DaveJ

This is an old problem that several of us here experienced. I haven't heard it on my GS for maybe 2 years and all but forgot about it. Unfortunately, the mysterious roof noise reappeared yesterday. For those that have heard it, you know it's a frightening sharp and loud noise as if someone dropped a large rock on your sunroof. You expect to look up and see cracked glass.

I heard it while gently driving the car at idle speed into a low grassed swale. It was the first the my wife and daughter heard it and it scared the heck out of them.

Since I can't reproduce the problem at will, and it hasn't happened for a long time, I never reported it to the dealer. For those that have experienced the noise have you had the dealer attempt to solve the problem and have they determined a fix?

Thanks.

gstois

I've only had it happen once and two dealers acted like they've never heard of it.

dunnojack

the car frame might have twisted and popped a spot weld.

DaveJ

I definitely think the noise occurs from a twist in the body. Since others have experienced this noise, I'm guessing it's not a popped spot weld. But as gstois said, just try to explain it to a dealer who must duplicate the condition in order to fix it. Not likely.

Since I haven't seen any recent posts about this problem, I'm betting it's only a problem with the early production 3GS. Mine is a GS300 AWD which I took delivery on 5/31/05.

I'm going to report the problem to my dealer eventually so at least it's documented while under warranty.

gstois

Not necessarily. I just took delivery of my 350 a month ago.

DaveJ

I spoke too soon. Very surprised to learn current models still have this obscure issue.

Bogieballs

I had the same problem. I made a right turn up a steep ramp very slowly and that loud pop happened. It scared the crap out of me. Does anybody really know what it is? I checked the windshield and nothing. I have a 350.

flipside909

Chassis flex. It happens with all cars, even more noticable with vehicles with sunroof/moonroofs and partial and fully open tops.

DaveJ

My GS is at the dealer now and I reported the problem and a few others. My service advisor looked into it and could not find a TSB or any record of this being an identified or known problem.