Sunroof Drain HELP!

[CDW6212R]

Cheater. I wish I had a drain leaking, in my 93 that I used to rebuild my 99 the hoses were held on with small wire "spring ties" kind of like a heater hose clamp but tiny flimsy wire. One of those was easy to tug off while I was R&Ring the parts to get the metal cleaned to weld etc.

BTW Jamie, what do the later Sport Trac's and Rangers use for the drain basin? I'm guessing you have seen a lot of those with sunroofs/ Have you noticed any seams in the basins, where they are made in more than one piece, "glued" together? I wonder if and how Ford improved those, I think the early Explorer design are all prone to the leaking I have. I would love to discover a later design from a Sport Trac etc, that could replace my two 98's that I plan to keep.

 

[410Fortune]

Ahhhh I will get some pictures
I used to have e complete sunroofs waiting for the right truck but got rid of them when we moved
I bet the 02-04 sport or trac sunroof assembly would bolt right into your truck
Nice upgrade! I’m sure they improved from 95 to 02

 

[CDW6212R]

Thanks! From what I saw in my black 98 that I tried to stop the leak, the drain basin, the huge part, it's two or three pieces sealed together. The sealant along the seams eventually hardens and shrinks, typically ending with an odd leak onto the headliner. Unless the later models have a single part basin, I foresee taking mine out to reseal the seams with Ultra Black. If the seams can be reached, then a light smearing of RTV will seal the seams permanently. One of Fords bad ideas again.

 

[Willie 23]

All of these posts have have been great. My sunroof leak only comes very little from the overhead console so I'm guessing that it is probably the seam in the basin that is more than likely leaking. Is it at all possible that someone knows if that can be sealed with RTV easily. Anybody that has any information on that I would very much appreciate since this leak is becoming very old to deal with. If that is not the problem with the seam what else could it be that's causing it to leak through the overhead console? All of my drains seem to be working as far as I can tell.

 

[Stynx]

Your post is awesome bro. I am having the same problem with my sunroof but I have not been able to see or even locate the tubes for drainage. I have looked in every corner and see no tubes. My Explorer is a 2004 and my guess is that it is leaking around the seal on the glass itself. I like your idea about the RTV but not completely understanding where exactly you are putting it, is it actually putting the RTV on the gasket itself that is around the outer part of the glass? Mine is just leaking through the overhead Council through the overhead console. Please give me more insight as far as the drainage tubes since I can't seem to find them. As well where exactly you're putting the RTV. Thank you for any help you can offer.

They all leak at the glass and it isn't a problem unless one of the drain hoses becomes blocked or comes off the fitting. You can't see the hose from the outside will have to remove the plastic covers on the pillar and drop the headliner to find the drains which are at the front and rear corners of the frame. The hoses run down the nearest pillar. IIRC for the front one you have to remove the plastic parts that are closer to the bottom first and the handle as well.