Car leaks due to sunroof, how to fix?

"Crying and laughing" when the car leaks because the sunroof is open

Currently, in the world as well as in Vietnam, sunroof is one of the equipment that many car buyers want to own because it shows luxury and convenience.

But auto experts say that due to tropical weather conditions in Vietnam, installing a sunroof can cause many problems for users, especially when it is open.

In fact, many cars have leaked because of sunroof leaks. This is a very important issue that car owners must pay attention to, because when encountering this situation, car users have to face "half-laughing, half-crying" situations.

In 2018, the image of a Kia car with tape covering the sunroof became a hot topic on social media during a rainy day in Hanoi. The car's glass was still intact and showed no signs of cracking or breaking. The reason for the sunroof tape was not disclosed, but most comments suggested that the car might have a water leak, so the owner had to temporarily fix it.

The Kia's sunroof is sealed with tape. Photo: Tri Thuc Tre

Sharing on his personal page about the sunroof on cars in 2018, engineer Le Van Tach said that he had to deal with rainwater seeping through the sunroof into the interior many times, causing the car to have an unpleasant odor.

The cause of the gaps in the sunroof can be due to dirty water channels, dirty drain pipes or cracked rubber gaskets.

Engineer Tach explained: 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.

In terms of structure, cars equipped with sunroofs all have small holes to drain rainwater. If the driver forgets to use or maintain it properly on a regular basis, this small hole can be blocked by large objects or not cleaned for a long time, causing dirt to accumulate and clog, water will have no way to drain and start to seep into the car. In mild cases, it will be damp on the ceiling, and in severe cases, it will leak water.

How to fix a leaky car sunroof

When there is a leak or moisture on the roof, the first thing to do is park the car in a dry place and check the sunroof drain. Use a soft cloth to clean off any dirt, leaves or sand from the drain channel located just inside the rubber gasket. This drain channel is designed to drain water when it overflows through the glass.

Clean the water groove with a soft cloth.

Clean this type of water pipe by using compressed air to blow away dirt and debris from the pipe - located at the base of the rubber gasket.

Another way to clean your pipes is to use a small, thin piece of wire to thread into the pipe. Next, rotate the wire in two different directions while pushing it inside. Be careful not to use pieces of wire with split ends to avoid damaging the plumbing system.

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

The solution to this problem is to spread a thick layer of liquid electrical tape over the rubber gasket to cover all the cracks. Then, wait for the liquid to dry and form a waterproof protective layer, press the tape firmly down onto the rubber gasket and wait for it to dry completely.

After applying the above methods, close the sunroof and try to flush the water to check. If water still leaks inside, you can try again. If you still cannot fix the sunroof leak, it is best to take your car to a reputable repair center for timely inspection and handling.

It is best to clean this area regularly to avoid getting water in the car when it rains.