If you’re seeing some water saturation on your car’s interior, it might be that the car’s sunroof is broken or clogged. While you may be tempted to go to a car center right away, the truth is that most sunroof repair can be done easily, unless if your car has serious problems. So, how do you repair a sunroof?
The first thing you need to do is pour water on the glass portion of the sunroof and check the inside of the car for leaks. You might see water drip or gush to the interior, in which case you will need to check where the leak is coming from. Most people would blame a rubber seal, oftentimes, however, the cause of the leak are the clogged tiny drain holes of the sunroof.
Check the drain holes and see if they are clogged. Drain holes are very small holes at the corners under the seal. If they are blocked, clean them by blasting compressed air through the drain tubes. Drain tubes are there to carry the water from the sunroof down to a small hole at the bottom of the car. Over time, they come blocked with dirt and debris and need cleaning.
If you don’t have a machine for compressed air, use a bicycle brake line to clean the drain tubes. A bicycle brake line has the perfect diameter and the right flex to work through the tubes. Clean all the drain holes of your sunroof. Twist the brake line several times while at the same time pushing it deeper down. The wire should be able to move with little or no resistance through the tube and push out dirt and debris as it does.
Take care though, because the brake line might damage the drain tubes. If you feel a strong resistance as you twist the wire, do not push any further. Instead, call a cleaning professional.
If you see that the drain tubes are clean, clean the sunroof trough, which is located inside the rubber seal. The trough is made to catch the water that gets through the roof. Wipe the trough with a cloth to remove the debris on the seal and the sunroof’s edges. This is a very important part of sunroof repair.
When you’re done cleaning, pour water again over the glass and check the inside of your car for leaks. If there are still leaks, it’s time to fix the seal.
Look for any fine jagged edges or cracks along the seal of the sunroof. Some seals do dry out and crack with time because of constant exposure to extreme hot and cold. Scan the seal for any signs of mold or pooling water. If your seal has sags or loses its shape, it can cause for the water to build up in the seal’s trough. When water accumulates, it can create holes in the seal over time.
Apply liquid electrical tape to the seal. Apply it thickly and make sure it covers any visible wear. When the tape dries, it will form a protector barrier for your sunroof.