Moon Roof Problems? Any Experience
I am considering purchase of Subaru Forester. I've never had an automobile with a sunroof/moonroof, because it's a feature I won't use. Added features might cause problems in the future. However, moonroof is standard on the model I want.
Do sunroofs/moonroofs have problems? Do they leak? Are there other things I should be aware of?
Do sunroofs/moonroofs have problems? Do they leak? Are there other things I should be aware of?
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Comments
-mike
Just get it and don't open it - that will keep the drains pretty much clear. Enjoy the bright cabin and warming greenhouse effect in winter, too. Free heat.
In summer, just draw the shade and pretend it's not there.
-juice
If you have covered parking and never open it, the odds of a leak are probably smaller than winning the lottery.
-juice
I'd exercise the moonroof (open all the way, then close it) once or twice a year, just to make sure it is still functional. You'll never know when you feel the urge to let in fresh air on a nice spring or fall day !
-juice
I would advise caution purchasing a Subaru with a Moonroof.
As for the amount of water; the driver's seat gets decently wet. Nothing a towel can't handle; but it is so inconvenient.
Also, some of the responses to my entry seems to have evoked some defensiveness. This was not the purpose of my response. If I had asked this question prior to purchasing the car it would not necessarily mean I would not have purchased the vehicle given the other cars I was looking at; it simply would have alerted me to add this to my maintenance schedule. As I mentioned previously I purchased the car with the moonroof to use it. I thought someone wanted to know about the possibility before learning of it like I did. If I am wrong about the defensiveness, my apologies.
BUT now, I wouldn't consider a Forester without one. It's big, this is close to being in a convertible. A convertible that handles a ski rack and kayak racks too. Great car, the moonroof is so much fun I could deal with a leak or two if it ever happens.
-juice
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.
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
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
Also, for the noise, crack both rear windows just slightly, and it stops the noise, so you can keep the roof open.
-juice
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.
-Frank
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
I have an '03 and the moonroof just died. Many people are experiencing the same thing -- but SOA has not received enough complaints/comments to realize the problem and fix it. The repair is $1300. There are many posted messages on www.subaruforester.org... Forester owner's forum.
Posted on www.subaruforester.org, under "Moonroof is dead"
The dealer and SOA spoke to each other, and SOA is picking up some of the cost. I need to speak with them again on my own.
I know several people with moonroof issues, and they've just stopped using them. (FYI, a hand crank/wrench comes with the car, so you can close the roof if your motor fails)
Everyone with an issue needs to ...
contact SOA
officially log the problem
get a case number
go to a dealer for a diagnosis
report back to SOA
This is the ONLY way SOA will realize there is a problem, and take some action -- if there are lots of officially "logged" problems.
Here's the contact info; a phone call is fast and easy. They'll be nice, but tell you it's just your car. Get the problem on the books with a case number.
Customer Service: 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (EST) Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST) Friday
Written correspondence can be sent to:
Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru Plaza
P.O. Box 6000
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000
Attn: Customer/Dealer Services
http://www.subaru.com/tools/contactus/index.jsp
To answer the other question, I was/am at about 50K miles when the problem happened.
Keep in mind I'm in New England, where roof use is seasonal. That means maximum 24-months of use, and it died. This is NOT typical Subaru quality or longevity, and they should know it.
This is my 3rd Subaru, and second with a sun/moon roof; I did not have this problem with my other Subaru models.
CS
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host
Have you called 800-SUBARU3?
Have then open up a case number. Ask if your dealer can get help from a regional specialist, perhaps.
Good luck.
FWIW, I've never had a leak or problem with any roof going back >20 years but none on a Subie, tho. Harmonic (buffetting?) has occured with all and only alleviated with opening a window, usually rear, a crack.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/vintagefortytwo/Forester/SubaruDeflector.- jpg
I think I would just crack open the rear windows.
I have read of people getting more than the 20-26 mph listed on the sticker. I do not want to jeopardize the great mileage that the Forester is capable of giving us.
Does anyone have experience with the air deflector and decreased mileage?
Thanks,
Steve Klusmire svklusmire@gmail.com
Interesting enough, about half way back there is a jiggly thing that appears to be what grabs the shade to close it with the moonroof. When I help that up the roof worked fine, and continued to do so for a few uses.
So on a return trip to the dealer I demonstrated my finding. They ordered a new track assembly and that seems to have fixed it. She was in the last month of her warranty so it cost her nothing... good timing.
Her previous 01 Premium is still in the family and has never had a problem, and neither has my 06 Premium. Someone told me Subaru changed the track design for 06 but I don't know that for sure.
Your track may be binding, and started by making the motor drag.