 XT open almost all the time. Some hints from experience:
 
Opening the rear windows a crack will eliminate harmonic noise as the air flows over the opening.
 
For those who dont like the wind noise at high speeds from the pop-up air dam: I bought a 3" diameter aluminum electrical conduit connection collar . Its about 6 inches long. I sawed a lengthwise cut with a hacksaw, pried it apart at that cut to create a gap about 3/4 inch, filed the cut smooth and rounded off the corners, and banged on it with a hammer to give it a somewhat oblong "G" profile. I keep this in the glove box, and when I'm cruising with the roof open, slide that contraption over the pop up lip, pulling the lip inward against its spring, until I can also slide the lip of the interior head liner into the gap, and then slide it forward until the pop up lip and the headliner are well inside the opening of the "G". Graphically, G<= , with = representing the parallel surfaces of the headliner and air dam seen in cutaway view from the side after the air dam has been pulled downward against the spring tension. . The spring force of the pop-up lip holds it all in place and it eliminates 90% of the wind noise from the pop up air dam, all for less than $2. I can put it in place now without looking in a matter of seconds and remove it in less than a second if I get a sudden rain shower and need to close the moonroof. Be aware that this artificial lowering of the profile of the pop up air dam will allow more bugs to hit the rear edge of the moonroof opening and enter the car and will also amplify the previously mentioned harmonic, so make sure the REAR windows are cracked. If you are driving with the moonroof wide open but the rear window closed and then, in your effort to reduce than harmonic vibration at any speed above 35 mph, accidentally hit the wrong button and open a FRONT window , this creates a momentary tornado inside the cabin and the negative pressure will lift anything lightweight, such as mail or papers, off your back seat and out the moonroof! Happy motoring with your Forester "convertible"! Mark

#25 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [subewannabe] by caliberchic

May 05, 2007 (11:37 am)

Replying to: subewannabe (May 05, 2007 7:22 am)
Your instructions would make a great guide if you had time to post one! Go here to check it out Guides

#26 of 57 Re: Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience [caliberchic] by ateixeira

May 07, 2007 (10:15 am)

Replying to: caliberchic (May 05, 2007 11:37 am)
Good idea. I put up one for wiper blade inserts and got a lot of hits for that.

#27 of 57 Forester Moon Roof by mrsomes

May 10, 2007 (3:39 pm)

I have a 2007 Forester which I love; love the moon roof. It started leaking in the back by the extra seat belt in the roof. Took it to the dealer; factory defect in the seals around the roof! Took the whole thing out and replaced it. Thank goodness it was still under warranty. Haven't seen this on other Foresters so hopefully this was an isolated incident.

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