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"SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

13K views 14 replies 5 participants last post by  Nottnoc 
#1 ·
"SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

After ages hunting down various ideas on what exactly causes this, it turns out its 1 thing that happens to involve to issues! Depending on the state of your runners and the black tabs that slide along the rail, it involves NO assembly!!
As you may guess this has become something of a pain, with various threads shedding no real light, and the issue.... The tabs being loose in the guide rail that the sunroof sits in!

Step 1;
Open the Sunroof fully, best thing to do so you can see what to look at is to place card key in the ignition, and keep your eyes over the top of the front of the sunroof as it opens.

Step 2;
Observe the front outer edge of the runner where the sunroof slides along the rail, you should see I supporting tab that is held in with a Torx screw, this is one of the possible faults.... Here's where the beginning of the fault lies (possibly but bare with me)

Step 3;
If like me you have a scenic MK 2, you will need to remove the long metal trim that runs from the boot to the window with the roof rack tabs on it, prise them of gently from the sunroof side out, the front and back clips are tough or otherwise they will snap (like I did) ***128535;

Step 4;
Remove the Torx screw that holds the sunroof up, don't worry it should just flop off or shatter, providing you support the underneath and gently release the tab, which now should be able to slide freely without the sunroof on it. Then slide it halfway along the roof, and there should be a nice wide point to pull this link out.
Once out you should see a piece of metal with a hole at one end, and two pins with two plastic/rubber runner tabs attached.

Step 5;
Depending on the degree of weathering these black tabs May sustained, they may need to be replaced, they may be scuffed and scratched, but anything more, even if it's cracked or the black shell has worn, change them! Scout about on the ole eBay, they may be £15 or so for the 4 you need but Renault charge nearly £90-£100 for the kit with these in! They should simply slide off the pins that hold them in place on the metal link, but if it's been on there a while, a set of pliers and a gentle twist should do it!
Once you have the new ones (or if they are in okay condition) refit, and apply some grease, just to stop the friction as they do twist and move on the pins under pressure so will be worth it.

Step 6;
Refit the metal link back into the sunroof guide rail, in the reverse of taking it out, line up the tabs with the rail and twist in and should slide back into the gap.
Apply some grease to help lessen the friction of the sunroof. Now do the same on the other side if needed, then refit the Torx screw to the sunroof by holding up the sunroof, sliding the metal link to the position, line up the holes, and screw in.

Step 7 (the bit people DON'T know);
After doing this, I closed the sunroof, and all was good, no whistling..... For about a week!!
Then after tampering I des covered something....
With the sunroof open, if you look along the rail towards the front, the rail goes in a step down sort of shape or a laying down 'S' shape.
This is the problem, this bit is where when the sunroof is about to close, it sinks into the roof, you will know if this is the issue as you should feel play if you have the sunroof is closed and you push upwards against it from the inside, (in mine, the passenger side was the culprit with the noise and had play or a loose feel when pushing against it.
This is down to the 'S' bend bit, widening over time, with the force of the sunroof manoeuvring through it when opening and closing! You may not see it but it's definitely the issue I found on mine!
To solve this,
Simply grab a hammer, and a blunt object, say a large Allen key!

Place the Allen key or blunt object against the upper part of the bend, and tap VERY GENTLY (the metal is ver thin, thus will and can split / crack if hit violently!), but keep tapping from the top to the bottom in a .5 of a cm gaps one tap every 0.5 cm, this should close the gap between the top and bottom of the runner, now I'd advise only do one pass at a time, eg: tap 0.5cms along from top of the bend to where the sunroof stops and check the tightness by closing the sunroof!
Once closed, push up from the inside of the car and you will see the play has gone!
If so this should solve the whistling!
In brief, over time the opening and closing of the sunroof widens that section of the rail causing it not to seat flush into the closed section and this wind wisp up into the gap!!
Try it, take it for a test drive!
Take it from me, before I did this, I only had to drive 55 mph and it would whistle, I took it to 70 on a blustery day after doing this (today) and nothing! No wind noise, no play!

