sunroof leak problems

[BrianSD_42]

Anyone here have sunroof leak problems? How did you fix it?

I believe that my sunroof is leaking. I seem to always have wet floormats after rain. After it dried out I recently taped over the sunroof and after a hard rain the floormats were actually dry. => I have concluded that the sunroof is leaking because the drains are broken or clogged.

Is there an easy way to test for this? I don't want to take the interior apart, especially the ceiling.

I am going to try following tomorrow:

pour hot water down drains
blow air from air-can into the drains

next step would be to try draino but am very reluctent because I am worried that I might have a broken drain tube and don't want draino (even watered down) to get in the interior.

kind of at an impass here.


:redbrick:

 

[Nelsonmd]

Anyone here have sunroof leak problems? How did you fix it?

I believe that my sunroof is leaking. I seem to always have wet floormats after rain. After it dried out I recently taped over the sunroof and after a hard rain the floormats were actually dry. => I have concluded that the sunroof is leaking because the drains are broken or clogged.

Is there an easy way to test for this? I don't want to take the interior apart, especially the ceiling.

I am going to try following tomorrow:

pour hot water down drains
blow air from air-can into the drains

next step would be to try draino but am very reluctent because I am worried that I might have a broken drain tube and don't want draino (even watered down) to get in the interior.

kind of at an impass here.


:redbrick:

Don't use drano. It will not help you at all and will damage your car. Even if your tubes are plugged up, drano is formulated to clear sink drains, not exterior drains.

Try to isolate where the leak is, check the drains. You'll find it eventually.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Thanks Nelson. I will try to isolate -- no draino --

 

[MrBobDobalina]

Take some thick wire and run it down the little drain tubes to clear them out. I searched and found some similar issues. I was able to pour water directly down the drain tubes after cleaning and saw it dripping out the bottom pinch weld area...No problems since. I also made sure the area sealing the sunroof was completely clean and the rubber for the sunroof wasn't all dried out.

 

[Jbird123]

bump

Mine leaks but I don't think it is a drain issue - after a rain it drips on me from the interior of the sunroof itself - on the ceiling. No?

 

[BrianSD_42]

I've confirmed that I don't have drain problems. Both drains work just fine.

Still leaks.

 

[MrBobDobalina]

I would sit in the truck and have someone with a hose spray the sunroof area and see if you can find where its leaking....I also had a small separation where the rubber molding wrapped around the actual sunroof and right where it was joined, there was a gap. I used some waterproof clear silicone and sealed that as well.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Brian,

You did get the two drains in the rear correct?

You do have the factory roof rack? The sealant around the screw holes could have bought the farm and water is getting in that way. I have never seen this on a 4runner but have on a 2nd gen Pathfinder.

Since I saw your build thread, you may want to check the roof rack and how well it mates to the top.

 

[BrianSD_42]

i should add that the sunroof's "rear drip tray" , a piece of plastic about the width of the glass broke free and was removed.

The two drains towards the front work but I cant access the rest very easily.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Brian,

Here is a parts picture that shows where the two drains lines are located. I actually blew air up the rear drain lines (if you crawl under, you can see them). The rear drip tray or lack thereof may be the culprit. I think a new one lists for $125.

 

[Royisme]

Brian,

Here is a parts picture that shows where the two drains lines are located. I actually blew air up the rear drain lines (if you crawl under, you can see them). The rear drip tray or lack thereof may be the culprit. I think a new one lists for $125.

I'm going to be friggin stoked if this fixes my sunroof! It's been sealed completely for awhile now with silicone and then today was thinking... *have I ever actually looked for that in the forum...?*

 

[zgensler31]

i just fixed the leak coming from the sunroof with this today. was the drivers side drain tube clogged up. weed wacker wire did the trick. but i'm afraid the leak killed my sun roof motor. it was really struggling to open and it did get a little wet.

anyone ever replaced one of these? and is there any write-up or experience greasing the sunroof? mine doesn't look pretty in that regard.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Brian,

When I thought my drain was leaking, wet floor mats etc, it turned out water was running off my windshield and into a hole in the firewall where I had run my amp wire, and a couple other wires through.

To "fix" it I used black duct tape to make a little cover for the grommet...

 

[infamousRNR]

if cleaning the drains doesn't work it could be the seam on the glass sunroof itself...
[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION] and I have videos to show you how to investigate.....

but this one shows what we did to actually fix the leak....


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MVJW0XM2x24" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[tarsun]

mine leaks but also does not open or close. i wound up using ummm cough cough flex-shot cough...

i 1st tried using GE clear silicone weather sealant that was guaranteed for life. it did not work and made a mess. lasted a month.

once it was cleaned up, i hit it with flex-shot and its been dry since then. a few months now. Even in the winter with snow and ice and even some auto car washes.

 

[jkoni426]

if cleaning the drains doesn't work it could be the seam on the glass sunroof itself...

I just had to do this to mine this past weekend, came out from work one day to find the area underneath the ebrake handle full of water after raining. Used black rtv but didn't peal back the rubber seal at all. Hopefully it still works, seems to be good so far.

 

[TRD 4RNR]

I just had to do this to mine this past weekend, came out from work one day to find the area underneath the ebrake handle full of water after raining. Used black rtv but didn't peal back the rubber seal at all. Hopefully it still works, seems to be good so far.

I didn't have any luck sealing from the outside.
Finally I did this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/163364-water-leaking-out-headliner-sunroof-2.html#post2846559
and have been good ever since.

 

[Pottski]

Me Too

Just washed my 4runner for the first time in 6mo, haven't had an issue in the past 2yrs I've owned it. Hope this works.

 

[dogtail]

Anyone here have sunroof leak problems? How did you fix it?

I believe that my sunroof is leaking. I seem to always have wet floormats after rain. After it dried out I recently taped over the sunroof and after a hard rain the floormats were actually dry. => I have concluded that the sunroof is leaking because the drains are broken or clogged.

Is there an easy way to test for this? I don't want to take the interior apart, especially the ceiling.

I am going to try following tomorrow:

pour hot water down drains
blow air from air-can into the drains

next step would be to try draino but am very reluctent because I am worried that I might have a broken drain tube and don't want draino (even watered down) to get in the interior.

kind of at an impass here.


:redbrick:

Its fairly simple to pull the headliner out, spray some water and easily find your leak.
Also know another roof leak area, the roof rack screws can allow water in. The roof rack screws ABSOLUTELY need to have threads siliconed as factory does. So if they loosen up or were taken out without being re-siliconed, they will leak.

 

[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.