Sunroof seal issue
03-10-2021, 07:40 PM
#1
Sunroof seal issue
Hi all, I didn’t see any threads already around sunroof sealing and leak fixes, outside of dealer complaints, so here we go.
I’ve had my RDX for almost a month now, love it so far but I have experienced a leak at the sunroof. It was after a torrential downpour and the next morning I noticed the headliner around the map lights wet. Dealer examined it and checked that the overflow channels are draining.. no real root cause found. The dealer tech was at least thorough looking over the issue with me. That said, it still doesn’t sit right with me for a 50k car to have a ‘controlled leak’ at the sunroof.
Me being an engineer, I’m looking to solve this problem and not have to worry when it rains hard. Looking over the system and watching it operate, it seems pretty apparent to me that the sunroof simply doesn’t close into the front weatherstrip with enough pressure to be water tight. I can clearly see that the weatherstrip doesn’t compress at all when the sunroof closes, and it’s pretty apparent that it lets water in here. My previous $35k Maxima produced a much tighter seal at the sunroof..
I think perhaps the sunroof close position could be adjusted, though I imagine that’s a big job removing the headliner and all.. but that may pull the glass away from the rear seal. In reality I think the weatherstripping is just not aggressive enough. So I’m wondering if I can take some very thin silicone strips and wrap the front (maybe sides too) of the glass to get a better seal with the weatherstripping. Something like:
Another option might be to try and bolster the backside of the existing weatherstripping so it pushes against the glass more? Not sure of how to do that yet, though. Anyone tried something like this? Thoughts?
I’ve had my RDX for almost a month now, love it so far but I have experienced a leak at the sunroof. It was after a torrential downpour and the next morning I noticed the headliner around the map lights wet. Dealer examined it and checked that the overflow channels are draining.. no real root cause found. The dealer tech was at least thorough looking over the issue with me. That said, it still doesn’t sit right with me for a 50k car to have a ‘controlled leak’ at the sunroof.
Me being an engineer, I’m looking to solve this problem and not have to worry when it rains hard. Looking over the system and watching it operate, it seems pretty apparent to me that the sunroof simply doesn’t close into the front weatherstrip with enough pressure to be water tight. I can clearly see that the weatherstrip doesn’t compress at all when the sunroof closes, and it’s pretty apparent that it lets water in here. My previous $35k Maxima produced a much tighter seal at the sunroof..
I think perhaps the sunroof close position could be adjusted, though I imagine that’s a big job removing the headliner and all.. but that may pull the glass away from the rear seal. In reality I think the weatherstripping is just not aggressive enough. So I’m wondering if I can take some very thin silicone strips and wrap the front (maybe sides too) of the glass to get a better seal with the weatherstripping. Something like:
Another option might be to try and bolster the backside of the existing weatherstripping so it pushes against the glass more? Not sure of how to do that yet, though. Anyone tried something like this? Thoughts?
03-13-2021, 01:58 PM
#3
I didn’t realize a handful of screws could reposition they sunroof in that way. Mine sits pretty flush I would say.. if anything perhaps slightly low in the opening. I wonder if a little adjustment there would solve my leak.
Have you noticed any water getting past the seal on yours?
03-13-2021, 06:25 PM
#4
Instructor
Thanks for the link. Nice videos.
I didn’t realize a handful of screws could reposition they sunroof in that way. Mine sits pretty flush I would say.. if anything perhaps slightly low in the opening. I wonder if a little adjustment there would solve my leak.
Have you noticed any water getting past the seal on yours?
I didn’t realize a handful of screws could reposition they sunroof in that way. Mine sits pretty flush I would say.. if anything perhaps slightly low in the opening. I wonder if a little adjustment there would solve my leak.
Have you noticed any water getting past the seal on yours?
I had no water leaks, but had wind noise and rattle. I loosened the 6 nuts and used a feeler gauge to make sure the glass was even all the way around and level with the roof. No more issues. I did the same thing on my 2012 Ram pickup.
Glad I could help.
05-21-2021, 10:04 AM
#5
Hi all, I didn’t see any threads already around sunroof sealing and leak fixes, outside of dealer complaints, so here we go.
I’ve had my RDX for almost a month now, love it so far but I have experienced a leak at the sunroof. It was after a torrential downpour and the next morning I noticed the headliner around the map lights wet. Dealer examined it and checked that the overflow channels are draining.. no real root cause found. The dealer tech was at least thorough looking over the issue with me. That said, it still doesn’t sit right with me for a 50k car to have a ‘controlled leak’ at the sunroof.
Me being an engineer, I’m looking to solve this problem and not have to worry when it rains hard. Looking over the system and watching it operate, it seems pretty apparent to me that the sunroof simply doesn’t close into the front weatherstrip with enough pressure to be water tight. I can clearly see that the weatherstrip doesn’t compress at all when the sunroof closes, and it’s pretty apparent that it lets water in here. My previous $35k Maxima produced a much tighter seal at the sunroof..
I think perhaps the sunroof close position could be adjusted, though I imagine that’s a big job removing the headliner and all.. but that may pull the glass away from the rear seal. In reality I think the weatherstripping is just not aggressive enough. So I’m wondering if I can take some very thin silicone strips and wrap the front (maybe sides too) of the glass to get a better seal with the weatherstripping. Something like: https://www.amazon.com/Neoprene-Rubb...686&psc=1&th=1
Another option might be to try and bolster the backside of the existing weatherstripping so it pushes against the glass more? Not sure of how to do that yet, though. Anyone tried something like this? Thoughts?
I’ve had my RDX for almost a month now, love it so far but I have experienced a leak at the sunroof. It was after a torrential downpour and the next morning I noticed the headliner around the map lights wet. Dealer examined it and checked that the overflow channels are draining.. no real root cause found. The dealer tech was at least thorough looking over the issue with me. That said, it still doesn’t sit right with me for a 50k car to have a ‘controlled leak’ at the sunroof.
Me being an engineer, I’m looking to solve this problem and not have to worry when it rains hard. Looking over the system and watching it operate, it seems pretty apparent to me that the sunroof simply doesn’t close into the front weatherstrip with enough pressure to be water tight. I can clearly see that the weatherstrip doesn’t compress at all when the sunroof closes, and it’s pretty apparent that it lets water in here. My previous $35k Maxima produced a much tighter seal at the sunroof..
I think perhaps the sunroof close position could be adjusted, though I imagine that’s a big job removing the headliner and all.. but that may pull the glass away from the rear seal. In reality I think the weatherstripping is just not aggressive enough. So I’m wondering if I can take some very thin silicone strips and wrap the front (maybe sides too) of the glass to get a better seal with the weatherstripping. Something like: https://www.amazon.com/Neoprene-Rubb...686&psc=1&th=1
Another option might be to try and bolster the backside of the existing weatherstripping so it pushes against the glass more? Not sure of how to do that yet, though. Anyone tried something like this? Thoughts?
05-22-2021, 06:39 AM
#7
why is the dealer not fixing this? Saying that they see no problem is not a solution. The car is under warranty so they should fix it not you.
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Ih8honda (05-22-2021)
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05-23-2021, 05:43 PM
#8
No sunroof is 100% water tight, which is why there are channels and drains to divert the water. There's something wrong with the layout if water is draining into the headliner rather than out of the drains.
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