Did this today for my Volvo S40 and it worked like a charm! For others: I went to Home Depot and bought 9 ft of 3/32 coated wire rope for just about $3. In retrospect I would’ve gotten less wire (2 feet would’ve been plenty) and maybe even something thinner like 1/16. When I looped mine through, it didn’t go all the way to the output of the drain, rather I just shimmied it in until it wouldn’t go further (maybe half a foot or so.) I was worried that I couldn’t fit the whole wire through, but once I did the water test the blockage was fixed and the water drained properly immediately. Thanks for the thorough video! Was easy enough for me (early 20s female w/ little knowledge of cars to perform.) Given my very limited knowledge, going to get my car repaired can be quite daunting as I think my demographic makes me especially prone to getting ripped off. Thanks for saving me likely a few hundred dollars!
Awesome to hear you were able to fix it and thank you for the feedback! If you have an S40 between the years 2004-2012, they have an issue with the sunroof drains too. I had a C30 and it's a common issue long that platform, the tube would disconnect behind the pillar, letting the water drain into the car. The can eventually cause electronic issues. I have videos covering this topic for the C30, but it's the same process for the S40 of the same generation. It was a shared platform, they're known as the P1 cars. I have plenty more repair videos too, I keep everything fairly easy to follow.
Sir. To you I pay my utmost respect. I followed your method but used 2.5mm whipper snip cord and found my channels were ok. So, I decided to investigate further.... And found that the outlets for drain channels were situated just about my sideskirts behind wheel arch cover. And from the bottom of my skirts all the way up to channels outlets was buildup of mud and leaves and sticks. Thanks to you, not only did I find the cause of my leak. But you also helped me discover an issue that may have cost me much more in rust repair. Videos like yours are what makes RUclips great. Again kind Sir, thankyou.
Thank you for the feedback and I'm glad this video was helpful! With the fender liner back, I would also recommend applying a rust inhibiting oil or wax spray as further protection. That's typically what I do when panels are pulled back.
I used this video to unclog my sunroof drain on my 2015 Toyota RAV4. I actually used my vaccum to clean out the drains instead of blowing them. I ended up taping a straw to the end of the vaccum extension and suck out any dirt and particles. Thanks for the great video!
Good advice. I am a water leak/wind noise/sunroof repair specialist and have done hundreds of these. I use trimmer cord, or a small tube and my own lung power to blow it out. I would recommend not using compressed air at all...you CAN get away with it sometimes, but it doesn't take much to blow a tube loose behind the dash, and then many of those are darn near un-accessible. So I prefer not to make more work for myself.
This video is what helped me fix the headliner leak for my mazda CX5. I cleaned the sun roof gutter first, then used a #14AWG THHN wire, then a #12AWG THHN shoved in the drain multiple times. I poured in 1 liter of water afterwards, no leak whatsoever. Thank you
Excellent video! The drain was clogged in my Toyota Avalon, and I vacuumed out several gallons of water from my floorboards (after heavy rains). I worked several feet of weed eater line through the drain and now it’s running great. Thanks for sharing your video!!!
I love DIY’s. I have wet carpet in rear floor and can only imagine how expensive something like this would be to have professionally done. It took us losing everything to become crafty and do things on our own but actually I am thankful for that! Great video, greatly appreciated!!!
Happy to help and thank you for the feedback! I've heard shops dropping the sunroof assembly to source out a leak instead of just unplugging the drains.
Thank you very much! My 'new' avalanche leaked each time it rained. Was convinced it was leaking around the windshield. I got tired of the soaked headliner, and had to put a stop to it after the drips leaked into the steering column and caused the horn to short out. Thank you, again, for your clear instruction and explanation!
Thank you for your clear and concise video and explanation. It was raining when I went to pick up a 2000 Ford Expedition with a sunroof I was purchasing only to find water leaking from the pillar handles, quite a bit on the driver's side. The seller claimed it hadn't done that before, which is possible but not probable considering how much water was coming in. I decided it wasn't a deal breaker and probably a simple fix. I am glad to know that may be the case after all! I will find out tomorrow! Thank you again!
It turned out the tubes were not clogged, they drained fine. Water was going beyond the frame then down the pillar. I decided to seal around the top of the sun/moon roof with clear sealant since I had no intentions of opening it and I had no intentions of removing my headliner!
I'm not much of a car DIYer but this video was so well explained and demonstrated that I feel confident in treating this problem now. Also, if I wanted to seal the sunroof completely, what would be the best method?
