why is my leaking sunroof not covered by the gold plan????

[amandalynn04]

apparently i need to completely replace my entire sunroof because it leaks and it is not covered by the gold plan.

has anyone else had this problem.

04 leagacy 35th anniversary edition.

[The Dude]

The sunroof is probably not covered by the warranty because it's such a common problem. In my view, a sunroof is just an invitation to to a leak. Sooner or later, they all leak. Manufacturer, make, or model, it doesn't matter, eventually a sunroof will leak.

So, is a sunroof worth having? Well, if you're leasing the car for three years, it's probably going to be someone else's problem when the sunroof starts leaking. Or, maybe someone likes sunroofs so much that they're willing to deal with the eventual leaks. A sunroof is sealed with synthetic rubber gasketing. Synthetic rubber is not a forever material, it has a rather limited useful life. Motors also tend to go out. Wet roof liners need to be replaced. Not my thing.

[gbhrps]

amandalynn04,

I'm certain that you and everyone else found the first response to your posting very informative at solving your problem.

 

Just what is the issue with your sunroof? I can't imagine why the entire unit would have to be replaced just for leaks. It doesn't make sense, unless the entire unit was vandalized or the car was rolled over.

 

Sunroofs leak for several different reasons, all of which can be repaired. Most common is that one or more of the drain tubes in your system are plugged. Unplugging them takes some time, but is not really difficult. As well, one or more of the tubes could have come unattached to the drains.

 

Next is the misalignment of the sunroof that allows more water to seep past the seals than the drains can deal with. The sunroof can usually be realigned at its four mounting points, unless the drive track assembly has been broken somehow, in which case the drive whip, its carrier assembly that attaches to the sunroof, or the track is damaged. And all of these pieces can be repaired.

 

It is possible that the seals can not seal properly due to rusting of the metal that frames the sunroof glass. If the metal rusts, it will swell and misshape the seal. Since the metal is glued to the glass, with the seal sandwiched in between, there isn't a simple fix but to replace that sunroof portion.

 

Lastly, for several years beyond the 2000 models, there was a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) for leaks that let water into the front overhead reading lights at the rear view mirror. Apparently improperly applied sealant on the sides of the opening in the steel roof of the car, allowed water to be wicked into the superstructure of the roof of the car, where it found its way forward to the overhead map light area.

 

For most sunroof servicing, other than unplugging the drain tubes and replacing the glass portion of the sunroof, the entire sunroof assembly must be taken out of the car . Usually an hour's work to remove the sunvisors, mirror, overhead lights, A,B,and C pillars and door weatherstripping, and you can drop the headliner. Then only 8 or 10 bolts and the entire sunroof assembly can be removed for repairs on a workbench.

 

You have a 6 year old car, so used parts are the way to go for all of the larger/more expensive items. And, even if you have to replace the entire sunroof assembly, it should be fairly easy to locate a wrecked car for what you'll need.

[ericem]

Best thing you can do with a sunroof is go around with silicone and a wipe. Use the wipe first with water and clean the rubber nice and clean carefully as well as the metal it meets . Then spray some silicone spray in a can and use a brush or another cloth to wipe the seal nice and shiny. Then with a nozzle on the silicone bottle spray all parts that might move and anywhere else you like. Do this every so often during the year. I am going to do my car every couple of months when I am bored.

 

Comon simple solution is just clearing all the sunroof drains as mentioned.

[Scoobywagon]

Amanda,

 

Here is my advice as the manager of a shop that does automotive glass work.

 

Leaking sunroofs are generally not covered under ANY warranty except where, as mentioned, the sunroof has been improperly installed. The reason for this is that all sunroofs leak. They are designed to do so in a controlled way because they inherently leave a gaping hole in your roof.

 

Essentially, a sunroof consists of 3 parts. The glass, the mechanism and and the drip tray. The way its supposed to work is that water runs of the glass and down into the drip tray. The tray has 4 drain lines that run down to each corner of the car. Unfortunately, those drain lines are usually less than 1/4" so they plug up easily. Thus, a leaking sunroof is considered a maintenance item, like an oil change, not a repair item, such as an engine replacement.

 

Any decent glass shop should be able to clean your drains. You may want to ask about any recommendations for how often to clean them out. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have a lot of evergreen trees. So we recommend that sunroof drains be cleaned out every 2 years or so.