Notices
Series I Trouble Shooting This is the place to learn more about or discuss any issues you're having with your RX-8

Does your sunroof rattle?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 10-23-2003 | 12:45 AM
  #1  
Javafuel's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: LA LA LAND
Does your sunroof rattle?

Lately, the sunroof in my car is making rattling noise whenever car vibrates. I did some "tests", it rattles regardless the sunroof is open or closed. Any advice? Thanx.
Old 10-23-2003 | 01:11 AM
  #2  
Elak's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View CA
Yeah I have that. Sounds liks a small bag of sand or something on top of the sliding inner ceiling in mine. Can't see anything loose, so I'm just learning to live with it. If you figure it out, I'd be grateful for a hint.

/Elak
Old 10-23-2003 | 06:06 AM
  #3  
Dugless's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I just noticed that today!!!!

It doesn't make any noise when the sun shade is closed though...... But what good is that?
Old 10-23-2003 | 07:23 AM
  #4  
RX-8 2004's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Ahh Sunroofs

Ahh okay, Question,

Anyone ever own a car that the sunroof did not have some sort of problem ?

I have owned 5 cars with sunroofs/moonroofs ... Sadly to say everyone I have had, had some kinda malfunction/problem with them. Everything from leaking to electrical, getting stuck in the opening position, not opening, Gear stripping in the motor, and rattling too.

I bought a sport model just for this one reason alone .. I did not want another sunroof.
Old 10-23-2003 | 10:00 AM
  #5  
Winning_BlueRX8's Avatar
Limecat's High Priest
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: The Lounge
mine makes a squeek noise. Sounds like the trim around the sunroof is rubbing against something. I only hear it with the cover open though.
Old 10-23-2003 | 10:26 AM
  #6  
jdl's Avatar
jdl
just jd.
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, California
My vibration/rattle is coming from the manual slider. My best description of the sound is like there's a cable or wire loose that rattles just a tiny bit -- but a very annoying noise. It tends to really come on while on the freeway, and was surprisingly hard to reproduce on side roads when I took the service manager for a ride on a QA run to point out the noise. Lately, though, it's become louder and more ever-present, freeway or no.

I discovered that slight pressure on the inner slider stops the rattle: release and it's back. This happens in any slider position, full open, full closed, partially open...so maybe a thin bit of weatherstrip will be enough to tame this rattle? I may end up trying something like that.

On the other hand, my wife's '97 Honda Prelude has a moonroof that's been perfectly silent and 100% trouble-free over the years. Well, 'they make it simple' & it just works by our experience.
Old 10-23-2003 | 01:53 PM
  #7  
RX22's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Tx
Re: Ahh Sunroofs

Originally posted by RX-8 2004
Ahh okay, Question,

Anyone ever own a car that the sunroof did not have some sort of problem ?

I have owned 5 cars with sunroofs/moonroofs ... Sadly to say everyone I have had, had some kinda malfunction/problem with them. Everything from leaking to electrical, getting stuck in the opening position, not opening, Gear stripping in the motor, and rattling too.

I bought a sport model just for this one reason alone .. I did not want another sunroof.
Not being a smart a, but I've had 3 VW Corrados, 2 RX7s and a Maxima and none of them had any problem at all. Although I have had a couple of other cars that had rattles. Maybe I was just lucky.
Old 10-23-2003 | 03:46 PM
  #8  
nash's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Mine was making a noise too, that stopped when I slid the sunshade just ever so slightly closed. After driving like that for a while, I moved it back to fully open, and it hasn't made the noise since. I think something is just loose in there, so you have to bang on a it a bit to get it to shut up
Old 10-23-2003 | 05:42 PM
  #9  
cruzdreamer's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Algonquin, Il....west of Chicago
My experience with sunroofs are great. I never buy a car without one. 7 cars...7 sunroofs.....zero problems. Hope you figurre it out. Guess I am lucky.
Old 10-23-2003 | 09:33 PM
  #10  
Javafuel's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: LA LA LAND
Originally posted by jdl
My vibration/rattle is coming from the manual slider. My best description of the sound is like there's a cable or wire loose that rattles just a tiny bit -- but a very annoying noise. It tends to really come on while on the freeway, and was surprisingly hard to reproduce on side roads when I took the service manager for a ride on a QA run to point out the noise. Lately, though, it's become louder and more ever-present, freeway or no.

I discovered that slight pressure on the inner slider stops the rattle: release and it's back. This happens in any slider position, full open, full closed, partially open...so maybe a thin bit of weatherstrip will be enough to tame this rattle? I may end up trying something like that.
Mine rattles more frequently on the freeway too, it rarely rattles when driving on the surface streets. But mine rattles with inner slider closed or open, it is getting louder. So, your local dealer didn't fix the problem?

There was no problems with my past 2 cars' sunroofs. The CRX Si lasted over 10 years, good old Honda! Sunroof is a must if you live in S Cal.
Old 10-23-2003 | 09:40 PM
  #11  
loco4rx8's Avatar
BSG 75
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Re: Ahh Sunroofs

Originally posted by RX-8 2004
Ahh okay, Question,

Anyone ever own a car that the sunroof did not have some sort of problem ?

I have owned 5 cars with sunroofs/moonroofs ... Sadly to say everyone I have had, had some kinda malfunction/problem with them. Everything from leaking to electrical, getting stuck in the opening position, not opening, Gear stripping in the motor, and rattling too.

I bought a sport model just for this one reason alone .. I did not want another sunroof.

I feel the same way. Hence, mine's a sport package, too.

