Moonroof Leak

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kyn8

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So the moonroof (or sunroof as some call it, but it's glass so it's a moonroof - lol - some marketing PhD must have come up with that one!) leaks on my 97 LTD. it appears to be coming in between the glass and the plastic bezel that surrounds the glass. It has been in my family since 1999 and was parked outside the entire time. we get some hot summers here in KY, but it also did 2-3 winters in Chicago, so it's seen both extremes. I say that to point out that I assume the UV rays and extremes in temperature have caused that plastic surround to deteriorate. It's not leaking at the seal or gasket; even if it was it would be draining out the weep holes and not not dripping on my seat and center console.

I am wondering if anyone else out there has had any issues with their sun/moon roof leaking.

If you have had this issue, were you able to pinpoint exactly where it was coming in?

Finally, what did you do to fix it?

Thanks in advance - I've really been enjoying this website!
 
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yeah i have this issue too, but its so minor at this point and ive been kinda lazy recently that its not bothering me enough to really look at it. but i have noticed it leaks a little bit after a nice rain
 
Find the corner drain holes for it, two in front easy to access, two in rear not so easy. Blow high compressed air directly into the holes. The problem should then be solved.
 
Agree with the drain hole suggestion. I had the same issue and cleaned mine out with plastic line from my weedwacker. Just cut a piece (4 ft or so) and threaded it down through the holes - took care of the problem. To verify that the drain is the issue, you can open the moonroof and pour a little water in the channel to verify that it is not draining.....if not draining, do the reaming with the plastic line and it should drain immediately. You should see it run out under the truck.
 
Last edited:
Buckaroo said:
Agree with the drain hole suggestion. I had the same issue and cleaned mine out with plastic line from my weedwacker. Just cut a piece (4 ft or so) and threaded it down through the holes - took care of the problem. To verify that the drain is the issue, you can open the moonroof and pour a little water in the channel to verify that it is not draining.....if not draining, do the reaming with the plastic line and it should drain immediately. You should see it run out under the truck.
Click to expand...

X2... be careful with iether the compressed air or the plastic line method. If it is a bad blockage you might push the drain line off the frame. If that happens you have to pull the head liner and get access to reattach.
 
yeah the drains are clear, and there is no pooling in that area. it seems to be seeping in where the glass meets the plast. by plastic I'm talking about the piece that attaches to the glass and then has the metal brackets, etc attached to it.

i will double check the drain holes (using caution not to wedge any clogs further down into it) to be sure.

thanks for the tips, guys!
 
I have a moonroof leak, to the point where water comes out of the sunroof controls. Where are these drains located?
 
my leak started the winter after the "drip-tray" came apart. it seems like a useless piece of plastic but I think it served a purpose. now the water ends up on my drives side floor.
 
i'm going to work on it this wknd hopefully. I'll take some pics or vdeos and post up what I find.

those front drain holes can be seen if you open your roof up at least a few inches, then look in the front corners and you'll see a hole in each one. i haven't seen the rears...
 
Any more fixes.
Mine started leaking recently.
(99 limited)
Looks like the gasket split in the center forward location.
I'm goin to check the drain holes, Im sure they are clogged with sand from my surfboards over the summer.
If not I think im goin to goop some liquid gasket in that gap in the seam.
 
I've got an '02 rig that I recently purchased. It grew up out west so the previous owner likely didn't experience the rain we get here in the midatlantic area. In any case, I have a pretty good leak going too and it happens just behind the driver's overhead light/roof switch area. It wicks pretty heavily into the upholstery trim just behind the switches and then drips.

Yesterday I temporarily afixed an appx 1/8" by 1/2" wide by 8" long piece of weatherstrip foam across the frame edge where the moonroof seals up against it. This does seem to have slowed down the leakage quite a bit. In looking at the gasket on the moonroof itself it certainly does not appear to be dry or damaged. It does though look to me like the moonroof could seal up against the leading edge a bit more firmly when it closes. I wonder if there is a limit switch that can be adjusted? I guess it's possible too that the gasket seal simply needs to be replaced.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Pat Arnold
 
it sounds like yours may be leaking due to a clogged rear drain. they are fairly difficult to see from what i hear.

i have definitely determined that mine is leaking between the glass and the plastic bezel that all the brackets mount to. the drains are clear - at least the front ones - and you can see from the pic where the leak originates. it is then dripping down onto the headliner. if I park at just the right incline in a hard rain it'll actually fill up the compartment below the e-brake. haha

017.jpg~original


my plan is to remove the sunroof from its bezel and silicone seal it back in place. it's not going to be an easy job, but I'll try to take pics as i go.
 
That is exactly how mine is leaking.
Let me know how it goes. Im planning on a similar fix.

kyn8 said:
it sounds like yours may be leaking due to a clogged rear drain. they are fairly difficult to see from what i hear.

i have definitely determined that mine is leaking between the glass and the plastic bezel that all the brackets mount to. the drains are clear - at least the front ones - and you can see from the pic where the leak originates. it is then dripping down onto the headliner. if I park at just the right incline in a hard rain it'll actually fill up the compartment below the e-brake. haha

017.jpg~original


my plan is to remove the sunroof from its bezel and silicone seal it back in place. it's not going to be an easy job, but I'll try to take pics as i go.
Click to expand...
 
Does anyone have an update on how this fix went?

I have the exact same issue and have read that some folks are using super glue or black silicone sealant in the plastic seems at the front, rear sides of the moon-roof on both the inside and outside of the vehicle.

Please advise how these attempts went with your own 4runners.

Thanks, Mike in Nebraska
 
Rashboyy said:
Any more fixes.
Mine started leaking recently.
(99 limited)
Looks like the gasket split in the center forward location.
I'm goin to check the drain holes, Im sure they are clogged with sand from my surfboards over the summer.
If not I think im goin to goop some liquid gasket in that gap in the seam.
Click to expand...

My 2000 moonroof leaked off and on for 4 years.If I parked on a certain slope, it would leak in to my center console till I found 1 side of the drain tube cloged. The Dealer couldn't make it leak, and said it was fine.(Bull**it)
I used bailing wire to un clog the tube. It had foam insulation partialy blocking it. The compressed air would still blow past it.
 
any solutions?

mine leaks in this spot also, Has anyone came up with a solution to this problem we are all having?

kyn8 said:
it sounds like yours may be leaking due to a clogged rear drain. they are fairly difficult to see from what i hear.

i have definitely determined that mine is leaking between the glass and the plastic bezel that all the brackets mount to. the drains are clear - at least the front ones - and you can see from the pic where the leak originates. it is then dripping down onto the headliner. if I park at just the right incline in a hard rain it'll actually fill up the compartment below the e-brake. haha

017.jpg~original


my plan is to remove the sunroof from its bezel and silicone seal it back in place. it's not going to be an easy job, but I'll try to take pics as i go.
Click to expand...
 
TRD 4RNR said:
Plus 1
Click to expand...

Jedrattle said:
Plus 2.

I need to check the rears too. The last storm filled my runner with water. My tool bag got a lot of water in it. My cloth wrench roll was soaked and it was inside the bag. I have wet carpet too. This is ridiculous.
Click to expand...

I mentioned this in another thread, i used JB kwik to seal up the crack along the bottom and the top of the bezel all the way up to the gasket.
 
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