TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:44 am

Hello all,

First time poster here. I'm having an issue with our sunroof. I’ve attached some pictures. Forums talk about drainage tubes being involved but I can’t seem to find them. It appears to me that the area where it is supposed go drain has been sealed off by a previous owner. Not sure if anyone can offer any additional insight as to whether that's a factory install or not?

Jesse

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Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:49 am

This is an aftermarket sunroof with no drainage. The area that is "sealed" is just a gap.

Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:29 pm

Rory is correct, and the drain tubes are only on tintop models, not on Westfalias. If you poke around the forums you can see photos of factory Westy sunroofs, considerably different than what's been installed on yours.

Short of a whole new pop-top, I think you're stuck with the 'two tubes of silicone' solution.

And welcome! :)

Tue Oct 17, 2023 4:54 pm

I used to run after market sunroofs like that years ago.

Where is it leaking?

Is it the glass to the rubber?

Or

Is it the aluminum frame to the roofs sheet metal?

Wherever it is leaking, DO NOT TRY FIXING IT WITH SILICONE!
Though, if the original sealant was silicone, using it again may be the only solution..... and also probably why it is leaking now!

Silicone isn't the miracle sealer that Dow Corning has convinced us it is.

There are way better and longer lasting solutions.

But first use a hose and find the exact point of water ingress, depending where it is ther are different fixes.

Let us know.......

Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:13 am

djkeev wrote: I used to run after market sunroofs like that years ago.

Where is it leaking?

Is it the glass to the rubber?

Or

Is it the aluminum frame to the roofs sheet metal?

Wherever it is leaking, DO NOT TRY FIXING IT WITH SILICONE!
Though, if the original sealant was silicone, using it again may be the only solution..... and also probably why it is leaking now!

Silicone isn't the miracle sealer that Dow Corning has convinced us it is.

There are way better and longer lasting solutions.

But first use a hose and find the exact point of water ingress, depending where it is ther are different fixes.

Let us know.......

I believe it's leaking through the rubber, seems like it never had proper seal drains to begin with. I think I may be in a spot where the best approach is to remove, clean, re-seal, and reinstall. What do you think? Is there a specific sealant you like best in that case?

Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:43 am

This is what the stock factory sunroof looks like on the vanagon tin top. No such sunroof was ever installed on a Westy. The drain tubes you keep reading about were within the body structure to drain this type of sunroof.

Your sunroof is something a previous owner installed into the Westy top. There would not be drain tubes on this type of installation.

Your best bet is to remove it and all the old sealant and reinstall with new sealant. Good luck!