Anyone permanently seal Moonroof???

gtwagon941 · 12-02-2006, 03:28 PM

Mine is leaking and it isn't a drain issue, it is an issue of the seal on the back edge of the glass not sealing against the car. You can see daylight through it. It has been like this forever, but before I could jockey with the switch and get it to seal. Well, it just won't seal anymore and I'm sick of it. And from my understanding there is no way to fix this short of a new piece of glass. Not spending that much money on it.

I basically never use it, so I'm considering sealing it closed and disconnecting the switch.

Anyone ever do this?

Jared

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KD7000 · 12-02-2006, 04:06 PM

You really want to seal it up for good? Hmm...

A generic DIY would be to open it up, run a big bead of silicone sealant around the edges & contact surfaces, and then close it.

Any excess that pushes out can be wiped away before it dries.

gtwagon941 · 12-02-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD7000

You really want to seal it up for good? Hmm...

A generic DIY would be to open it up, run a big bead of silicone sealant around the edges & contact surfaces, and then close it.

Any excess that pushes out can be wiped away before it dries.

I can't think of any other way to fix the problem, short of dropping a lot of cash at it, and frankly this car is going to be on to a new home in about 20 months, I hope.

Do you have any other ideas? I really am not sold on my idea, but I don't have any others.

Jared

Speedwagon · 12-02-2006, 05:52 PM

You can't just get the rubber surround for the glass? Have you tried allsubaru or suburuparts or anything?

gt_drifter · 12-02-2006, 07:19 PM

one of my "fun" cars had a moonroof which wouldnt pass saftey tech, so i pulled the glass & motor and riveted/sealed on a thin sheet of aluminum, cut to fit, painted to match, to cover the hole. worked great. looked good.

windshield sealant works perfect.

the boys at grassroots motorsports did the same to a civic i think, they might have the article online.

MCarp22 · 12-03-2006, 01:29 AM

There's a drip tray that slides in place to keep water from leaking in along there. If you reach up into the gap that it retracts into, it's there. I'll take a picture of it in the morning when there's light.

Patrick Olsen · 12-03-2006, 10:05 AM

If you're going to be selling the car in 20 months, keep in mind that people generally aren't going to want to buy a car with a moonroof that's been ghetto sealed shut with windshield adhesive.

What about using a strip of adhesive foam rubber weatherstripping? Open the moonroof, put the weather strip either on the back edge of the glass or on the front edge of the opening in the roof, and then close the moonroof. That should work (I've used the stuff for years to seal up leaks in my Mustang's poorly designed convertible top), it would be easily reversible, and it would cost you all of $5 or less.

Pat

gtwagon941 · 12-03-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Olsen

If you're going to be selling the car in 20 months, keep in mind that people generally aren't going to want to buy a car with a moonroof that's been ghetto sealed shut with windshield adhesive.

What about using a strip of adhesive foam rubber weatherstripping? Open the moonroof, put the weather strip either on the back edge of the glass or on the front edge of the opening in the roof, and then close the moonroof. That should work (I've used the stuff for years to seal up leaks in my Mustang's poorly designed convertible top), it would be easily reversible, and it would cost you all of $5 or less.

Pat

yeah, that is why I guess I shouldn't have said permanently seal. Your idea sounds like a good one, I'm just having trouble visualizing what the stuff will look like. Kind of a long shot, but do you know where I could find a pick of what you're talking about?

thanks Pat.

Jared

gtwagon941 · 12-03-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCarp22

There's a drip tray that slides in place to keep water from leaking in along there. If you reach up into the gap that it retracts into, it's there. I'll take a picture of it in the morning when there's light.

A pic would be great.

Thanks

Jared

Dan Cech · 12-03-2006, 05:52 PM

I very much doubt that you'd have to replace the glass. Most likely you can bring the sunroof down enough to make it seal either by removing the factory shims or adjusting the bolts that attach the whole sunroof assembly to the roof.

Patrick Olsen · 12-03-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtwagon941

yeah, that is why I guess I shouldn't have said permanently seal. Your idea sounds like a good one, I'm just having trouble visualizing what the stuff will look like. Kind of a long shot, but do you know where I could find a pick of what you're talking about?

Not the best picture, but this stuff - http://www.frostking.com/windoorweather.php . If you go to Home Depot/Lowes or even the hardware section at Walmart you'll find the stuff in various widths and thicknesses. At the hardware stores it'll be in with the insulation stuff. It's normally used to seal around windows and doors in the house, but it works on the car, too.

Pat

phoenixr2 · 12-03-2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtwagon941

Anyone ever do this?

Jared

Yes, yes I have

gtwagon941 · 12-03-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixr2

Yes, yes I have

gee thanks for that post. Any tips/suggestions/etc?

Jared

98_soobie · 12-04-2006, 11:16 AM

I have a good glass i could sell you... CHEAP!! $40 + shipping.

Kraziken · 12-04-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98_soobie

I have a good glass i could sell you... CHEAP!! $40 + shipping.

If it really is the glass, take up this offer, or just find a spare in a junk yard.

MCarp22 · 12-05-2006, 09:56 PM

Sorry it took me so long to post this:

gtwagon941 · 12-05-2006, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraziken

If it really is the glass, take up this offer, or just find a spare in a junk yard.

