The classic leaking sunroof

[Hayden]

Welp. After reading tons and tons of stories I finally caught the plague of sunroof issues, just looking for some insight here.

While turning into my work parking lot today, water dripped out of the switch panel (above the rear view mirror), I popped the sunglass holder out and popped the lights plastic out and the inside is pretty wet, nothing crazy. Headliner isn’t wet at all and not a ton of water came from the panel, but you can tell it’s damp inside. I checked the sunroof drains and it seems fine? I poured water into both sides and it doesn’t pool at all and seems to drain very quickly to the ground.
I saw some posts about sticking those wires through causing damage and it not being recommended..but I can’t for the life of me find anybody recommending any other way to try to clear the tubes. I poured a few bottles of hot water through, as well as some dish soap then flushed with hot water again. It comes pouring out the bottom of the car fairly fast

but as I said, it doesn’t seem to be clogged or pooling at all..any suggestions? I had my windshield replaced about 10 months ago with aftermarket glass, but I haven’t had any issues at all with that and it rains constantly here in Vancouver.
Wondering if there’s something I’m missing.

Edit: I did see this: https://www.reddit.com/r/GolfGTI/comments/7xnk8v The strange thing is it seems that those stickers are already applied to mine..

http://imgur.com/a/xYm6Kr0

here is a video of my sunroof. It looks like those stickers were already applied. The only concern I had is the bottom right corner of that rubber seal.. it dips a bit, could that be an issue?

 

[mopar22]

Mine poured out fast too but still got backed up with debris and wasn't noticeable until we had a ton of rain. I removed the trap things on the end and haven't had an issue since then, i will say a bunch of shit came out

 

[Hayden]

Mine poured out fast too but still got backed up with debris and wasn't noticeable until we had a ton of rain. I removed the trap things on the end and haven't had an issue since then, i will say a bunch of shit came out

What do you mean remove the traps?

 

[amsr]

It’s possible that it’s cracked under the tape. Also you can use canned air like is used to clean electronics to blow the drains out in some cases. Also there are drains in the back, but idk how to get to them to clean them.

 

[mopar22]

What do you mean remove the traps?

At the end of every sunroof drain is a red trap that keeps bug or whatever from coming up. It’s supposed to be a one way thing but debris get stuck still

 

[GTIfan99]

At the end of every sunroof drain is a red trap that keeps bug or whatever from coming up. It’s supposed to be a one way thing but debris get stuck still

Drains for my NC Miatas were same way, trap at the bottom.

I used to use a trumpet cleaner to clean them out.

Will never buy a VAG with sunroof again.

 

[turbo_dreams]

I've been getting white stains on the sun visors. I'm pretty sure mine is leaking.

Between that, and the notion of having to replace my water pump and t-stat housing eventually (out of warranty), it's looking better and better to sell it to Carvana for more than I paid.

 

[Hayden]

Update to this thread and what I did to fix it (so far) just in case somebody comes across this thread.

• First I tried removing the sticker kit that was already installed. I removed them, cleaned the entire area, and reapplied a new sticker kit to all the areas. This fixed it for maybe 3 months.
• Next I did the same thing, removed them cleaned the area but this time I filled the cracks with a waterproof urethane from home depot that bonds to plastic. Reaplied a new sticker kit overtop of those filled cracks. That lasted 1 month.
• My absolute last resort before paying the $5000 quote I got from the dealership was to use Flex Seal. They make a paint-able product - https://flexsealproducts.com/products/flex-seal-liquid?variant=32929853603949. I removed the sticker kits and used a super small paintbrush to apply this in the entire sunroof frame. I plugged the holes for the drains before painting this on. Make sure to get the paint brush super deep under the frame and along the sides, where its highlighted yellow here.

https://preview.redd.it/sxvvz3k7saw...ed&s=a3c68198368ee0b84a88d5cc0e11960b1e5afba9
https://preview.redd.it/vpfbpymecmx...ed&s=8355cbe6634482d319040c3af63191b6ae6f9b9c

I applied 3 layers of this over the course of about a week, over a month and not a single droplet of water after a few heavy heavy rainstorms.

Fingers crossed.

 

[YamR1rider]

You must be a mind reader lol. Having dramas with my daughter's sunroof. Have used all sorts of tapes for cracks around the frame but it seems no sooner do I sort one, another appears. I was just thinking that either brush on or aerosol flex seal might be the next step. I think the problem with any tape fix or the patch kit is you can't get it far enough under the outer seal.

