Sunroof gasket/trim failure

I used to install sunroofs back when I ran a campervan shop in the early 90's... If it was leaking we'd replace the whole thing, or pull it off and replace the seal.

Can you be more specific about what part of it is failing?

 

Yea, dealers are warranty specialists so the more expensive and wasteful their repair efforts is, the more money Toyota refunds them for the warranty work.

If I were you, I'd get some silicone caulking and do a deep clean, maybe even carve out the outer edge of the gasket so there's a clean dry surface for the caulking to adhere to...

 

Yes, the gasket at the front edge of my sunroof separated and severely stretched last summer. I initially just used duct tape to hold it down to deal with later. That tape has failed, the gasket has stretched out even more, so two days ago I cut out over two inches of gasket so that the remainder could fit in the space to get retaped, hopefully allowing me to postpone a solution until spring.

So I'm also looking for a proper solution ...

 

Another option is to ask around your local area for the most honest and best priced Auto glass installer... They'll be able to order the seal or re-use the existing one if the damage isn't too bad.

 

There is no chance that my seal can be reused, it was too far gone even before I cut it to compensate for the serious stretching.

 

Someone who installs auto glass all day every day would have a great deal to say about your conclusion. I got one auto glass installer to reuse the seal with three different windshields even though every other installer said there was no way and wanted to charge way too much for new seal every time I asked.

 

How much had your loose detached seal stretched out before the old glass was even removed? How did the installer shrink it back to its original size?

Before I cut a section out of the gasket, I could have shoved both of my arms through the loop that that pulled up from what should be a straight line along the front edge of the glass.

 

Here's a related thread:

2011 Prius Sunroof Deflector Seal Deterioration? | PriusChat

 

^ Some of the photos, of gaskets cracking near corners and pulled-out / stretched in a single big loop elsewhere, are similar to mine. The shredded and sheared-off ones are not similar.

But family circumstances won't let me deal with this before spring. If it leaks (none found this past weekend), I'll just have to have the spouse move it in to the garage for now.

 

They would freeze the gasket or maybe even add some antifreeze or some other substance to maximize shrinkage...

 

When I cut out the stretch, there was still snow on the grass next to the car. I seriously doubt a glass installer could 'freeze' away enough more to make it fit properly.

 

Not sure why you're trying to argue with me. It clearly sounds like your seal had damage from something other than normal use. If you don't fix it at first signs of trouble and you let the seal stretch out, that's on you, not on what a skilled auto window glass installer is capable of when it comes to re-using a seal. And even if you have to replace the seal, being friends with someone at an auto glass installing shop could mean wholesale price on a new seal.

 

I read your posts #8 and #12 as arguing with my judgement that my gasket is not reusable.

Leaving the sunroof closed for the entire 2019 calendar year should not be an abnormal use.

I know that Keas love to rip this sort of material out, and I've seen them work at it. But this car has never been to their territory, and the parts show no signs of being ripped or pulled by bird beaks.

Take a look at the photos in the thread Mendel linked in post #10. Mine is similar to several of those. I'm not seeing how any of them could be reused.