Help! Sunroof Leak!

[b.moore2011]

Need to source a new seal/gasket for my sunroof. I know that its not the drains, Im watching it drip right thru the seal and pool into my cup holders. I've tried a really nice sealant for the space on the gasket, and it seemed to stop it for a while but I'm watching it drip again and get my headliner wet! Anyone have a link or offer some help?
Thanks in advance


99 Limited.

 

[Killer Squirrel]

You might have searched a bit before replying to 15 different threads in order to post this... a quick search revealed that the moonroof seal is not offered by Toyota by itself. If you are 100% sure it is not the drains (blow them out anyway to make sure) then you may have to try a glass shop, they *may* be able to find something. Either that or hit a salvage yard. Or pay up for a new moonroof panel from Toyota.

 

[aontkos]

I'm waiting for this day to happen.

I doubt there are many users on here that frequent Flamingo down in Everglades National Park, but the vultures there have a tendency to eat any rubber than is on a vehicle. I parked my car off the beaten path (where the vultures usually aren't at) to do a multi-day canoe trip a while back and came back to destroyed wipers and sunroof seal.

When it finally starts to leak I'm just going to seal it with black silicone. I never use it, so it won't bug me that much, and it just isn't worth the $600 to replace it.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Seriously? Bumped 3 and 4 year old threads?!

Have you adjusted your sunroof yet? I also don't see how it could drip directly from the seal to the cup holder. There's a gutter with drains around the whole sunroof, that basically makes it okay for the seal to leak.

 

[thezentree]

Your sunroof drains are clogged.Unclog them, and keep them that way, and the leaks shouldn't matter.

I did a big writeup on how to fix this if your sunroof doesn't work like 3 weeks ago, including how to seal the sunroof permanently if you're a cheap bastard like me and don't want to buy new a new sunroof.

 

[Magmotor]

Need to source a new seal/gasket for my sunroof. I know that its not the drains, Im watching it drip right thru the seal and pool into my cup holders. I've tried a really nice sealant for the space on the gasket, and it seemed to stop it for a while but I'm watching it drip again and get my headliner wet! Anyone have a link or offer some help?
Thanks in advance
99 Limited.

Here's a parts list of all the parts shown in the PDF. All the parts are matching. Use your Frame Number to be sure of a match with your vehicle. Like everyone said, seal it yourself seems to be the easiest way to go....luck..!
Roof panel & back panel for Toyota 4Runner VZN180L - Genuine parts

 

[JohnMc]

Mine was doing this, and it was the small gap in the sunroof glass pane's plastic trim. This is in the center of the front side of the sliding section.

On my wife's '96, the gap was *very* small, and caused no issues. On mine, it was a bit wider. Compounding the issue was that I have one of those plastic 'bubble' air deflector things on mine, and when I parked it pointed downhill, it could back rain water up until water was pooled ever so slightly on the gap, when it would drip drip drip in.

All I did to fix it was get a little black RTV (so the color would match) and worked it into that gap with my finger, filling the crack and not leaving much of anything on the outside.

Dry as a bone since, no more flooded cup holders.

EDIT: Google briefly and found someone else's pic to help illustrate:

 

[b.moore2011]

Seriously? Bumped 3 and 4 year old threads?!

Have you adjusted your sunroof yet? I also don't see how it could drip directly from the seal to the cup holder. There's a gutter with drains around the whole sunroof, that basically makes it okay for the seal to leak.

Dude, I'm sorry. Ive never been on a forum that required 15 posts to start a new thread.. what the hell was I supposed to do? I googled my ass off and read all types of info, but nothing that specifically stated.. heres the replacement seal.. or I wouldve just done that, and seeing as I use forums to give out all the information that I can to help people out, and forums are typically the best place to get trusting information, thats where I came to. I didnt mean to piss anyone off, just needed help.. Kinda funny though, because the other forums I belong to and frequent.. users are a little more kind to the noobs and wouldnt give too much backlash for having to meet a quota in order to post...

However, If anyone needs any advice in the audio spectrum of things, I'm your guy. Pinball, arcade, general electronic repair.. thats me, so its not like i wouldnt have ANYTHING to offer...

 

[b.moore2011]

Mine was doing this, and it was the small gap in the sunroof glass pane's plastic trim. This is in the center of the front side of the sliding section.

On my wife's '96, the gap was *very* small, and caused no issues. On mine, it was a bit wider. Compounding the issue was that I have one of those plastic 'bubble' air deflector things on mine, and when I parked it pointed downhill, it could back rain water up until water was pooled ever so slightly on the gap, when it would drip drip drip in.

