Sunroof Leaking

[mickey356]

Apparently the sunroof repair will be moving up on the priority list. We got a pretty good storm tonight (its the first time the car has been out in heavy rain since I got it 3 weeks ago). Anyway, the sunroof hasn't been working and I wasn't in any hurry to fix it until now. The motor runs and one corner drops just a bit but it won't go back. I assume it's the cable(s) and/or the gear. The velvet seal has come loose around the back part of the perimeter channel and will also need to be replaced.
So I get in the car and take off down the street. I come to a stop sign and as I'm braking I get dumped on with a bunch of water coming out of the sunroof seam in the headliner (both driver and passenger side). It was enough to get me pretty wet. I figure because the sunroof may not be completely closed water seeps in but shouldn't it run out the drains?. I understand the drain holes may get plugged from time to time and need cleaning out so that maybe the issue. Since I'll be needing to manually retract the sunroof (via disassembly) to blow out the drain holes I may as well fix it. I have ordered cables, the little plastic trans gear and the velvet seals. What else do I need to get to make sure I don't stuck halfway through the job without the right part?
Thanks.

[ossiblue]

You didn't mention the year of your car--important because there were some changes in the sunroof parts over the years, ie. rails and cables from earlier cars are NLA and replacement cables have to be modified to work with the earlier rails--I think the change over was around 83, but not sure. If your rails are "silver" and not black, then you have the early set up.

Sunroof panels are not meant to be water tight so clear drain holes is a must, and it definitely sounds like you have plugged drain holes. Again, early cars had steel drain tubes, and later cars had vinyl tubes. You can access the rear drain tubes through the zippered opening in the headliner, at least to see if they are blocked where the tubes connect to the pan. You can also clear the rear tubes from the engine compartment opening by running a stiff wire (in a metal tube) or even string trimmer line (vinyl tube) up the tube.

Front drains will probably have to be cleared when the roof panel has been removed but you can see the most likely place for a clog--in the dogleg of the door opening where the tube curves forward before turning downward. Some cars with steel tubes have a vinyl section that can be removed and it is possible to push a stiff wire upward toward the roof to clear. However, it is better to do the clearing with the roof open so water can be used to flush away the debris once it is broken up.

[mickey356]

I gotts get that info on my signature.

It's an 83 SC.
Thanks

Hey, it worked! It's on now.

[WRGREENER]

it may sound rough, however i bought a 4' + piece of stainless steel cable (the kind they use on deck railing systems) flared the end a bit, chucked it into a drill motor and used it like a roto-rooter. it chopped the debris into mulch, blew it with a compressor, and flushed with water . it makes the turns and did not damage the plastic tubing. now i blow them as a mater of routine maintenance.

[DavErb]

Ah, clogged drains in an '83 sunroof. I know them too well. Hit the brakes and a couple of liters of cold water pours out of the headliner right into your lap. Really gets your attention.

I got a long skinny ( 1/8" IIRC) wooden dowel and pushed it up the drain channel from the engine compartment. Cleared out the drain well enough that I did not repeat the above experience. Eventually took the panel out entirely and got in the cavity with clothes on a stick and an airhose. Amazing the amount of crap that came out including a few bits of the sunroof mechanism presumably left over from a previous owners repair attempt

[RWebb]

using steel cable to clean it out means the metal tubes will rust thru down the road

I'd find brass or plastic or something if there is any metal tubing involved

[Flat6pac]

remove the roof and blow the drains from the deck up into the roof and then vacuum it with a small hose that will fit between the roof panels.
Bruce

[mickey356]

I'm on it this week. Besides my little girls are really excited about the "roof opening up on Daddys cool car" so the sooner I get it fixed the better. Thanks for the help.

[CharlieB]

I use a .22 caliber rifle bore brush. It's made out of brass and works great!!

[Paulporsche]

Some have used plastic weedeater string. I have use flexible coated electrical wire. I removed 1 coated wire from the outer covering.