I occasionally develop a leak in my sunroof during heavy rains. Checked the drains, they are ok. When I looked at the sunroof today, I saw two things:

First, when the sunroof is closed, I can shine a flashlight on the outside/top of the sunroof rear section and see in! There is a tiny bit of room between the rubber and where it is suppposed to seal.

 

Second, when I'm inside and the sunroof is closed, there seems to be quite a bit of play, just up, when I push it up with my hand it travels up maybe an 1/8", then comes back down to normal. This happens in the same spot, rear portion of the sunroof. Other than that, it seems to work fine.

 

Is this normal and can I repair myself?

I occasionally develop a leak in my sunroof during heavy rains. Checked the drains, they are ok. When I looked at the sunroof today, I saw two things:

First, when the sunroof is closed, I can shine a flashlight on the outside/top of the sunroof rear section and see in! There is a tiny bit of room between the rubber and where it is suppposed to seal.

 

Second, when I'm inside and the sunroof is closed, there seems to be quite a bit of play, just up, when I push it up with my hand it travels up maybe an 1/8", then comes back down to normal. This happens in the same spot, rear portion of the sunroof. Other than that, it seems to work fine.

 

Is this normal and can I repair myself?

 

 

I have the same issue with my 95. Play in the glass. When closed you can push it up approx 1/4 " from the inside. It operates fine, but I thought it should be fitting tighter when closed??

 

Todd

Here is an idea on what is occurring.

Subaru knew some water could migrate in past the glass

thus the side channels and the drains.

 

The inside of each channel is formed by the gasketing

under the track that the sunroof moves on.

This elastomeric gasket hardens over the years, cracks and falls out.

Now there is no inner side to the channel and the water weeps in.

 

The looseness you feel is the gap caused by the missing gasket material under the rail.

 

This has been covered and a fix shown on Legacy Central.

It involves removing the headliner, glass and track and re gaskeing.

 

Hope this helps

Here is an idea on what is occurring.

Subaru knew some water could migrate in past the glass

thus the side channels and the drains.

 

The inside of each channel is formed by the gasketing

under the track that the sunroof moves on.

This elastomeric gasket hardens over the years, cracks and falls out.

Now there is no inner side to the channel and the water weeps in.

 

The looseness you feel is the gap caused by the missing gasket material under the rail.

 

This has been covered and a fix shown on Legacy Central.

It involves removing the headliner, glass and track and re gaskeing.

 

Hope this helps

Another quick fix you can do is this.

 

Remove the plastic black channels on the right and left sides of the sunroof. You will see two black circles that hold the trim pieces in place.

These pull out but usually they break when they are removed.

Once you do this you will see the sunroof glass is held in place by 4 bolts on each side. You can then check the bolts to see if they are loose, if so this will tighten them up. If not to make your sunroof site higher you can loosen the bolts and add spacers to make the sunroof sit higher.

 

I am on the road now but will take a few pictures so you can see what I am talking about.

Another quick fix you can do is this.

 

Remove the plastic black channels on the right and left sides of the sunroof. You will see two black circles that hold the trim pieces in place.

These pull out but usually they break when they are removed.

Once you do this you will see the sunroof glass is held in place by 4 bolts on each side. You can then check the bolts to see if they are loose, if so this will tighten them up. If not to make your sunroof site higher you can loosen the bolts and add spacers to make the sunroof sit higher.

 

I am on the road now but will take a few pictures so you can see what I am talking about.

 

All interesting! I will look closer. I know I'm not in the mood to tear it out...yet. It doesn't leak and operates fine. But knowing me..I have to have things right!

 

 

Todd

Well, my track is tight and there are no leaks.

 

What seems to be the problem is looseness in the little arms that tip the glass up at the back. When I push up from the inside, the arms move, as if to they were worn.....this allows the glass to go up at the rear by 1/4". They appear like they should hold the glass down tighter when the roof is completly closed. Do these " arms" wear?

 

Todd

Bump please

Bump please

Mine move up a bit also, but is opens, closes fine.

And there is no leaks so if it isn't broke don't.....

Today, I noticed that when I'm driving down the highway, 50-70 mph, a vacuum pulls the sunroof up about 1/4 " at the back when in the closed position.

 

I know, I know..... don't fix what isn't broken, but I'm a perfectionist I guess. I have no leaks. When going down a bumpy road though, the roof bounces up and down some due to this loosness.

 

This loosness seems to be in the little gear that pops up the roof at the back. It's not the seal, or the pan caulk. It's mechanical.

 

Who on here is the sunroof specialist?

 

1995 Legacy.

 

Todd