Identifying Your Acura RL Moonroof Glass Panel
Pinpointing the correct replacement moonroof panel for this luxury sedan comes down strictly to your model year, rather than trim levels like the Technology Package or the CMBS/ACC Advance package. Every trim level left the factory with an identical power-sliding, heat-absorbing tempered panel equipped with an encapsulated edge seal. The split happens precisely at the mid-cycle exterior refresh.
For the pre-facelift 2005 through 2008 production years, the roof cassette was built around the original factory part number sequence ending in 70200-SJA-A03, which replaced earlier revisions A01 and A02. When the exterior styling was updated for the 2009 through 2012 model years, Honda redesigned the assembly under part number 70200-SJA-306. While both variants use internally bonded steel side brackets to anchor directly into the mechanical sliding lifters, their bracket offsets and perimeter mounting geometry are not cross-compatible between early and late cars.
| Model Years | Trim Levels Included | OEM Glass Assembly Reference | Distinguishing Roof Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2008 | Base, Tech, ACC/CMBS | 70200-SJA-A03 | Early KB1 roof skin cutout, original bracket positioning |
| 2009–2012 | Base, Tech, Advance | 70200-SJA-306 | Facelift KB2 roof skin, revised mounting stud spacing |
Mechanical Hardware, Seals, and Drainage Routing
Unlike modern windshields, this roof panel contains no embedded radio antennas, heating elements, or forward-facing camera hardware. The perimeter is lined with a thick, factory-bonded rubber gasket designed to meet flush against the painted roof opening. Beneath the glass, side guide rail covers (part number 70630-SJA-A01) clip over the lateral channels to shield the mechanical drive links and bracket torx bolts from dirt.
When swapping panels, I always check the four drain tubes built into the corners of the cassette. The front tubes lead down through the A-pillars, where any historical blockage causes overflow into the lower cabin; on the driver's side, water commonly pools right above the primary under-dash fuse block. Every replacement panel I fit carries a one-year warranty on the glass itself, backed by my lifetime guarantee covering all aspects of the workmanship.
Post-Replacement Inspection Checklist
Once your new panel is secured and mechanically timed to the drive cables, review these vehicle-specific points before putting the car back into regular service:
- Confirm the encapsulated perimeter rubber sits completely flush with the metal roof skin, avoiding wind noise or standing water pockets around the edges.
- Ensure the interior manual sliding sunshade moves smoothly along its lower track without binding against the replacement glass brackets or snagging the headliner fabric.
- Inspect both side guide rail covers (70630-SJA-A01) to verify they are firmly seated over the lateral bracket mounts and fully conceal the track mechanisms.
- Verify that the single-touch auto-tilt and auto-slide buttons trigger smoothly without track hesitations, confirming the moonroof motor retained or completed its positioning sequence.
- Check the interior driver-side footwell carpet and lower A-pillar trim for total dryness to ensure rain channels are draining freely out of the cassette base.
