Clean your Sunroof Drain Hose

[hopsage]

I want to add my thanks to the long list here. I just bought a 2000 OB Limited, and began taking water in the map light and the interior of the car on the first hard rain (two days after driving it of the lot, of course). Knowing nothing about sunroofs, I was all set to have the windshield replaced when I found this thread.

In my case, it was the front sunroof drains that were clogged. There is a TSB out there about faulty sealant above the sunroof drains leading to a leak into the map light, but in my case, it was definitely the drains: a water test had water running out the front of the front sunroof, and with the headliner taken down, I could actually watch water come in around the clogged drain openings.

Anyway, the front drains are completely invisible from the outside,even the tracks themselves. You need to take down the headliner at the front of the car. Happily, this is pretty easy, requiring only the removal of the sun visors and the grips above all four doors. Even the A pillar covers can stay in place. From there, the drain tubes are pretty easy to reach, and it's quite obvious to identify them. A neighbor's air compressor at 50 psi was all I need to get everything cleaned out.

One note, since I haven't seen it elsewhere: the front sunroof drains appear to exit behind the front wheels, with the exits under the plastic wheel wells. The mud flaps were a grade A pain in the neck to remove, and this turned out to be pointless, as the drains are still inaccessible. I'm happy to be corrected about this, but it looked like I'd have to actually remove the front wheels to really get at the drain exits.

[MaryMonster]

hopsage,

If you turn the wheels to either side and remove the fender liner, the drain actually exits above the mudguard. I believe the rear drains exit behind the rear wheels. Those I haven't had to access......yet.

Edit: Knew I saw them somewhere. Check out post #50 in this thread (thanks to Plain OM)

[OutbackAndBeyondUK]

I had the same clogged drain on my 2001 H6 though I did come across something else.
When I pulled down the headlining to check out the drain channel and hose I noticed the hose travels from the plastic funnel on the drain channel towards the rear of the car via a retaining clip on the roof then towards the rear pillar.
This retaining clip sits approx 1/4 inch higher than the rear of the drain channel meaning water would have to travel up the hose once its left the drain channel !!
This section of hose would always retain water and (in theory) run back into the drain channel. If parked on a hill/incline the already full drain channel would overflow into the mechanism channel which runs parallel to the drain channel due to the 'backflow' from the elevated hose and drip inside the car. I have unclipped the hose from the roof so it always travels in a downwards direction without retaining any water and 'so far, so good' .

[cthigpen]

I've had the same issue with my 06 Outback. I've taken it to the dealership three times now...their attitude really sets me off. They expect owners to take this defect for granted and are happy to take our business every year during the rain season (ahem, Marin Mazda Subaru). I don't understand why Subaru doesn't take ownership of this and issue a recall. I'd like to petition them and strongly suggest they do this. Anyone else with me?

[nrp]

Need some help. Got both tubes cleaned, the black wheel well drains are clear. Water drains through them but it also pours over the rail guides and out of the funnel, almost like it cant handle the water or its not water tight. Any ideas? Got half my interior torn apart.

[plain OM]

nrp:

There's also two drain tubes at the front of the sunroof assembly. Are they working?

If the water pours "out the funnel" do you mean it doesn't flow through the little exit funnel device at the lower end of the hose? If so, the funnel itself could be blocked. There's a small flap on the outside (on my 07) that could be sticking closed.

Also, how are you testing the water flow? Have to be realistic; when the sunroof is closed, there normally is a small amount of leakage around the seals -- that's why there's drains -- but pouring a lot of water into the rails will still overload what is otherwise a properly operating system.

What year?

[nrp]

The front drains seem to be functioning well. I have an 2000. The outer rails drain easily....to a certain extent, I do understand they only have a certain capacity.

Are the inner rails supposed to drain into the tubes? They do not on mine. If they do then there must be a channel down the rail thats drained.

I'm not sure if my sunroof gasket is bad or if its designed to have a slight gap. Just looking at its design, it seems like it lets a decent amount of water drain into the gap.

[plain OM]

Not sure about the distinction between the inner and outer rails. On my 07, which has a different sunroof, water that gets by the window gasket will drop into the outer rail and flow out the drains. There's a sort of inner rail, but it's inboard of the window/roof joint and water would not normally drop down into it. The window gasket doesn't fit tight against the body opening -- I can push a business card down through it.

[garra]

Still haven't got mine cleaned yet. Looks like I am blocked on the forward one on the drivers side, wet floor, wet headliner and seat belt. Couldn't get into wheel well yet on left front. Got these diagrams of the sunroofs, thought I would share.

[StuInOz]

Just want to say Thanks to Neoday for your Feb 2007 posting with photos. I had a leak and found the drain pipe and cleaned it out. Now it all appears to work fine. Much appreciated. Stu.