Water falling from sunroof after washing car

[rs6er]

I recently worked on my sunroof. Now after I wash the car, water spills from the closed sunroof when I start to drive. What did I do wrong?

[TRE Cup]

The factory installed sunroof has a drain on each corner. If you take a strong flashlite when the roof is fully slid back you can just see the rear drain in each corner. The front drains are pretty easy to see. We use a piece of welding wire with a little bit of cotton twisted to the end to clear out the drains. Careful not to scratch the outer sunroof panel when rodding out the rear drains from the rear engine lid opening.

Second, have you replaced the sunroof seals properly ? there are three
one thin rubber one glued all the way across the panel at the back (seen when the outer panel is removed from the car, one short felt one glued to the edge of the sliding panel, and the long one glued to the edge of the roof sides and front. The felt seals should overlap on an angle on each side of the roof. They angle down approx 45 degrees so a tight seal is made when the roof is closed.

If you have the outer panel improperly adjusted when closed so these felt seals are not tight against the body , and each other on the sides, too much water can get in the drain pan and overwhelm the draining capacity of the exit tubes

[rs6er]

I am sure I don't have it properly adjusted because, at the moment, it will not go back with the switch. The back of the roof wasn't coming up high enough, so I rotated up the piece that the cable is connected to. That fixed the roof height, but now it won't slide.

Also, the right felt seal is not seated right. It dips down in one place. That could be where the water is entering. I just bought new felt seals from our host, since the front one got a bit crushed/twisted when I was putting the roof back in.

[john walker's workshop]

one more thing. each guide rail has a plastic pin that goes through a hole in the back of the metal sunroof pocket. they need to be wrapped with some sort of strip caulk so they seal in their hole or water leaks through onto the headliner. the tubes for the cables, back in the zipper area attach to the outside of the box with a nut and are sealed against the box with a rubber gasket. loose nut or damaged gasket, same thing. you can see the leak by unzipping and removing the cover panels, then pour water from a paper cup down the outer channels and get inside quickly with a flashlight.

[rs6er]

Those rubber gaskets were kinda trashed, so I made sure to use a liberal amount of silicone on and around the nuts. The plastic pins were in good shape and tight. The water is not going there; it's just sort of dumping on my head from around the roof opening.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by rs6er

Those rubber gaskets were kinda trashed, so I made sure to use a liberal amount of silicone on and around the nuts. The plastic pins were in good shape and tight. The water is not going there; it's just sort of dumping on my head from around the roof opening.

This sounds like plugged drain holes. Even if the seals around the sunroof are missing, water entering will fall into the cable channels and exit out the drain holes. Do a thorough cleaning of all four drain holes, and your problem will likely be solved.

[Vincent Hill]

I use an Old Speedometer cable! It is very long and is very Flexible. I also I round off the end, this works very well.

Like someone said, clear the rear drains through the exits at the front of the rear deck lid area.

[AlfonsoR]

I bought (2) felt gaskets from Host. I guess I'm missing the one that attaches to the front of the pannel?

Also, what is the recommended glue for these gaskets?

Thanks.

[LM3929]

Alfonsor

are the 2 felt gaskets that you bought for the sunroof, for the rear of the sunroof panel?

if they were could you tell us the part #?

Lorne M.

[FIG]

I quite often pour hot water down the drain holes (x4) and that clears any build up of dirt etc

(I love watching the dirt/leaves etc come out from the back deck lid holes LOL)

[Wil Ferch]

For clearing plugged drain lines, I wouldn't use metal as advised here. Try weed-wacker nylon line....comes in various diameters on a roll.... at lawn-supply stores. You want it flexible enough to round corners yet stiff enough to go through and clear obstructions. Be careful, a portion of the line is welded-in tube, but there are rubber "connectors" that bridge the space for two tubes...and you may inadvertantl "pop" these off.

[rs6er]

+1 That's what I used.