Sunroof motor not working properly

STEELERDYNASTY

MEMBER
2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA
4.7L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

My sunroof was not working. I disassembled to examine the issue and found that the motor did in fact move (sometimes, though I did conclude something must've been wrong because it didn't always respond when I pushed the buttons). Upon removing the motor, what I found made me curious (pictures attached). I've been to the junk yard to get another motor and found it to be in the same condition.
I'm wondering what the gunk is all around the gear. My first guess was just grease, but as I went to clean it up, there were some hardened pieces among the gunk. Any ideas? Is there some sort of seal or plastic piece that should be there?

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2 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,724 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros.

You are correct. It is grease. Most likely the hardened things you are finding are grease combined with dirt and then baked by the sun. It isn't uncommon.

Unless you are finding actual plastic parts, what you have is normal and there is no seal.

Let me know if I can help.

Joe

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Thursday, July 4th, 2019 AT 7:49 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi,

That is grease. I would imagine that is fifteen years old as that is not something that requires replacement that often. So the grease actually holds onto dirt and grim as it ages. The hard things that you are feeling are the breakdown of grease and the addition of dirt being compressed through the gears.

I would just go ahead and clean it out and replace it with axle bearing grease and you will be good for another fifteen years (hopefully).

Let me know if you need any more information. Thanks

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Thursday, July 4th, 2019 AT 7:50 PM