924Board.org

[TYPE111]

I live in Perth where the dry season last 9 months but now we are in the wet season and the car I bought in the dry season leaks at the front right side.

First of all I checked all the drain channels, and the only one partially blocked was the front right so I replaced a crimped 1" piece with some poly tube and hoped that would be the end, it wasn't.

I poured a litre of water over the sunroof and got the same leak. I eventually replaced 2/3 rds if the tube going into the front bonnet compartment. A "fun job" but then if all looked promising when the water test with the roof off showed a steady stream of water down the tube. Yeehaa I thought.

Unfortunately the next shower revealed the same problem. So to conclude, all channels are clear but when I put the sunroof on I get a drip from the front bracket on the right.

I've looked locally for a replacement seal with the same profile but no luck. Is it possible the sunroof seal is partially blocking the hole causing the water to back up in the channel?

This is really annoying as I work on the rigs for 3-5 weeks at a time and SWMBO has refused to help out and empty the water collected on the bin liner on the front seat.

Please help!

PS When replacing the tube down the a pillar and trying to free up access, I removed the sun visor in an attempt to loosed the headlining. The footwell courtesy light stopped working yet the one in the roof is OK. Are the two wired to each other?

David
_________________
Trust, Then Verify

[larchie]

I can't suggest anything other than the Porsche Technical Service Bulletin alluded to in your previous thread Access to sunroof drain channels and systematically going through that onerous procedure. This might be necessary since where the water appears is often not the point of the leak. Leaks can often be a result of circuitous travel.

But since the leak is at the right-front side only, and on a previous thread you wrote ...

[TYPE111]

Thanks for the tip. First I'll try blocking the end of the front right drain channel where I've been working and filling it up.

If that shows no leaks, how do you remove the headliner as it appears to be glued over the lip of the sunroof channel. The headlining us one of the few plus points in the interior and I really don't want to remove unless I have to,

The sunroof is also proud if the roof in several places. Think I'll try to get some more of plastic seal on the car body as the one I have appears to be a bit big.

Too bad I won't get chance until next week. The bin liner on the seat will have to suffice for now.
_________________
Trust, Then Verify

[jason c]

What larchie said. You need to get the sunroof to fit properly too. You could be overpowering the drains, they're only suppose to drain off the little bit the seal can't keep out.
The headliner is glued on around the edges and is difficult to remove without tearing.

[TYPE111]

I flooded the channel and it all went down the tube after the last attempt to fix it. There is no way that amount of wTer would ever get into the channel with the seal which is why I think the seal is blocking the water path and it is overflowing at the front right, and with the car angled down at the front, the water is finding the lowest level.

Will block the front right channel and with the sunroof out, fill up the tube until the channel is full and check for any leaks.
_________________
Trust, Then Verify

[jason c]

It may be blocking it if its not seating right, which would explain why the sunroof is sticking up. A leak in the tube isn't going to cause a drip from the latch though. Why not plug the tube, pour water on the closed sunroof, pull the plug and see if water is even getting into the tube?

[TYPE111]

Good idea, was thinking along the same lines, just got to find the time between genuine rain showers to do the tests.

I might take off the seals on the roof and car body and see if the sunroof is proud of surface. It could be an after market or replacement roof but all the catches look genuine, given what I have seen on pelican parts and other spares places.

Thanks for the tip,

David
_________________
Trust, Then Verify

[jason c]

I doubt its an aftermarket roof. The seals shrink up & loosen up over time and sometimes won't stay all the way on the sunroof. The seal and the roof bind a little when closing and the roof sticks up. There are adjustments for height. Installing the sunroof without the seal and putting a straight edge on the roof along with the adjusting screws is how its leveled.

[TYPE111]

I wondered what those screws were for.

Thanks again for the tip.
_________________
Trust, Then Verify

[TYPE111]

Ok, did some testing. Clamped off the end of the tube in the corner where the leak is, front right, and poured water down it. Some water was dripping down the tube above where the join is when the tube was full so guessing the problem is at the end where the tube joins the body.

But how go I get to it?

Put the hose pipe on to simulate a shower with the roof on and it started dropping water after around 20 seconds. However with the roof off the water runs down the a pillar but with the roof on it drops from the front right bracket if the sunroof.

Any thoughts?
_________________
Trust, Then Verify

[!tom]

Dunno, but that's exactly what my car does too.
_________________
78 924 NA
5-lug

[TYPE111]

I feel your pain! If it wasn't for the fact I am often away for 3-4 weeks and the missus will do diddly squat about any water collected on the bin liner, I would live with it. I'm currently using a shower cap for my Elise across the windscreen but it's a bit small, might see if I can get a better one made up.
_________________
Trust, Then Verify

[jason c]

If you've checked eveything I sugessted before, take some detailed pics of the areas with the roof in, roof out and bottom & side of The roof where its leaking. Don't clean anything for the pics. Maybe we can see something you're missing.

[Brian L.]

Hi Dave from down under! This might not be your source of your water ingress but found it was part of my water dilemma . I think I had water getting in from more than one source, clogged drain tubes and poor condition of the sunroof exterior seal were big contributors but after fixing both of those items I would still water leaking in. The culprit was the vinyl covered metal trim that goes on the lip of the sunroof opening next to the rain channel and drain openings (with the roof out). I noticed my trim had some rust on the metal edges of the trim. What I found was that water in the rain channel would wick up and over the metal lip and under the trim that goes over the lip, If you know what I mean. Also at the factory, edges of the vinyl headliner were glued up and over the noted lip then the trim installed, then the excess trimmed with a knife. I re-glued the vinyl and put some sealer on the trim before reinstalling the trim. Worked for me, hope this help's.
_________________
1980 924 N.A. Monaco Blue owned since 1987
"Remember, sitting on your ass won't finish your project" -Puddins fab shop.

[TYPE111]

Took some pics, but how do I upload them?

On a positive note I changed the stunningly hideous after market gear knob for an original one

On the down side I need a new inner gaiter as the old one is perished, and the exhaust fumes are a bit overpowering
_________________
Trust, Then Verify