I'm part way thru my first gen. renovation into an over lander. I have a raised sleeping platform in it that I use when in transit to where I'm going to spend some time, then I'll use my Oz tent. I have a screen for one window in the rear door. The problem is the sun roof is jammed and cannot be opened for better ventilation during sleeping, so it is too hot in there at times at night. I have the factory manual but I'm reluctant to tear into things until I know more about it. Right now it does not leak rain and living in Michigan I don't need it to start. It sure would be nice if it worked reliably. Or maybe I should just remove it, cover over the hole with sheet metal and put in a powered vent fan for at night. First Gen. Montero's are pretty scarce here, most of them have dissolved in the winter salted roads, will later series sunroofs work? Any ideas ?
First Gen. LWB Montero Sunroof
- Thread starter Red Monty
- Start date
JohnnyBfromPeoria
I'm Getting Around To It
Do you have any motor sounds when you push the button? Give us something to help you with. The window can be cranked manually, have you tried that?
John B.
John B.
Re Sunroof
There aren't any motor sounds, I can see what looks like a broken plastic slider on the left side of it. I've never seen one of these operate. Do they come up in front then slide down and back when they open ? are there any videos available ? I thought it could be cranked but don't see the access opening for a crank.
There aren't any motor sounds, I can see what looks like a broken plastic slider on the left side of it. I've never seen one of these operate. Do they come up in front then slide down and back when they open ? are there any videos available ? I thought it could be cranked but don't see the access opening for a crank.
Give it a try Red Monty, either way sounds like you are going to have to open her up, start by removing the buttons controlling the sunroof, in the Gen 2.5 there is a vanity cover that you can remove and use an Allen wrench to open or close in case of motor failure, your Gen 1 should have the same option. Good luck and report back that way someone else can find the answer.
Montero sunroof
Thanks for the reply PacS14. When I looked harder along the sides I can see the rubber seals are all rumpled up. But I was in a horrendous downpour last summer and I thought, oh boy here goes my sleeping platform all soaked and warped, but not a drop came in, how was that possible ?
Thanks for the reply PacS14. When I looked harder along the sides I can see the rubber seals are all rumpled up. But I was in a horrendous downpour last summer and I thought, oh boy here goes my sleeping platform all soaked and warped, but not a drop came in, how was that possible ?
I'm going to dig into mine this summer. The sunroof has drains for water the deals are move for noise and dust. Make sure your drains are clear. I cleared mine buy climbing under the car and finding the drain hose and running a piece of coax cable up it. You can download the factory service manual for free and its has a really good diagram of the whole sun roof . there is alot of parts to it and the main seal is $125 . once the rain stops out here( Washington state I'm going go for it). On a side note I'm originally from Michigan and always wanted a first gen Montero. When moved here I sold my rusty land cruiser and found myself a totally bare bones Montero. I lost a great Isuzu rodeo to the Midwest salt and I couldn't sell my fully locked 80 series land cruiser for **** out here because it had underbody rust.
Montero Sunroof/ Roof Rack clearence.
Right now I'm also in the midst of building a roof rack that will pretty much cover the whole roof area. So, I really need to know how much room do I need to leave between the bottom of the roof rack and the roof for the sunroof to operate ? Does the sunroof rise up before sliding back. I have never seen one operate. Surely someone has an operating sunroof they could give me a clue as to its operation.
1morebike: Thanks for the reply. I bought my Montero out of Montana. It had never rusted, Thank goodness, after many years of old Michigan vehicles it's been a pleasure to work on. You go to remove a bolt, and it comes loose ! It doesn't break off, doesn't rip out of surrounding sheet metal, you don't spend hours on it! this pure luxury ! I had blown out all the sunroof drains, they worked good in the storms. I have the factory service manual, but it doesn't give a clue as to the operation of all the parts.
George
Right now I'm also in the midst of building a roof rack that will pretty much cover the whole roof area. So, I really need to know how much room do I need to leave between the bottom of the roof rack and the roof for the sunroof to operate ? Does the sunroof rise up before sliding back. I have never seen one operate. Surely someone has an operating sunroof they could give me a clue as to its operation.
1morebike: Thanks for the reply. I bought my Montero out of Montana. It had never rusted, Thank goodness, after many years of old Michigan vehicles it's been a pleasure to work on. You go to remove a bolt, and it comes loose ! It doesn't break off, doesn't rip out of surrounding sheet metal, you don't spend hours on it! this pure luxury ! I had blown out all the sunroof drains, they worked good in the storms. I have the factory service manual, but it doesn't give a clue as to the operation of all the parts.
George
JohnnyBfromPeoria
I'm Getting Around To It
It does not rise above the height of the metal roof. When it first actuates to open, it actually sinks a touch, then retracts. After it opens a few inches, a wind deflector pops up in the front (on a Gen 2, probably very similar in Gen 1). After it gets to 'almost open' it stops and you have to hit the button again to get it fully open. When closing, it comes close to full close and stops, then you again have to re-key to get it to fully close, where it pops the whole piece up to seal. The seal is really just for wind noise; it's not a weather seal at all and it can/does/will leak, BUT there are four drains that channel the water away from the raised lip of the opening and down through the a-pillar in front (2) and the rear pillar (C? pillar) in back. In back, the exit is inside the trim in back of the rear wheel on each side. Not sure where the exits are for the front two drains, but I'd guess behind the front wheels. I have never had a drop of water come inside the cab.