Problem is that I'm in grad. school now and finding the time to do this is impossible. I know I could pay someone, but being unemployed doesn't make that very plausible. I think I'm going to try Pat's idea and see if some weather stripping will work. Might look ghetto as hell if you get up close and look at it, but frankly I don't care, I just don't want water coming in.

Thanks for the pic. But I think part of the problem is that I don't have the sunshade of what appears to be a drip tray in my car. It isn't there/hasn't been since I owned it. Not sure what happened...

Jared

MCarp22 · 12-06-2006, 01:00 AM

It wasn't there when i bought my car because it was about 3/4 of the way to the rear hatch up inside the headliner. Peek in there with a flashlight.

gtwagon941 · 12-06-2006, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCarp22

It wasn't there when i bought my car because it was about 3/4 of the way to the rear hatch up inside the headliner. Peek in there with a flashlight.

I'll have to check on that. Thanks!

Jared

98_soobie · 12-06-2006, 09:34 AM

Fyi- this weekend my old sunroof is being thrown away...so if you'd like that glass, let me know now. Also, installation and removal takes just over an hour... so its not that time consuming. I've had to do it five or so times...

12-02-2006, 03:28 PM	#1
gtwagon941 Scooby Specialist Member#: 16874 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland, OR Vehicle: 2008 Audi RS 4 01 Subaru LGT Sedan	Anyone permanently seal Moonroof??? Mine is leaking and it isn't a drain issue, it is an issue of the seal on the back edge of the glass not sealing against the car. You can see daylight through it. It has been like this forever, but before I could jockey with the switch and get it to seal. Well, it just won't seal anymore and I'm sick of it. And from my understanding there is no way to fix this short of a new piece of glass. Not spending that much money on it. I basically never use it, so I'm considering sealing it closed and disconnecting the switch. Anyone ever do this? Jared * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

12-03-2006, 01:29 AM	#6
MCarp22 Scooby Newbie Member#: 102684 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Vehicle: 2013 Impreza Deep Cherry	There's a drip tray that slides in place to keep water from leaking in along there. If you reach up into the gap that it retracts into, it's there. I'll take a picture of it in the morning when there's light. Last edited by MCarp22; 12-03-2006 at 01:41 AM.

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12-02-2006, 04:06 PM	#2
KD7000 Scooby Specialist Member#: 16653 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Central MA Vehicle: 2012 Mazda 3 2004 Honda Pilot	You really want to seal it up for good? Hmm... A generic DIY would be to open it up, run a big bead of silicone sealant around the edges & contact surfaces, and then close it. Any excess that pushes out can be wiped away before it dries.

12-02-2006, 05:52 PM	#4
Speedwagon Scooby Specialist Member#: 19681 Join Date: Jun 2002 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Denver, CO Vehicle: 1998 Legacy Wagon GT Green	You can't just get the rubber surround for the glass? Have you tried allsubaru or suburuparts or anything?

12-02-2006, 07:19 PM	#5
gt_drifter Scooby Newbie Member#: 61907 Join Date: May 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: maine Vehicle: 1998 2.5 GT spruce pearl	one of my "fun" cars had a moonroof which wouldnt pass saftey tech, so i pulled the glass & motor and riveted/sealed on a thin sheet of aluminum, cut to fit, painted to match, to cover the hole. worked great. looked good. windshield sealant works perfect. the boys at grassroots motorsports did the same to a civic i think, they might have the article online.

12-03-2006, 10:05 AM	#7
Patrick Olsen NASIOC Supporter Member#: 120 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Where the Navy sends me... Vehicle: 1997 Legacy 2.5GT QuickSilver Metallic	If you're going to be selling the car in 20 months, keep in mind that people generally aren't going to want to buy a car with a moonroof that's been ghetto sealed shut with windshield adhesive. What about using a strip of adhesive foam rubber weatherstripping? Open the moonroof, put the weather strip either on the back edge of the glass or on the front edge of the opening in the roof, and then close the moonroof. That should work (I've used the stuff for years to seal up leaks in my Mustang's poorly designed convertible top), it would be easily reversible, and it would cost you all of $5 or less. Pat

12-03-2006, 05:52 PM	#10
Dan Cech Scooby Newbie Member#: 67154 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Central NY Vehicle: 1997 Legacy GT/WRX White	I very much doubt that you'd have to replace the glass. Most likely you can bring the sunroof down enough to make it seal either by removing the factory shims or adjusting the bolts that attach the whole sunroof assembly to the roof.

12-04-2006, 11:16 AM	#14
98_soobie Scooby Specialist Member#: 17071 Join Date: Apr 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Maryland	I have a good glass i could sell you... CHEAP!! $40 + shipping.

12-05-2006, 09:56 PM	#16
MCarp22 Scooby Newbie Member#: 102684 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Vehicle: 2013 Impreza Deep Cherry	Sorry it took me so long to post this:

12-06-2006, 01:00 AM	#18
MCarp22 Scooby Newbie Member#: 102684 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Vehicle: 2013 Impreza Deep Cherry	It wasn't there when i bought my car because it was about 3/4 of the way to the rear hatch up inside the headliner. Peek in there with a flashlight.

12-06-2006, 09:34 AM	#20
98_soobie Scooby Specialist Member#: 17071 Join Date: Apr 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Maryland	Fyi- this weekend my old sunroof is being thrown away...so if you'd like that glass, let me know now. Also, installation and removal takes just over an hour... so its not that time consuming. I've had to do it five or so times...