My Accord sunroof rattled, and Honda suggested I use Shin-Etsu silicone grease on the rails and moulding. It helped quite a bit, but I had to keep re-applying it when it dried out. Got mine from a Honda dealer online, FWIW. Good luck getting it to quiet down.
Old 10-24-2003 | 07:46 PM
  #12  
8_wannabe's Avatar
Go baby!
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 0
From: La Jolla CA
Re: Re: Ahh Sunroofs

Originally posted by RX22
Not being a smart a, but I've had 3 VW Corrados, 2 RX7s and a Maxima and none of them had any problem at all. Although I have had a couple of other cars that had rattles. Maybe I was just lucky.
Ditto. This is my 4th sunroof, 1st Mazda, never had any kind of problem whatsoever. The s/r gods are smiling on me.

Despite the cycling a/c and low mileage, I don't have the oil light problem, no rattles or squeaks, good radio reception, no skipping CD, no chafing leather seats, no vapor lock, flooding engine, or trees falling on my roof. so all in all, I count myself lucky.
Old 10-27-2003 | 04:27 PM
  #13  
jtimbck2's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 2
From: Santa Fe, NM
My sunroof rattles too. I'm learning to ignore it.
Old 10-27-2003 | 04:35 PM
  #14  
Shocka's Avatar
WHAT.... YEAH... OK!
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
From: Long Island City, NY
my sunroof rattles too i guess. there is some rattling never could figure it out.

i just turn the music up.

as for problems with sunroofs. my 97 civic and 00 galant but have sunroofs with no problems.
Old 10-28-2003 | 01:12 AM
  #15  
Javafuel's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: LA LA LAND
I now confirm the rattle noise is coming from the slider. When the slider is open, it rattles more frequently. It stops rattle when I push up on the right corner of slider (in open position). I hope Mazda have a solution. Thanks for all your inputs. Zoom on!!
Old 03-21-2005 | 02:26 PM
  #16  
RX8 RX8 RX8's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Richmond
Add me to the list off sunroof rattles. It did not do it for the first 3 months of ownership, but a 11 months you would think that the entire unit was dislodged and could go shooting onto the highway at any minuet.

I can live with the noise that results from putting the car into a hard turn (flexing the body) with the sunroof open, but the straight line driving rattles are a pain.

Anyone have a suggestion for a self fix? Or is it a trip to the service department??
Thanks

Last edited by RX8 RX8 RX8; 03-21-2005 at 02:28 PM.
Old 03-21-2005 | 03:16 PM
  #17  
rockin's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
on my car the rattle came from a steel pin that is on the shade. The pin is located where the shade slides in the track. It is on top and at the back of the shade. I but a small piece of felt with adheasive on it and the rattle is gone. if you want to know more info I can send a pix.
Old 03-21-2005 | 06:53 PM
  #18  
RX8 RX8 RX8's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Richmond
Excellent Rockin! I think everyone would benifit from the PIC...can you not post it here?

Thanks Again
Old 03-21-2005 | 08:49 PM
  #19  
rockin's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Open the moon roof using the open switch not the vent switch. Just open the moon roof enouph to get it at the max angle. You do no want it to begin to slide aft because if further decreases your work space. Make sure the shade is closed. The pix is not good but feel the top of the shade were the arrow is (top of shade, back and in the track) you will feel a small steel clip. The clip makes contact with the guide and causes the rattle. I used a screwdriver and some sticky felt (you can buy this at any craft store and it comes in 8 1/2 x 11 sheets for about $2) and fed it between the clip and the track with the sticky side down (hopeing it would stick to the clip on the shade). I did this about 6 months ago and have not heard a wisper from the moon roff since. Hope this helps, the working space is tight, you could remove the moon roof if you wanted but I was conserned I would not get the fit proper again. Good luck.
Attached Thumbnails Does your sunroof rattle?-moon-roof-1.jpg  
Old 03-21-2005 | 08:53 PM
  #20  
RX8 RX8 RX8's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Richmond
Excellent! Thanks, I will try this fix and let you know how it worked out.
Old 03-21-2005 | 09:17 PM
  #21  
kmg1186's Avatar
I have an RX-8. Cool.
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Morris County, New Jersey
my moonroof is fine. guess i'm a lucky one

good luck with yours. its those little things that annoy me the most!
Old 03-22-2005 | 12:58 AM
  #22  
socalightning's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Beach'n SD, So Cal, USA
Mine rattles when it's closed. I think it's loose on the passenger side, so either the metal prop/brace is loose and makes the noise and/or it's loose enough to cause the glass to rub weird on the rubber seal. My previous Pontiac had an aftermarket power moonroof with a similar rattle though - never fixed it. Wish my 8's sunroof closed automatically (without holding the button) like my Pontiac's though - cool feature.
Old 03-31-2005 | 09:40 AM
  #23  
Brice-RX8's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 882
Likes: 2
From: Winston-Salem, NC
so does this felt go in between the pin and the metal track that it looks like it slides through and is the fix still working for you rockin?
Old 03-31-2005 | 06:12 PM
  #24  
rockin's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Yes it goes between the pin and the track with the sticky side on the pin (down). Yes it still works, I was concerned with the warm temps of summer because they tend to soften the sticky glue on the felt but it has not fallen off. I hope it works for you. keep me posted, good luck.
Old 06-22-2006 | 06:14 PM
  #25  
success07's Avatar
I'm Kind of a Big Deal
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 918
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
Mine has somewhat of an achy sound when the sunroof is open. It's different than a rattle but equally as annoying. Any ideas? The dealership said that all thr RX8's are like that. I'm thinking.........probably not.


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:29 PM.