Sunroof drainage.

[volvo always]

I have a 96 940 estate and unfortunately found today the sunroof leaks in heavy rain.

The water has leaked at the front and has also found it's way along the offside drivers side trim and dripped out and pooled on my new load cover. The lining under the side trim is wet.

Where does the front and rear drainage pipes run as may need to find them if air doesn't work if split etc?.
Plan to blow some compressed air down them to confirm clear and see if this fixes it. The actual sunroof opening appears rust free, but interesting that the water was dripping out the dome centre light!!
The lining is not stained so must be a recent occurrence. Also the sunroof doesn't close level/ stop properly at the right position. Is there a manual on how to adjust it?

Thanks. James

[bgarston]

Originally Posted by volvo always

I have a 96 940 estate and unfortunately found today the sunroof leaks in heavy rain.

The water has leaked at the front and has also found it's way along the offside drivers side trim and dripped out and pooled on my new load cover. The lining under the side trim is wet.

Where does the front and rear drainage pipes run as may need to find them if air doesn't work if split etc?.
Plan to blow some compressed air down them to confirm clear and see if this fixes it. The actual sunroof opening appears rust free, but interesting that the water was dripping out the dome centre light!!
The lining is not stained so must be a recent occurrence. Also the sunroof doesn't close level/ stop properly at the right position. Is there a manual on how to adjust it?

Thanks. James

I suspect the drains will be fine. Roll back the sunroof and test by poring water down each of the drain holes; there are 4, one in each corner. I had a similar issue with mine and it turned out that the rubber trim around the edge of the sunroof glass was at fault....water was seeping past the edge of the glass and where the trim wraps around the glass. I removed glass form the car, took the trim off the edge of the glass and resealed with caravan sealant. The result was a sunroof working as it should.

Hope this is useful?

Ben

[aardvarkash10]

^ this.

The drains are likely (but not 100% definitely) clear. The trim around the roof has a steel stiffener in it. The steel rusts, swells and lets water in that then finds its way into the headlining.

There are several threads on here about repair options. The search option is your friend.

[volvo always]

Originally Posted by bgarston

I suspect the drains will be fine. Roll back the sunroof and test by poring water down each of the drain holes; there are 4, one in each corner. I had a similar issue with mine and it turned out that the rubber trim around the edge of the sunroof glass was at fault....water was seeping past the edge of the glass and where the trim wraps around the glass. I removed glass form the car, took the trim off the edge of the glass and resealed with caravan sealant. The result was a sunroof working as it should.

Hope this is useful?

Ben

Originally Posted by aardvarkash10

^ this.

The drains are likely (but not 100% definitely) clear. The trim around the roof has a steel stiffener in it. The steel rusts, swells and lets water in that then finds its way into the headlining.

There are several threads on here about repair options. The search option is your friend.

Thank you both. I'll have a look at the search function. It seems most likely as certainly the front drain holes were clear. I'll check the rears and then reseal the seal onto the glass.

James

[TonyS9]

I also had the rusty seal lip problem. The water drips off the vertical mount plates and into the screw-thread channel which doesn't have a drain.

Sealing around the top to the glass sorted it.

[Laird Scooby]

Something often overlooked is the rubber seal dries, becomes stiff and shrinks with age.
On many cars it's a service item to rub some silicone grease into the sunroof seal once a year to keep it supple and "moist". This is the stuff :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006O7HTDE

If the seal is particularly dry, give it a good rub in when you first get the grease, leave it a couple of weeks, do it again then again a couple of weeks later then a month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months then yearly and it should sort you out. It's worked on all 3 of my current fleet and several others.

It also helps revent the sunroof panel squeaking as it moves when you drive over dodgy road surfaces - which are virtually all of them these days!

[volvo always]

Hopefully have time tomorrow to seal the glass to the seal as 2 raised/leak looking areas and have ordered the silicone grease

Noticed today that my passenger side footwell is very wet as sunroof leaks that side mostly. Also pour some water down all drain holes.

Going to remove the passenger foot well carpet as like a sponge atm and dry it all out. Good excuse to also see if any floor rust!

James