replacing sunroof..

[Explorer2011]

Ive delt with my leaky sunroof for atleast a year now and its time to take it in and replace the seal or whatever is wrong with it... has anyone had this problem and if its a seal i'm prob looking at around 200-300 dollars eh?

 

[wood1]

Well, depends on where the water is coming in. I would first check to see if the drains are plugged, you can blow compressed air into them to check. If it's not them, you can pull the headliner out (not that difficult) or pull it down and look in to see if the frame is leaking. My '93 was leaking between the frame and the body. The powdercoat was peeling from the frame, the aluminum frame was oxidizing and the water was going between the frame and powdercoat.

I pulled my headliner because I wasn't sure if my roof rack was leaking or my sunroof. I wire wheeled the frame, painted it, put some 3/8 X 1/16 butyl tape on the frame and bolted it back in. You can use a plastic razor blade to trim off the rest of the butyl.

 

[Explorer2011]

Well, depends on where the water is coming in. I would first check to see if the drains are plugged, you can blow compressed air into them to check. If it's not them, you can pull the headliner out (not that difficult) or pull it down and look in to see if the frame is leaking. My '93 was leaking between the frame and the body. The powdercoat was peeling from the frame, the aluminum frame was oxidizing and the water was going between the frame and powdercoat.

I pulled my headliner because I wasn't sure if my roof rack was leaking or my sunroof. I wire wheeled the frame, painted it, put some 3/8 X 1/16 butyl tape on the frame and bolted it back in. You can use a plastic razor blade to trim off the rest of the butyl.

Its weird its not really leaking from the inner seal as it is from the outer where you see the outer glass you can hear the wind while driving so its noticeable leak and the sunroof half works it will only go up about 3 inches and doesn't move backwards or anything...

 

[wood1]

Aha, you have an electric sunroof with the frame hidden and mine is a manual crank-up. The first-gen sunroofs sat on the outside of the roof and were clamped to the roof with thick metal strips and screws from the inside.

I would have to look at your sunroof to make any suggestions on how to fix it, sorry. Other than suggesting you lube the tracks and drive and maybe some Vaseline on your rubbers all I can offer is another bump...

If you have water coming in I would still check the drains, it's a common issue.

 

[Explorer2011]

Aha, you have an electric sunroof with the frame hidden and mine is a manual crank-up. The first-gen sunroofs sat on the outside of the roof and were clamped to the roof with thick metal strips and screws from the inside.

I would have to look at your sunroof to make any suggestions on how to fix it, sorry. Other than suggesting you lube the tracks and drive and maybe some Vaseline on your rubbers all I can offer is another bump...

If you have water coming in I would still check the drains, it's a common issue.

yeah, well with the sunroof not going up and out like its suppose to i can't really see all four drains unless i took sunroof out i'm guessing... and tried the vaseline no luck heh

 

[wood1]

Yeah, you might just have to pull the headliner and see what is going on in there I guess. Take some pics and post them. Have you searched to see if it is a common problem with these sunroofs?

 

[Explorer2011]

Yeah, you might just have to pull the headliner and see what is going on in there I guess. Take some pics and post them. Have you searched to see if it is a common problem with these sunroofs?

ive just read about replacing the seals and drain holes really... my best bet sense it only half way works is to replace whatever is making it leak and getting the sunroof to work 100% like its suppose to but im afraid that's gonna cost a lot of cash.

 

[BUCKHEEL]

Which tread described the seal replacements.... I haven't found it yet....

Thanks!!!