 

[git443]

Update to this thread and what I did to fix it (so far) just in case somebody comes across this thread.

• First I tried removing the sticker kit that was already installed. I removed them, cleaned the entire area, and reapplied a new sticker kit to all the areas. This fixed it for maybe 3 months.
• Next I did the same thing, removed them cleaned the area but this time I filled the cracks with a waterproof urethane from home depot that bonds to plastic. Reaplied a new sticker kit overtop of those filled cracks. That lasted 1 month.
• My absolute last resort before paying the $5000 quote I got from the dealership was to use Flex Seal. They make a paint-able product - https://flexsealproducts.com/products/flex-seal-liquid?variant=32929853603949. I removed the sticker kits and used a super small paintbrush to apply this in the entire sunroof frame. I plugged the holes for the drains before painting this on. Make sure to get the paint brush super deep under the frame and along the sides, where its highlighted yellow here.

https://preview.redd.it/sxvvz3k7saw...ed&s=a3c68198368ee0b84a88d5cc0e11960b1e5afba9
https://preview.redd.it/vpfbpymecmx...ed&s=8355cbe6634482d319040c3af63191b6ae6f9b9c

I applied 3 layers of this over the course of about a week, over a month and not a single droplet of water after a few heavy heavy rainstorms.

Fingers crossed.

When you say you re-applied a new sticker kit, did you also use the sealant like they talk about in the TSB?: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10128041-9999.pdf

Link to the sealant: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-volkswagen-audi-parts/1pk-adhes/d172090m2/
I've had this TSB applied by the dealer in 2016-2017 ish time frame and to this day never had a leaking sunroof.

 

[Supermoto]

Drains for my NC Miatas were same way, trap at the bottom.

I used to use a trumpet cleaner to clean them out.

Will never buy a VAG with sunroof again.

My NC Miata had the same thing. There were these one way rubber flap things, I used a trumpet cleaner as well and all was good. Both my GTIs have had sunroofs and I've had zero issues with either of them.

 

[Hayden]

When you say you re-applied a new sticker kit, did you also use the sealant like they talk about in the TSB?: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10128041-9999.pdf

Link to the sealant: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-volkswagen-audi-parts/1pk-adhes/d172090m2/
I've had this TSB applied by the dealer in 2016-2017 ish time frame and to this day never had a leaking sunroof.

Not that specific sealant, I used a different sealant. Couldn’t find that in Canada.

Didn’t help anyways, the cracks run deep underneath that I can’t even really see, so it’s impossible to get sealant into a crack I can’t see.
That’s why brushing the flex seal liquid everywhere worked

 

[Hayden]

You must be a mind reader lol. Having dramas with my daughter's sunroof. Have used all sorts of tapes for cracks around the frame but it seems no sooner do I sort one, another appears. I was just thinking that either brush on or aerosol flex seal might be the next step. I think the problem with any tape fix or the patch kit is you can't get it far enough under the outer seal.

Give it a shot!

 

[YamR1rider]

Latest repair effort with this bullshit sunroof is under way. Got me some of the Gorilla waterproof seal paint, swapped the nozzle on the can for one that takes a straw extension as as to get it well and truly sprayed all the way under the outer seal. Then working it all in with a brush. Putting it on thick with multiple coats. Took the glass off so I can get all the way round. It don't look pretty, but if it does the job I will be happy!

 

[YamR1rider]

It seems to have worked! Several buckets of water over the car and all is dry. Fingers crossed it will be a lasting repair. Anyone with sunroof leaks.....this is the way to go. The tape and patch kit as supplied by VW (or if you try tape from anywhere else) is the hack job in this case. As I have found (as per the OP), you cannot even visibly see some of the cracks which develop in the sunroof frame, much less see how far they go under outer seal lip (most likely, all the way to the edge of the plastic) and its impossible to get the tape back far enough. Using this seal paint with a straw you can ensure you get to those areas; chase what you spray with a small brush and do multiple coats around the entire frame, making sure to do extra coats on any actual cracks you could see prior. Taking off the sunroof glass and repositioning at the end is an easy job (best if you have helper to move the panel on and off the roof); there are only six screws. On reinstall, just make sure you have the sunroof glass aligned right as per VW specs (1mm low of the seal at the front transitioning to 1mm high at the back).

Now to try and fixed the stained and sagging headliner caused by this BS.....