Simply reclip in the metal roof strip, and hopefully hay presto, it's done! No need to grease or remove seals, it's just a wearing issue! The rails seemed to be made out of a thin alloy that flexes easily hence why I reckon the gap widened!!

All that remains is to try it, and let me know how you get on!
I will attach pictures soon as using my iPhone to do this lol.

Sorry if this was posted into wrong section, didn't know where to post this lol
 
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#2 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Sorry about the poor grammar, I was in a bit of a rush to write this but have taken my Scenic for a longer spin earlier and has definitely worked at treat! I WILL do pictures so and tidy up the post a bit but it's a simple fix! I can't understand why renault used plastic slides to run down the sunroof track! But all I know is when these black plastic guides weather, they go stiff, as they go stiff, they become ceased, and with that not able to twist and manoeuvre that kink where the sunroof drops flush into the seal, hence the force of it widening the track, if you play with it you will see just how thin and flexible the alloy or metal is on the rail, but just squeezing the track at the point will sort the problem! I would strongly recommend in changing these black tabs with new ones as you do it even if they seem okay as this seems to be the only logical explanation of why the rail widened! And on mine the whistling was on the passenger side only, and when I changed my black slide thingys, (I did both sides) the passenger side was significantly more worn!!
It seems to add up once you put 2 and 2 together! I'd honestly put all my trust and believes in saying this is what is causing and how to solve this fault after investigating it on my own! I've heard and read of people having renault "trying" to rectify it and only coming back a year down the line and charging a small fortune! I reckon they know this is the issue and cast it aside! I just hope you all get the same results as me!!
 
#3 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Excellent write-up and just goes to show that sometimes simply replacing parts isn't enough, you have to watch and observe how parts relate to one another. Great lesson and a great end result :d
 
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#4 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Excellent write-up and just goes to show that sometimes simply replacing parts isn't enough, you have to watch and observe how parts relate to one another. Great lesson and a great end result :d
Thanks fella ;)
It was one of them head scratching "surely this can't be a complicated to solve" sort of things, and when I was moving the tab up and down the rail, it was only then I realised the play in that little kink!! Then it dawn on me how it was that side that whistled and how it was significantly worn when I replaced it! It's always good to reference your own fixes as you may not realise how it can play a mahoooosive part in solving a issue further on down the line, but it seems plausible why this happens and I have yet to see another post regarding this fault that gives a relevant reason to why the sunroof does this! But after what I descovered it seems way to coincidental!!
Just done a video of what to do, will post the link when uploaded ;)
 
#8 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Please let me know if video is clear enough and helps
Very good video :) (I'm not a Scenic owner but still appreciate learning new tips that could be helpful on other cars).
 
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#12 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Very good.

I hate driving along and listening to that Roger Whittaker!:d
Lol after a 200+ mile trip to Woolacombe last month and having to endour it twice just annoyed me and had to figure it out lol!
Makes all the difference now believe me!! Lol
 
#11 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Any ideas for curing the whining from the passenger seat ?? :d

Good video BTW
 
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#13 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Any ideas for curing the whining from the passenger seat ?? :d

Good video BTW
Usually I find the + button on the radio works well to temporarily cure this problem, or if that is a bit of a stretch, simply use the controls on the steering column :D

If neither of these options work, or symptoms worsen, set the cruise control, and dive out ;)

(Disclamer; I do not hold any responsibility for any tiffs, abuse, domestics, injury, or death that may occur when trying these diagnosis)
;D
 
#15 ·
Re: "SOLVED" Panoramic Sunroof "Whistle" Issue for MK II Meganes, Scenics etc...

Take it back to the point where the sliders are just at the top of the "ramp". Bear in mind that it's 2 1/2 years since I did mine. Seem to remember that at that point the channel widened there.
HTH
 
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