***Pictures*** My sunroof is leaking. Please help!

Okay, I'm at it again.

I did a google on leaking sunroofs and this one mechanic said 95% of the time it's a clogged drain tube and that forcing high pressure air into the drainage tubes will oftentimes solve the problem.

Question #1 - I opened my sunroof and can see where the front drainage tubes are, but not the rear ones. Where exactly are they? Please post a pic.

Question #2 - If the drain tubes are the problem, how do they get clogged? The sunroof is closed the majority of the time isn't it? And when it's open, what is the likelihood that something (e.g. a small leaf or something) found its way to that exact spot?

Question #3 - If there's nothing wrong with the seal, how does water get in there?

I'm sick of dealing with this.

2003KJ said:

Agreed. Better test would be to hit it with a garden hose on moderate pressure.

Also as a temporary fix until you can get around to having it looked at, you might take some silicone (i've always had good luck with the clear kind) and run some around the seal. I've had very good luck fixing leaking door seals and leaking windshields with it.

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I would never use silicone. Best products that last a long time are all Urethane based. A good product is a marine product called Sikaflex.

The seal is not a waterproof seal, it is designed to reduce the water getting in. The reason the tubes get blocked is because of the dust, dirt and gunk that does get past the seal. If you can open the front drain and see what happens.

Signe said:

Question #2 - If the drain tubes are the problem, how do they get clogged? The sunroof is closed the majority of the time isn't it? And when it's open, what is the likelihood that something (e.g. a small leaf or something) found its way to that exact spot?

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because water works its way past the seal, the seal isnt 100% this is common on all sunroofs. the worst part is that over time the seal shrinks because it is exposed and dries out from sun

Signe said:

Question #3 - If there's nothing wrong with the seal, how does water get in there?

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same as above

Signe said:

Okay, I'm at it again.

I did a google on leaking sunroofs and this one mechanic said 95% of the time it's a clogged drain tube and that forcing high pressure air into the drainage tubes will oftentimes solve the problem.

Question #1 - I opened my sunroof and can see where the front drainage tubes are, but not the rear ones. Where exactly are they? Please post a pic.

Question #2 - If the drain tubes are the problem, how do they get clogged? The sunroof is closed the majority of the time isn't it? And when it's open, what is the likelihood that something (e.g. a small leaf or something) found its way to that exact spot?

Question #3 - If there's nothing wrong with the seal, how does water get in there?

I'm sick of dealing with this.

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tulsa said:

The seal is not a waterproof seal, it is designed to reduce the water getting in. The reason the tubes get blocked is because of the dust, dirt and gunk that does get past the seal. If you can open the front drain and see what happens.

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tjkj2002 said:

Then that would be the drain tube on that side,you will need to remove the passenger side inner A-piller molding(with handle) and check to make sure the drain tube is routed correctly,might have pulled back through and is now draining inside the cabin instead of in the cowl area like it's supposed to.

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JeepJeepster said:

Youre sunroof looks 100% like mine. The seal is the same and no, the glass is not warped, thats just how it is. From what I can gather, there really isnt a seal for the sunroof. That black seal you see going around the glass keeps *most* of the water out then the rest is drained out via tubes. The tubes run down the A-pillars and drain the water down from the sunroof and theres a high chance that dirt, leaf bits, tree sap, etc, could clog those which makes for youre situation. I do not know where the tubes terminate.

First thing is first, dont go back to that dealer. Ive never taken my a-pillar covers off so idk where those tubes are or if you can get to them by taking the a-pillar covers off. Ive read about those tubes plugging up so I know that does happen.

Ohh, welcome to Jeepkj!!

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not much else we can tell you about the workings of a sunroof and how water is drained away..

tulsa said:

Glass can easily warp given enough time. Glass is a liquid not a real solid, over a long peroid time it will flow. When stained glass windows are taken out of cathedrals during renovation or war they are stored upside down. That said your sunroof is probably not warped unless made that way.

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Sorry OT but,

Although it has been debated several times over throughout the years as to what state of matter glass really is, it is simply not true that the stained glass windows are thicker at the bottom because they "flowed" that way. The difference in thickness comes from the manufacturing process used to make such windows.

The more ya know....

Stained glass

Glass is in fact a super cooled liquid, and does flow over long periods of time.

But I fail to see how this would apply to stained glass. Stained glass is made up of many smaller pieces of glass, pieced together in a lead frame. There would be some flow in the individual pieces, but causing the bottom of the larger work of art to be thicker is ridiculous.

Here goes nothing.. take this for whatever its worth. tjkj is correct all sunroofs leak sooner or later. Later being better than sooner. I owned about 8 cars that at one time I loved T Tops, I bought myself a a 1988 Z28 Camaro, boy those T Tops were a pain in the you know where. well after repacing the seals about 4 times I gave up, and just made sure it was a sunny day when I drove the car. One day I wsa about 1200 miles away from home and Sunny weather and I pulled into a gas station for fuel it was pouring and the Chevy was taking in more water than an old WWII sub. And old guy was pumping the gas and said to me, go to the drugstore on the corner and buy yourself Petroleum Vasoline, when it dries up smeer that S....t all over your seals, thinking he was totaly out of his mind, my wife said hey try it what do you have to loose. So I did.... It worked. The vasoline soaks into the rubber and keeps it moist and it swells it up. Damm I even use it on my door seals now, use it all the time. Hey try it, you never know

liv42dy said:

And old guy was pumping the gas and said to me, go to the drugstore on the corner and buy yourself Petroleum Vasoline, when it dries up smeer that S....t all over your seals, thinking he was totaly out of his mind, my wife said hey try it what do you have to loose. So I did.... It worked. The vasoline soaks into the rubber and keeps it moist and it swells it up. Damm I even use it on my door seals now, use it all the time. Hey try it, you never know

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While I dont use petroleum vasoline I do coat my door seals regularly with a dressing. Currently have Meguiars #40 trim dressing on them but Ive also used Meguairs All season dressing on them. Got to do the Sun-Roof seals now that its on my mind.