To clear the drains, the front ones are best done with the roof open (more on this later), from the top, with compressed air to blow down the tubes. They are visible and reasonably accessible from the top. The rear two drains are not reachable, to the best of my recollection, with the roof in any position. You'll have to apply air from below and try to make sure you get flow by checking at the sunroof. As mentioned in previous replies, wire or something else probe-like might work better.
All models can be opened manually. There is a plastic cover that can be removed, believe it, it's there. Be patient and look at the control console for a piece that can be pried off and there will be an Allen wrench receptacle for a METRIC Allen wrench to allow you to attempt to crank the window open manually. If that doesn't work either, the whole headliner has to come down and the assembly worked on from there. It's huge.
Let's say you get it to open and, hopefully, close again. Use silicone spray on the linkage and mechanism. My 95's works just great but gets slower as I neglect it. Once lubed up properly, it works fantastically. Good luck and good shooting.
John B.
To clear the drains, the front ones are best done with the roof open (more on this later), from the top, with compressed air to blow down the tubes. They are visible and reasonably accessible from the top. The rear two drains are not reachable, to the best of my recollection, with the roof in any position. You'll have to apply air from below and try to make sure you get flow by checking at the sunroof. As mentioned in previous replies, wire or something else probe-like might work better.
All models can be opened manually. There is a plastic cover that can be removed, believe it, it's there. Be patient and look at the control console for a piece that can be pried off and there will be an Allen wrench receptacle for a METRIC Allen wrench to allow you to attempt to crank the window open manually. If that doesn't work either, the whole headliner has to come down and the assembly worked on from there. It's huge.
Let's say you get it to open and, hopefully, close again. Use silicone spray on the linkage and mechanism. My 95's works just great but gets slower as I neglect it. Once lubed up properly, it works fantastically. Good luck and good shooting.
John B.
JohnnyBfromPeoria
I'm Getting Around To It
Potential to shatter? Are you freaking kidding me? Remove the windows from your house, if that's the case. The thing is built in to the vehicle; make it work. It's not going to attack you. I've put my '95 through h-e-double-hockey-sticks and it's not going anywhere except where it's supposed to, and it's a nice feature on a beautiful day.
Just my opinion.
John B.
Just my opinion.
John B.
Montero sunroof: Reply to Johnny B from Peoria
Thank You so much for the reply. I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you. I had a medical emergency (wife died Friday) anyway what do you think I should do with it ?, wonder if there's any body that specializes in these, or if parts are available ? You gave more info than I've found in the last year. Some have said to remove it and cover the hole, then install a solar fan that some boats use in there hatches ? I had cleaned the drains last spring, was in a horrendous down pour, not a drop came in in spite of rumpled seals, how's that possible ?
George
Thank You so much for the reply. I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you. I had a medical emergency (wife died Friday) anyway what do you think I should do with it ?, wonder if there's any body that specializes in these, or if parts are available ? You gave more info than I've found in the last year. Some have said to remove it and cover the hole, then install a solar fan that some boats use in there hatches ? I had cleaned the drains last spring, was in a horrendous down pour, not a drop came in in spite of rumpled seals, how's that possible ?
George
I'm sorry for your loss Red Monty! I hope you and your loved ones are doing ok.
I would test and see if I'm getting enough power to the motor, if not then trace it back and fix; if there is enough juice then remove the motor and either replace it or see if you can find a place to rebuild them. A while back I rebuild one on my nissan 240sx and went online to find a place that sold the correct carbon brushes my guess is that our monteros are no different. It will be more work opening the motor and remove the old brushes, measure them, go online and find the part, then clean the motor while you wait, install the new brushes in and hope it lasts another few years. I can't remember the website but they had all sizes and designs of carbon brushes. Cheap too and you did not have to buy a hundred of them.
I would test and see if I'm getting enough power to the motor, if not then trace it back and fix; if there is enough juice then remove the motor and either replace it or see if you can find a place to rebuild them. A while back I rebuild one on my nissan 240sx and went online to find a place that sold the correct carbon brushes my guess is that our monteros are no different. It will be more work opening the motor and remove the old brushes, measure them, go online and find the part, then clean the motor while you wait, install the new brushes in and hope it lasts another few years. I can't remember the website but they had all sizes and designs of carbon brushes. Cheap too and you did not have to buy a hundred of them.
Sunroof- Reply to PacS14
Thanks for your thoughts and info. We were married 52 years, this isn't the way we thought things were going to go. Treasure each day you have with loved ones, you never know.
As far as the sun roof is concerned I suspect something caused the left hand slider to break , jam up and rumple up the seals. I'm reluctant to tear into it til I know more about it, and removing an old fragile headliner with all its easily broken plastic Christmas tree fasteners that are 24 years old is not for the faint hearted. I don't want to make a big mess. Right now it looks good and doesn't leak, it just doesn't work. When I'm done with it, the goal is, for it to look good, not leak, and work!
Thanks for your thoughts and info. We were married 52 years, this isn't the way we thought things were going to go. Treasure each day you have with loved ones, you never know.
As far as the sun roof is concerned I suspect something caused the left hand slider to break , jam up and rumple up the seals. I'm reluctant to tear into it til I know more about it, and removing an old fragile headliner with all its easily broken plastic Christmas tree fasteners that are 24 years old is not for the faint hearted. I don't want to make a big mess. Right now it looks good and doesn't leak, it just doesn't work. When I'm done with it, the goal is, for it to look good, not leak, and work!