Water leaking through roof 😕

[Alpha Hydrae]

When it's raining, I'm getting water dripping down from the headlining above the mirror/lights cluster and on the sides next to the hard plastic A-Pillar covers. This has just started happening suddenly, never had this problem before. I've looked at the sunroof and moonroof, can't see anything wrong, they just open and close as normal. What could have happened so suddenly? I'm hoping it's just something daft I've done, but I'm stumped at the moment and really worried about damaging my interior and electrics 😖

[MonsterS]

There are small pipes which runs water away from those points, Get a pipe cleaner and clean then off, if you can see a blockage then under the wheel arch in the lining is the out push some compressed air through them or from the top to clear it out. sometimes they clog up.

[Alpha Hydrae]

But surely I shouldn't be getting any water inside the roof lining, regardless of whether it's able to drain off to the wheel arch area? 

[dezufo]

3 hours ago, Alpha Hydrae said:

But surely I shouldn't be getting any water inside the roof lining, regardless of whether it's able to drain off to the wheel arch area? 

When the drain holes are blocked, the channels that the roof slides in overflow. This tool helps to clear any debris https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/317001966951

[wlad]

Open the moonroof.  On the front corners, you'll see holes a few millimetres in diameter.  Get some strimmer line or something similar and poke it through.  I then poured some very hot water through it and followed it up with some compressed air (I used a tyre inflator with a cone-shaped end on it for inflating airbeds; it worked well and water started coming through by the front wheel arches.  Not had a drop inside since.

[Alphard Club]

also get some fine bottle washer brushes

[Alpha Hydrae]

Thanks Wlad, I might check that. However, after weeks of cleaning out the water channel at the side of the windscreen (as per previous suggestions) I eventually taped over the sunroof to completely seal it, and that's stopped the water coming in. So I think I need to find out what the problem is there. As I've said before, this problem appeared suddenly, it didn't build up slowly over time.

[Alphard Club]

3 hours ago, Alpha Hydrae said:

Thanks Wlad, I might check that. However, after weeks of cleaning out the water channel at the side of the windscreen (as per previous suggestions) I eventually taped over the sunroof to completely seal it, and that's stopped the water coming in. So I think I need to find out what the problem is there. As I've said before, this problem appeared suddenly, it didn't build up slowly over time.

I Still think its a blockage, very common.

Only takes a big bit of debris to finally block the hole.

[Alpha Hydrae]

Please can you post a photo of where this blockage commonly occurs. I still don't understand how the water would get into the vehicle and can only assume it's through the top corners of the windscreen seal.

[Alpha Hydrae]

OK, I think I finally understood what you guys were suggesting. There are 2 drainage holes on front corners of the sunroof, and they were both blocked. I originally thought you were saying these were near the A-Pillar where the water was dripping down. I ended up removing the sunroof as the rubber seal and inside edge of the roof were quite dirty. It also made it much easier to clean out the drainage holes and flush water through the drainage pipes. I took some photos to show these holes and the drainage pipes. My only concern still is after cleaning and refitting the sunroof, the rubber seal doesn't seem to press enough against the roof edge. I suspect it has shrunk over time (it is 23 years old after all).

[smurf]

If you are concerned that the rubber seal around the sunroof isn't sealing then don't be.  The seal on the sunroof isn't designed to be water tight, hence the drain hoses. If there is a large visible gap then there could be an issue.