I removed the sunroof panel today to see why the darned seal does not let it close 100%. We've discussed this before. I found out why today.

The reason is the replacement Seals are too long in the rear section. 1" inch too long to be exact. The photos explain.

I can cut the excess off but the question is how to GLUE and SEAL the two rubber ends after cutting the excess. Vulcanizing is the way they do it but I have no clue how it is done. I have Super Glue. What else can withstand the stretch?? (yes it must stretch a bit, not a whole lot, but it must stretch). These seals are manufactured the same way they manufactore Door weatherstripping, i.e., 90 and 45 degree corners are vulcanized. Any suggestion to get this thing done right? Thanks.

 

fixed.

cut off the excess, inserted a vacuum hose into both seal sections and super glued them. Added black caulking. Sunroof closing fine now.

 

Nice!

While on the topic of the sunroof (don't mean to hijack), what exactly holds the sunroof up at the leading edges when it's closed? I notice that on mine I can push down on it on the right side and it will give (opening the seal a little) but on the left it's solid. I think this is responsible for wind noise that I used to think was coming from the passenger door.

 

there are 4 screws below the front edge of the sunroof panel. They secure the outside body panel to the inner moving sunroof assembly. Check to see if you have 4 screws there, one on each corner, two towards the center. There should not be any up/down movement of the outside body panel when sunroof is closed.

is that what you mean?

 

Jose - no (at least based on your description I don't think so) - I mean that the whole of the sunroof assembly (outer and inner panel) can be pushed down from the outside (very slightly but enough to break the seal) on one side but not the other. When driving yesterday I noticed also that I can push it up from the inside as well to stop the wind noise, so it's the whole thing that's moving as a uni.. Again, though, it's weird as it's only on one side (the other side is solid - no movement at all). And just to note that, from the outside, it looks pretty flush all round so I don't believe that adjusting the black wedges will help any (although I have to admit I haven't tried yet).

 

ok that should not happen.

if the entire assembly can be pushed down from the outside, try opening the sunroof halfway, then try to push down again to see if the bottom "pan" separates from the roof.

if yes, a bolt is loose from the roof and if you cannot access the bolt(s), the only way to visually check is to remove the headliner pad and that entails disassembling the entire interior, seats and all.

Does the headliner fabric show any water stain?

 

No water stains on the headliner. Let me check whether the whole pan is moving - didn't think to look at that. Thanks!