Help remove/replacing rear moonroof glass

[GreenBean5]

Just bought my new 95 previa. It's immaculate compared to my old 93, only bad thing is the rear moonroof is cracked. Would like to change out my old moonroof glass and install into my new previa.
any help would greatly be appreciated

[timsrv]

I've done this job before. It's all pretty straight forward & nothing really too tough. There's no sealants or adhesives to deal with & everything unsnaps, unscrews, or unbolts. You start out by removing the black plastic rails on each side of the roof, then everything (fasteners, etc) are self explanatory. To get the rails off, pop the little plastic covers off to expose screws. On mine I had a little trouble with these rails being brittle (easy to break little tabs) and I had some trouble with a couple of screws (corroded and easy to strip). Penetrating oil helped with those. I ended up breaking one mounting tab off the drivers side plastic rail but it seemed to be secure enough without that. The headliner did not need to be removed & other than the 4 nuts that hold the glass on (right side of 1st picture), everything was done from the top. I really can't remember very many other details. Here's a few pics I took during the job. Have fun . Tim







So based on my experience, my advice would be to learn on the salvage yard vehicle you get the glass from. If the plastic rails come off without damage, take those & the fasteners along with the glass. Then if your rails break or your screws strip, you'll have spares available. Tim

[GreenBean5]

Thanks so much. I ended going to the pick your part by my house and it looks to be just like you stated. I got some practice on a cracked one there to get it down. Appreciate the help.

[TheMAN]

even if the screws are not rusted, they tend to get stripped with a philips screwdriver because they're not philips screws... their JIS screws, which is a japanese type of crosshead screw... different and unique like how frearson and pozidrive screws are also different and unique... philips screwdrivers will cam out (as designed to do) and eat out these JIS screws in the process.... because JIS screws are different, they also can get tightened far more than what philips screws can, and this is where you will get in trouble with a philips screwdriver!

some poeple have luck with professional grade philips screwdrivers such as snap-on, but they out of so many, they still destroy a couple of screws
when working on trim and other small parts in japanese cars, you're best having an arsenal of japanese screwdrivers that will assuredly remove these JIS screws each and every time

google "JIS screwdriver" for info describing the differences and also places that sells various different brands... you can get a cheap brand and get by, or get an expensive brand if you're working on cars all the time... up to you

I didn't even know about this until a couple of months ago, and since then I try to spread the word around when opportunity allows, because nothing is worse than a destroyed screw halfway through a repair project that leaves you up the creek without a paddle! ;)

[cvtroger]

I remember this thread and wanted to elaborate more on it.

https://youtu.be/oZtIOta_PSc