All I did to fix it was get a little black RTV (so the color would match) and worked it into that gap with my finger, filling the crack and not leaving much of anything on the outside.

Dry as a bone since, no more flooded cup holders.

EDIT: Google briefly and found someone else's pic to help illustrate:

This is exactly what is happening to mine, and I did the same thing. I used aircraft grade sealant to fill in that crack, and also on the outside. It held up well for the last few months, and def looks intact so I was thinking maybe the seal around the sunroof is just failing??

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Hm, Toyota must have changed the design of that at some point; my '01 doesn't have a seam there at all.
The sunroof is a little bit of a pain to replace, because of all the trim that has to come out to get the headliner out. That said, if you've had a leaky sunroof, and your headliner has gotten mold on it, you should replace the headliner anyway.
I don't see your location listed, but in the PNW, it's super easy to find a 3rd gen part out to get a sunroof and headliner from. Those parts aren't super desirable, so you can typically get them pretty cheap.

 

[b.moore2011]

Hm, Toyota must have changed the design of that at some point; my '01 doesn't have a seam there at all.
The sunroof is a little bit of a pain to replace, because of all the trim that has to come out to get the headliner out. That said, if you've had a leaky sunroof, and your headliner has gotten mold on it, you should replace the headliner anyway.
I don't see your location listed, but in the PNW, it's super easy to find a 3rd gen part out to get a sunroof and headliner from. Those parts aren't super desirable, so you can typically get them pretty cheap.

Awesome. Thanks

 

[phattyduck]

Another note... EVERY SUNROOF LEAKS.

Yes, every one.

Once the water gets in, it is supposed to go to the drains. So, if after fixing that little crack you still get water inside, check those drains. Oh, and make sure the bottom of the hoses goes outside of the vehicle...

-Charlie

 

[JohnMc]

The leak from the seam gap is problematic because it's not in a spot where leaks are expected, and directed to drains.

If the seal itself is leaking, then water would go into the usual drain locations and out. It's a felt fuzzy seal, even when brand new it wasn't waterproof, it just somewhat reduced the volume of water.

 

[kolelt]

Yup. 97 with same sun roof design and I had some water leaks in that area.

 

[zardoz]

Loose drainage tube

Hi folks. LTL and so trying to give back. PO had parked the truck under a pine tree for a few years so lots of needles up there. I was getting water in the headliner so first ran weed whacker line down the front trip tubes. That worked for a while. Then it came back. I did the line thing again, this time front and back. I had to do the back ones from the rear of the vehicle. Even then the line wouldn't go all the way so I also tried some compressed air. I could smell the air at the sunroof so I knew it was 'open'. But still dripped. Finally I took the headliner our (well, as much as I could as I couldn't get one of the grip handle bolts out even with an impact driver). Somehow the front driver's side drain tube had become disconnected (sorry, new guy, can't seem to load a photo). I slipped it back on and it stayed quite loose, even with the OEM clip, on the drip line from the sunroof channel. So I added a zip tie and did the passenger side, too. Hope this helps someone. Thanks, T4R.org!

 

[Boreas]

I finally figured out my sunroof leak and the fix wasn't too hard.

First, many people don't realize the seals on the glass are NOT designed to keep water out. This is why there are 4 drains - one per corner. I flushed my drains, and had good flow, but still was getting leaks at the front drains. So I bought a tool to clean the tubing (brush on a cable), thinking the flow was just impeded with filth. In so doing, I was a little too aggressive, and knocked the tubing completely off of the drain. Ugh. Small leak to HUGE leak!

I had feared the headliner removal scenario, tried and failed the impact driver removal of the A-pillar hand grip. So out of frustration, I just removed my visors and carefully pulled the trim away above the doors (did not have to remove) and pulled the corner of the headliner away from the roof. My headliner was water stained/damaged so was far from pristine anyway. I damaged (bent/wrinkled) the headliner a little, but was able to access the front drain. All looked well, and as I suspected, the Tygon tubing was stiff and the cheap wire clamp wimpy, so it was TOO LOOSE on the drain fitting, and would weep every time water went down the drain. Most water would drain, but some always leaked out. So, working through the small corner of the headliner, I cut about 3/4" off of the end of the tubing to achieve a smaller ID, then used a manly hose clamp to reattach the tubing. Then replaced the headliner. The only permanent damage was a wrinkle or two. Fine with me.

Repeat on passenger side, but had to remove the grab handle on the roof which was easy. Same scenario and fix on the passenger side.

LEAK FIXED!!!

I would start a new thread with this fix, but am not worthy yet - not enough posts.