What is the best way to clear these or clean them out? My recent roller I bought has leaking issues around the sunroof and the seal looks fine...

 

anybody? My sunroof is leaking from the front. I bought the roller and it was sitting for a LONG time. There was tons of crud (tree debris, dirt, mud, etc) built up in there. I cleaned it out the best I could. The seal looks fine, I just assumed there was probably a drain tube in there somewhere but I couldn't find one.

 

Bump... anybody. I can't let rain get into the car anymore.

I guess an easier question would be; should there be any water, at all, in the "ditch" (if you will) the sunroof rests at when it's closed? If you open your sunroof, you'll notice there is an area along the perimeter of the cut out for the roof for the tracks as well as a small shelf it rests in about 3 to 4 inches around the perimeter.

I rolled the car out and sprayed the water hose on it for about 10 minutes and then let it sit there for about another 10. I opened the sunroof and notice a good sized puddle of water just resting in there... SHould there be any water in there at all? Should the seal around the sunroof itself hold water out completely? If so, this answers my problem and I know I"ll need a new sunroof seal.

Please SOS!!!

 

Water never seeps through my sunroof it's always bone dry around the perimeter when I open it. So yes the seal should hold out all water.

 

poke the drain tubes with a small pipe cleaner while running water through it.

 

The thing is I can't even see the drain tubes or know where they are at. I read that there are 4 in each corner...

 

I have the same problem, but worse. My rain water drips through onto the passenger seat. Where are the drain openings in the roof?

 

they run behind the A and B pillars in the car one on each corner. you are going to have to remove the plastics to get to them. drain out to underside of car.

 

drain openings are under headliner next to the sunroof. to access to clean these you will have to basically disassemble most of the interior of the car if not all of it.

 

Is this something that I can do by myself, or do I need to take it to my local Mazda dealer? They're really expensive and I'm pretty handy.

Do you know any resource that shows the steps, diagrams, etc... that can help me gain access to these drain ports?

If I can get access, do I run a guide wire through it, or do I blow air from my compressor? I don't want to damage tubing or blow off a connection in some inaccessible place!

Thanks - Jim

 

To access the tubes is not an overly large challenge.

In 20 minutes you should be able to:

1: Pull down the door seal
2: Slide out the A pillar covers
3: Remove all screws that retain the sun visors and remove visors
4: Pop out the cabin light
5: Undo the screw hidden inside the cabin light opening
6: Drop roof headliner to see the black hoses attached along the outer sides of the roof
and then run down the pillars.
7: If you wanted to remove the whole liner then you will find that there are clips holding
the rear end of the liner to the roof, not much but the one screw up front.

Be careful when popping the a-pillar covers out of their retainers.
Gentle persuasion is called for when pulling panels.

 

Great advice! Thanks!

I pulled and flushed the front 2 drains. Both are now working.

I poured water on the roof and see that a lot of water is seeping through the sunroof weatherstrip. Fortunately, it now drains out through the front 2 tubes.

I'm worried about what'll happen in a serious rainstorm, as there may be too much leakage through the deteriorated weatherstrip for the tubes to drain. Overflow will drip onto my seats (again - ugh).

Do you know how difficult is it to replace the sunroof weatherstrip? It doesn't look too hard, but the local Mazda dealer quoted me a price that included labor to remove the entire sunroof mechanism. Megabucks!

Any guidance is appreciated.

Jim

 

 

I have the same issue. My drain holes are clean but whenever it rains i have water sit on the undertray under the roof. It just doesnt go to the drain holes. Some of it i supose goes down the drain but enough stays there to make a paddle.

 

 

I have removed the whole roof mechanism. I ciuld see the hoses clearly. I droped water and they weRe ok. Also i used my mouth and easily i could push air. They are not cloged. Its just that some water stays up there and doesnt reach the hoses. Like small puddle.

 

 

There are 4 hoses. 2 on the front A pillars and another 2 on the back pillars. All of them clean and water air passes easily through them.

I have no issue with water dropingd in the cabin or something. But after rain or washing the car if I open the roof there is some water in small paddles on the black roof mechanism/under tray. I will try to take pics for you to see