Deteriorating moonroof glass "edging"
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 345
Likes: 9
From: WA
Seems like there's some bad rubber on '13s.
I think for the other model years this probably won't happen unless the car is left outside and exposed to both sunlight and wild temperature swings over time. My 2008 is from California but was garaged its whole life and the seal looks perfect.
I think for the other model years this probably won't happen unless the car is left outside and exposed to both sunlight and wild temperature swings over time. My 2008 is from California but was garaged its whole life and the seal looks perfect.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 667
Likes: 80
From: New Jersey
Here is my theory about the "moon roof cracking rubber" (I am NOT an engineer or rocket scientist and I don't wear a tin foil hat) but here it is:
The glass expands and contracts with the temperature extremes and the "moon roof rubber" is made up with a harder compound rubber is engineered (for structural reinforcement) to hold the glass in place and with the expansion/contraction of the glass pushing on the hard rubber it creates these small cracks because the hard rubber does NOT have a "flexible memory"...... This seems the most likely cause because the cars with this problem are exposed to hot/cold temperature extremes and where the temperatures are hot/warm the problem does not exist.
I am curious (and time will tell) if Lexus replaces the glass will the problem come back on 3-4 years?....... "IF" the moon roof rubber is NOT updated with a "newer/softer compound" to be flexible with temperature extremes the problem will come back after a few seasons.
The glass expands and contracts with the temperature extremes and the "moon roof rubber" is made up with a harder compound rubber is engineered (for structural reinforcement) to hold the glass in place and with the expansion/contraction of the glass pushing on the hard rubber it creates these small cracks because the hard rubber does NOT have a "flexible memory"...... This seems the most likely cause because the cars with this problem are exposed to hot/cold temperature extremes and where the temperatures are hot/warm the problem does not exist.
I am curious (and time will tell) if Lexus replaces the glass will the problem come back on 3-4 years?....... "IF" the moon roof rubber is NOT updated with a "newer/softer compound" to be flexible with temperature extremes the problem will come back after a few seasons.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 667
Likes: 80
From: New Jersey
Hit songs by Moon Roof Rubber: My Sweet Lexus, Control Arm Blues, Hatin' My Lease, Just Been F'd by a Dealer, I Can't Get No Acceleration, Tires Kept A Rollin' All Night Long, Black Chrome Woman.
Seriously, There is a rock band called: TINTED WINDOWS
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 404
Likes: 6
From: Florida
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 17
From: CA
Even though my car is new, after reading this I've become rather paranoid.
Just curious for those having this issue, do you wax your car a lot, including the roof? How often do you wax the roof?
I'm just curious if constant waxing contributes to this. It's difficult to avoid waxing that seal while waxing the roof and I know waxes tend to dry out rubber.
Just curious for those having this issue, do you wax your car a lot, including the roof? How often do you wax the roof?
I'm just curious if constant waxing contributes to this. It's difficult to avoid waxing that seal while waxing the roof and I know waxes tend to dry out rubber.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 32
From: Massachusetts
While I wax my car a lot, I am careful not to get any on the rubber. I really think it is simply a poor rubber used in the making of it.
Simply put, I think Lexus has cut corners and is slowly slipping backwards. Between all the minor things with our cars, the fuel pump issues in the RCF's, and the rattles and noises in the other models, perhaps they have bitten off more than they can chew at the moment. The stable of vehicles has increased dramatically since the original LS which sort of cemented their reliability to perhaps more than they can keep up with. Too many parts suppliers for too many vehicles.
I know these are minor issues when compared to other manufacturers, but they are still issues. Not that my next car will be anything but another LS, I'm just stating my opinion.
Simply put, I think Lexus has cut corners and is slowly slipping backwards. Between all the minor things with our cars, the fuel pump issues in the RCF's, and the rattles and noises in the other models, perhaps they have bitten off more than they can chew at the moment. The stable of vehicles has increased dramatically since the original LS which sort of cemented their reliability to perhaps more than they can keep up with. Too many parts suppliers for too many vehicles.
I know these are minor issues when compared to other manufacturers, but they are still issues. Not that my next car will be anything but another LS, I'm just stating my opinion.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 17
From: CA
I've been religiously applying Aerospace 303 on that seal after each wash, but has anyone tried this as a more permanent fix? Seems rather expensive, but I'm curious if anyone here has tried it?
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 5,371
Likes: 526
From: BC Canada
I've been religiously applying Aerospace 303 on that seal after each wash, but has anyone tried this as a more permanent fix? Seems rather expensive, but I'm curious if anyone here has tried it?
DuPont Krytox GPL 205 Grease, Pure PFPE / PTFE No Additives, 0.5 oz Tube: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
DuPont Krytox GPL 205 Grease, Pure PFPE / PTFE No Additives, 0.5 oz Tube: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 66
From: IN
I'm not sure f it was this product or another, but it was something like it that I recall Tee telling me about.
It was a type of scuba grease or something along those lines and a very little went a very long way.
An item such as this could also be used on the rubber seals on the doors as well as the rubber trunk seals, though those seals, in my observation, seem to be very high quality, high, well formulated, high yield strength rubber.
It was a type of scuba grease or something along those lines and a very little went a very long way.
An item such as this could also be used on the rubber seals on the doors as well as the rubber trunk seals, though those seals, in my observation, seem to be very high quality, high, well formulated, high yield strength rubber.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 100
From: Florida
okay so ive been keeping track of this now for over two weeks. ive seen 8 more show up in that time, 3 with florida tags, 2 with Indiana tags, one with Canadian tags and two with NY tags. 5 out of the 8 were MY13+. one was a 2010, 2012, and 2008.
its widespread.
its widespread.