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Sunroof Leak. My Dealer Visit.

29K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  SupDave 
#1 ·
Took my car in to the dealer this week, because I'm getting leaks across the entire back side of the sunroof whenever it rains. Doesn't matter how light or hard it rains, my sun roof leaks. So I sit down with the service writer and start explaining what's going on. "The sunroof is leaking. No water is getting into the cabin right now, but if any of those drains clog, I'm in trouble." This was his first mistake..."So let me get this right. It's leaking, but there's no water getting in the car. How do you know it's leaking then?" So I showed him a picture I took. (thanks to the advice I saw in another thread on here somewhere) This guy then starts telling me that the sunroof is SUPPOSED TO LEAK and that's why the drains are there. I told him no and that's not how it works and he kept going on an on that nothing was wrong with the car, even after looking at the picture. After a couple of minutes of going back and forth he says "well I know there's nothing wrong with it, but we'll check it out for you anyway." Like he's doing me some big favor. I had a loaner set up, so he tells me he'll call when he finds anything out and I leave in a rather irritated mood. I dropped the car off at 7:30 and by 4 still hadn't gotten a call. So I call him and he tells me the car is "in a water bath and they're trying to make it leak, which is the hard part." I told him it leaks at pretty much anything more than a mist, so it shouldn't be that hard. 'Enjoy the rental until tomorrow and we'll talk then" he says..."enjoy" the complete base model Sonata as opposed to mine. Don't mean to sound snotty, but there's a bit of a difference...haha Anyway, next day comes...4pm again I call him and very sheepishly he tells me, "The tech had to order a whole new panel assembly for the sunroof. The leak wasn't normal." So that won't be in until next week sometime. But the dealership did give me a gift card to say "sorry about the issue you're having with your car." I don't know how much it's for yet, because I haven't activated it yet, but the letter with the card was from the loose steering bolts recall. Which that's all fine and good, but I'm still going to have a talk with the service manager because there's NO reason the writer should be telling customers that the sunroof is designed to leak or saying there's nothing wrong with their car before it even gets into the shop. I'm sure he wouldn't tell someone that came in with a top line Genesis or Equus that Hyundai makes sure that their sunroofs leak. End of story, I got my car back and have to make another appointment when the assembly comes to have it replaced. Sorry for the rant, I was just pretty peeved about that.
Here's the pic of the leak on the backside of the sunroof...and that was after a light rain recently.
 
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#4 ·
Did they fix your sunroof? Mine is leaking and they've put two different roofs in it and guess what? It still leaks! First they told me it was a "clogged drain pan". I handed them my key fob back and told them that doesn't explain the water coming from the top! Then they switched the roof out after doing a water test and it still leaked. I had a loaner for four days and I'll be going back with the same problem.
 
#5 ·
No, roof panel still on order. I also think that the replacement panel will not fix the problem unless it's a redesigned unit. I think that they would have to increase the size of the panel in order to increase the pressure between the seal and roof's edge ( I guess it was design this way to prevent binding during operation). The foam-like seal material probably also contributes to the lower friction between the two surfaces. I was also told that it's suppose to leak (the reason for the drip pans), I followed that comment with my usual dumb-XXX stare and refusal to accept such a ridiculous answer.
 
#9 ·
I have had this exact issue from day one since I bought mine last April. A couple of details popped up. It seems that since the weather has gotten colder, starting around early November or so, it hasn't leaked much at all. A couple minor drops here and there. I'm theorizing that when it gets warmer again, it will drip exactly as the picture you are showing. Mine leaks just as badly. Every car wash I go through, I need to stuff or hold a towel and continuously wipe around the back and back corners of the sunroof, the water just leaks that fast. When it rains lite or heavy, it leaks and I need to soak up the water sitting in the drip tray before driving, or it will slosh around and drip everywhere before making it down the drain tubes.

Had the car in the shop today for a few things and also mentioned this problem. They tell me that some water will seep and make it to the drip tray.

Here's the kicker - I'm told that by design, we are not supposed to run this sunroof through a high pressure car wash becasue it WILL leak, and they recommend the maximum water pressure to be used on or around this sunroof is 25psi and that only hand washing should be applied around the sunroof area.

I still can't figure if this is a legit recommendation by Hyundai, or the sunroof manufacturer that Hyundai uses, or a general recommendation for all sunroofs. My service rep mentions that this also applies to some Honda's an Toyota's with similar sunroof design.

My last thought is, it gets friggin cold here in the northeast!! Without a car wash, I guess I need to take a bucket of warm water outside in freezing temps, to wash the roof of my car??!! Also, 25psi......that pretty much means no garden hose either!!

I think it's a combination of the soft foam gasket rather than a typical rubber gasket being used for one, and ther may be some slight imperfections in the metal of the roof not making a smooth contact with the gasket. I'm thinking you can change/replace the sunroof or gasket as many times as you want, but it will still leak if the inner metal ridge of the roof isn't pushed out enough to create a tighter seal with the gasket. Could be as small enough as an extra 1/32" or slightly less.
 
#14 ·
Holy ****.....that's utter crap.

I'll have to watch mine closer.
Twenty five psi? Driving on the highway in rain there will be more pressure than that.
Curious thought, I'd almost be willing to wager that most owners sunroofs here do leak. Probably just never took notice. Just some obviously more of a problem than others.

I'm guessing because of the foam gasket, this is where they are telling me no more than 25psi. I dunno......
 
#11 ·
Took mine through a touchless car wash a few days back; I don't like to, but what can you do in the winter?

Some water did get past the seal as evidenced by the drain pan, but it wasn't noticeable in the cabin and was no worse than when I rinse the roof after a regular hand wash. It's reasonable to expect some water, even in a heavy rain, to get through but it shouldn't be noticeable unless actively looking for it.
 
#12 ·
Took mine through a touchless car wash a few days back; I don't like to, but what can you do in the winter?

Some water did get past the seal as evidenced by the drain pan, but it wasn't noticeable in the cabin and was no worse than when I rinse the roof after a regular hand wash. It's reasonable to expect some water, even in a heavy rain, to get through but it shouldn't be noticeable unless actively looking for it.
The only way I became aware of mine leaking as bad as it does was I had the car through a touchless car wash as well, it was a sunny day and I had closed the sunroof, but not the shade. First pass by the sprayers I felt a couple spits of water on my face!! I looked up, checked the sunroof was closed - it was closed securely - and the next pass of the sprayers gave me another face full of water drops!

I have noticed even in light rain, if the water pools or beads, and sits there on the gasket, it seeps its way through the gasket and eventually drips into the tray.

I've tried various adjustements in how the sunroof closed & what position the sunroof stops, no dice. I seriously think it's the flimsy foam gasket. Not sure why Hyundai went away from the hollow soft-rubber type gaskets they have used for so many years. I had those in all 3 of my previous Hyundai's without so much as a speck of condensation through all car washes and weather.
 
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