Sunroof rattle - Identify this part and solve my problem!

[wyldejackyl]

What the hell is this thing?A few months ago my sunroof has been rattling. The sound appears to be coming from behind the driver's side visor. Just today I decided to tackle the problem with some RTV (if I could find the noise). I took the dome light assembly apart and noticed when I grabbed the boss that it screws into and move it up and down, I hear "the" noise. I can't figure out how to get the headliner off since I don't know how to remove the trim panels on the A pillars, but I got the visors off enough to try to take a peak in there. It looks like when you rattle the sunroof assembly itself (feels like plastic), that it's bumping or rubbing on the ceiling of the car itself (sheet metal). I can't get in there to see what is really going on, but when looking up there, I found this tiny rubber block near the drain hole. Why do I have a feeling this is what came loose and whatever it buffered is now rattling and making the noise? What is this, and how do I fix it, or at the very least..how do I get the headliner off so I can get at this piece and shoot a dollop of RTV up in that area to shut the noise up? It's SO ANNOYING! Every time you hit a bump with the sunroof blind open, it makes the noise unless you press lightly on the dome light. The only other way to get it to stop is to just have the sunroof all the way open.Help!

[02csnow]

This might help you.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4600

[02csnow]

I really cant tell what that piece is, but you could take a look at this.http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm

[wyldejackyl]

So it looks like the headliner comes out pretty easy. I'm guessing you turn it sideways and take it out the rear hatch? Is the sunroof rattle a common occurrence? Is there any known fix for the generic rattle, or is mine more specific? Unfortunately the part I have doesn't have any numbers or markings on it whatsoever..not even a stamp or cavity number.

[Whelan]

If I had to guess I would say it looks like some kind of track or guide which means there is bound to be another one somewhere.Since you are tackling this problem, pick yourself up some grease, and take a few wet paper towels, and get all the dirty grease off the tracks as best you can, apply new grease, it helps with sliding and opening easier.

[Colorado80017]

If the part is soft rubber, there is one at the front end of the rail on each side of the sunroof. There is a small slot on top of the rail the bumper fits into. I had one come out last fall and it has not come out again sine then.

Attached files

[Sublimewind]

That's one of them thingamabobs... yep..

[wyldejackyl]

It's soft rubber alright, but I should have shown something next to it for scale. It's about a quarter of an inch wide..maybe less. I will check this area you are talking about and see if there is one on one side, and not one on the other. So you don't think this could be causing my rattling? That rattling really is annoying since it's right by my head.Having a blown front speaker on the driver's side doesn't help either.

[Colorado80017]

That should be the rail bumper. Measuring it while attached to the rail, it measures approximately 1/4" by 1/4" by 3/16".

[wyldejackyl]

I think you're right. It looks like it fits into the aluminum rail where the cover slides (the one that looks like the headliner). That's not what's causing the rattle though..I have no idea why that noise is there.