Car sunroof - Improper maintenance can be dangerous

Harmful effects of not maintaining car sunroof

It can be said that for cars with sunroofs, many people want to own them because they show luxury and convenience, but according to experts, in reality, sunroofs are not really useful, especially for dusty roads like in Vietnam. Because they are not used much, many drivers seem to forget to use or maintain them properly on a regular basis. This poses many risks, especially in the rain.

Recently sharing on his personal page about car sunroofs, engineer Le Van Tach said that car sunroofs are quite expensive parts but seem to be unsuitable for the environmental and weather conditions in Vietnam and are sometimes even very annoying.

According to engineer Tach, he has had to deal with rainwater seeping through the sunroof into the car's interior many times, causing an unpleasant odor.

Engineer Tach further explained that on the sunroof there is a rain gutter around the door and there are 4 water pipes at the four corners of the gutter. When the gutter is clogged with a lot of dirt and is not cleaned, it will easily lead to clogged drain pipes, causing water to overflow into the ceiling and then go down to the carpet, causing an unpleasant odor if not handled promptly.

Right after the post and recommendation for car users with sunroofs by engineer Le Van Tach, many accounts also shared that they had been stuck with the sunroof many times and were too scared to use it anymore. Another account also shared that cars with sunroofs are really aesthetic but not suitable for Vietnam. Dusty air can easily cause blockages, sudden and harsh temperature changes make the rubber gaskets not durable. In addition, this is a part that users do not pay attention to regular maintenance, so it is very easy for problems to occur.

On some car forums, many people are upset and feel regretful when buying a car with a sunroof. Mr. Lam (Hanoi) shared: "It is undeniable that the sunroof creates a more airy feeling for the car compartment and this equipment also makes the car look more high-class. But after 5 years of use, I now feel very regretful, it is very troublesome, even if I do not use it, I still have to maintain it, and if I do not maintain it, I will be miserable if it rains."

How to maintain sunroof

Talking about the disadvantages of sunroofs on cars, some car experts also said that the monolithic body structure makes the car more sturdy and solid, of which the roof is an inseparable part. However, creating a hole to make a sunroof on the roof makes the car weaker. Especially when opening the sunroof, the air flow in the car will be reversed, increasing the resistance of the car and increasing the noise, making conversation between the driver and the rear seat more difficult.

In particular, like other parts of the car, the sunroof is also at risk of damage. And repairing this part is also extremely expensive and causes fuel consumption.

However, according to experts, if the car has a sunroof, the user needs to have regular maintenance by using a soft cloth to clean all dirt, leaves or sand in the water groove right inside the rubber cushion.

Typically, the drain hose is a very small hole located in the corner of the sunroof and underneath the rubber seal. Clean this type of drain hose by using compressed air to blow out dirt and debris from the hose located at the base of the rubber seal.

Another way to clean out your hose is to use a small, thin piece of wire or bicycle brake cable that is long enough and flexible enough to fit inside the hose. Then, twist the wire in two different directions as you push it inside. Be careful not to use wire with split ends, as this can damage your plumbing system.

Regularly observe to detect cracks or warping along the rubber cushion. In fact, after a long time of use, the rubber cushions will age and crack due to frequent exposure to sunlight and rain. Or look for places where the rubber cushions are waterlogged or moldy to promptly replace or fix.