I just returned from the dealer trying to have my clicking sunroof resolved for the second time. The technician who looked at it has the same SilverSport as mine and also has the clicking sound. He claims it is due to heat expansion and cooling contraction of the plastic and metal parts used in the sunroof and there currently is no fix. They did , however, file a problem report. I also opened a case # at the Lexus customer satisfaction line at 1-800-255-3987. I urge anyone else who is experiencing this sound to do the same.

 

Thanks for the info. Next service interval I will have mine checked.

 

My 2001 RX has 975 miles and I have already heard the clicking sound you described. Its very annoying because it appears to be close to my ear. However, I attributed the noise to the headliner, which made a similar sound when I pressed and released it?

 

I tried pushing on my headliner but could not reproduce the noise. I think it's more related to sunroof glass, metal and plastic trim area.

 

A post on the Edmunds Lexus site, http://townhall-talk2.edmunds.com/We...56.BkFna76Uq9U^2@.eea6a05
indicates that a fix has been developed and they will try to post the details.

Allan

 

Allan,
I can't seem to get to the info with your posted link. Are you refering to post#2652 in the rx300 forum?
Many Thanks,
Mike

 

Yes, thats it! I pasted it below for others to read. So far, there has been no follow up yet.
Allan

#2652 of 2713 Popping/Mystery Noise from Sunroof by rxcited Aug 10,
2001 (12:36 pm)

Park Place Lexus in Plano, TX, fixed my popping noise. It took two tries, but they
did it.

I picked it up on Tuesday, it's been in the high 90s and low 100s each day since,
and amazingly, the noise is gone. The service advisor was out today, but I left him a
voice mail for details on the fix (and my enormous gratitude).

When I spoke to the tech prior to the fix, he suspected that there were "spacer"
clips left on during assembly in the factory that were flexing against the sunroof. It's
plastic against metal, and he thought that was what caused the noise. He planned
to take them out and add additional padding (felt, weather stripping?).

Again, if I can get better details on Monday, I'll post them. Several people at the
dealership know that I planned to post the results.

 

Our car has the same problem and it is the plastic trim strip at the back center expanding and contracting due to heat/cold, most noticeable on hotter days. I've learned to ignore it, but sounds like a common problem.

 

The dealer made his 4th unsuccessful attempt at repair yesterday. A previous post on the Edmunds HL forum referenced a older Lexus bulletin # which the dealer performed but does not apply to this "newer" popping sound.
The only thing I know sure is that it is from the sunroof area and happens when the car is warm from sitting in sun and you get in and drive with the air on. Try this experiment: After car is warm, drive with air on and vents directed toward sunroof. Popping happens fairly quick. Try this again with vents directed away form sunroof. Popping still happens but takes much longer. Try it again with sunroof shade closed. No noise because cool air never reaches sunroof.