My Sunroof Is Leaking, Now What?

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Exterior

Jim Motavalli

June 16, 2021

Jim Motavalli

June 16, 2021

There’s nothing like an open sunroof to enhance a beautiful drive. But sunroofs are notorious - opens in new window or tab. for leaking and breaking. And they can be pretty expensive to fix. If you have a leaky sunroof, the first step is to try these quick, low-cost fixes.

Leaky Sunroof?

Start by cleaning around the drain holes with a good automotive glass cleaner.

Sunroof leaks need to be addressed quickly before dripping water causes damage. Besides, it’s no fun getting wet while driving in the rain. The problem could be a faulty seal. But it’s more common for the leak to be caused by a clogged drain.

Sunroof drains consist of holes along the roof channel that are usually connected to a rubber hose that snakes down and dumps water on the ground. Try cleaning around the drain holes with a good automotive glass cleaner - opens in new window or tab. and microfiber towels - opens in new window or tab. or lint-free paper towels. A pipe cleaner or thin metal rod is a helpful tool for clearing the drain holes themselves. Clean everything and then pour some water down the hole to see if it’s draining correctly.

If the clog is beyond the reach of your tools, try using a long piece of weed-whacker line or a low-pressure air hose to blow the line. However, be careful—an overly powerful blast of air can damage the drain. Also, the drain tube can become detached from the channel, which means the water is no longer getting directed. If the tube is loose, it can usually be pushed back in place and secured with a clamp if necessary.

If Your Glass Is Stuck

A complete sunroof assembly from a 1996-2000 Honda Civic. Sometimes a total replacement is needed.

Let’s assume the motor is still working. Hear it whirring? If so, the cause of a non-sliding roof could be tracks clogged with dirt, debris, or hardened grease.

With the top open, you should see the tracks. Use a degreaser cleaner - opens in new window or tab. to remove the old material. Next, rub light grease—white lithium - opens in new window or tab. is good—on the inner surface of the tracks. That should get things moving again.

If it’s still not moving, and nothing happens when you press the button, the sunroof switch - opens in new window or tab. could be at fault. That’s usually an easy swap—replacements are on eBay. And always check the fuse. Read this: “Car Fuses and Fuse Boxes: Types, Amps, Wiring and Circuits - opens in new window or tab..”

If the sunroof is stuck in an open position—a potentially dangerous situation—the cover can be removed and unplugged. Then use a small piece of insulated wire stripped on both ends to jump between two points on the female connector that plugs into the switch. But don’t do this blindly—you have to know what to connect for your specific car. Peruse online forums and YouTube for helpful guidance.

This is a sunroof motor from a Land Rover Discovery.

Trickier Situations

The common problems with sunroofs are easy enough to fix. Of course, you need to first admit, "My sunroof is leaking."

Then again, there are other issues that a novice should not address. Those are best left to professionals. Broken cables are definitely in that category. Unfortunately, so is cracked or broken glass. Replacing the motor and fixing an electric short are also not for the novice. Getting to the motor can be involved, and you shouldn’t remove anything you can’t put back.

eBay has parts for sunroofs of all kinds - opens in new window or tab., including glass, tracks, motors - opens in new window or tab..

About the author

Jim Motavalli

Jim Motavalli is a contributor to the New York Times, Barron's, NPR’s Car Talk, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, among others. He is the author of nine books, including two—Forward Drive and High Voltage—about electric cars and why they’re important. He is a longtime radio host on WPKN-FM, and a public speaker on environmental topics.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.