Seriously, thank you for this video. I was having a hard time understanding where the front drain holes are. I took one look after this and pulled out a stick that was stuck in the hole. Problem is now solved
Very good advice, and video. I have an 01 Olds Aurora, that I love and it seems to be leaking from the sunroof where it closes to meet the frame, or it's leaks from exterior outside, at top corner of passenger window? Not sure where water is getting in ? but I see the cloth on the slider underneath the sunroof glass is starting to sag, and also getting water on the passenger floor, after heavy rain. What would you do ? test by pouring water on different areas and look for leaks ? or maybe just seal off the whole sunroof on surface of roof ? I don't open the sunroof glass ever, only pull back the slider and use the sunroof as a window. I've also seen guys use weed wacker line, and attach it to a drill and put it down the sunroof drain holes, and it seems to work. I'd prefer not to seal my whole surface of my sunroof, even though I don't use it, as it will look not that good. What would be your suggestion ? I guess you'd say, follow my video :)
My weed eater string worked on one drain but the other one is jammed towards the top. I think I need to suck out the clog as using a compressor will mean the debris has to get pushed almost the entire length of the drain. Ugh. Garage said they cleaned the drains (yeah, right... Why is one clogged the next day when I check?) and found a bunch of rust, which I too saw. This is not going to be fun since we're drowning in rain in the Northeast.
Thank you! This was much more helpful that the last video I watched on the subject, which told me that I'd have to TAKE OFF MY FRIGGIN' DOOR to access the drain tube outlet!
Just a heads up. I have an 02 Mercury Mountaineer. The sunroof seems to have been added (unknown by whom) after it was built as the control panel was cut into the front dome light lens. Anyway after installing it and putting the headliner back up they pinched the vinyl tube between the metal roof and some aluminum honeycomb headliner stiffener nearly blocking it completely. So it's not always dirt or debris that's the problem......
Quick Question: How to access the rear drains - the front drains are clearly visible, but are the rear drains also accessible by sliding the roof all the way back, or does the sunroof panel need to be removed. Thanks
Man.....just what I needed I had the air compressor method In mind but the wire i will try actually can't wait to try! Thank you, you did a 10 out of 10 on this instruction
I'm seeing everyone recommend using cord so I'm going to try that first. It's not all the time but sometimes rain causes water to pool on the floor of the passenger side of my Saturn L300. We just had a lot of rain...thus a lot of water at the bottom. I hope cord can solve this as I really don't want massive water damage.
SO INFORMATIVE!! I am a chick and love DIYing. I just went out to my PT this morning after an all-night rain and found my front seat floor flooded with water! I plan to try the wire method and am wondering if clothesline would work. It seems thick and pliable, but strong, too. It seems as though it would not damage the drain hose, do you agree? Thanks so much!!
Thank you! Clothesline cable personally I think is too think and may cause damage. Diameters for these drains can vary. I would try to get something smaller instead.
How does water get in the drains if the sunroof stays closed? My sunroof appears to seal when it is closed, so I'm wondering how would water get to the drains.
Just did the drains on my Avalon. The driver's side A pillar was wet all the way down to the speaker. I used string trimmer line and a straw. I blew both air and mouth fulls of water through the straw into the drain holes.
You are awesome thank you. I was going to use a wire hanger than saw you using this and I snipped the head and butt off an old usb 10 foot cable and now drains like new. Stupid guy told me I have to take off the head liner side panels and everything what a dope.
No problem! Yes it can. Other areas to look for is a leak around the windshield, sometimes the drain can become plugged in the hvac system, may have a leaking door seal, hole in the floor, cab clearance lights, or some new trucks are now having recalls on the rear windows leaking too.
@@xutowlimvmilwotux Oh, well in that case a sunroof most likely wouldn't cause this. It's most likely a trunk seal, could be a hole in the floor, or the trunk isn't aligned properly.
I would not use compressed air, even turned down. There is too much chance of blowing off the drain hose either up in the headliner or behind the dash. If the one behind the dash blows off, that's usually pretty challenging to reconnect. Trimmer cord is the best, and sometimes I use a small tube and blow on it myself because lung power won't blow a line loose. If lung power doesn't free the debris, you need to use a trimmer cord. For reference, I am a water leak/wind noise/sunroof repair specialist and have fixed hundreds and hundreds of leaks like this.
Just a FYI I spoke with Ford today regarding my leaking sunroof which was draining into my courtesy lights and onto my infotainment system and made the car smell like mildew. They said this is normal. Made my decision between the model x tesla and the Mach e way easier Thanks Ford
Started not to watch this video as it was not focused on a specific car. I'm glad I watched this video as it is very simple and easy to understand. I will try the line method. At least I have a starting point. Thanks.
Do you happen to know where the exit point is for the drain on a 2011 Nissan Rogue? I live in Miami and with all the rain we get I have to do maintenance twice a month to get the sunroof to drain properly. I've looked all over the place but I've only seen videos on later year's model. Thanks for any help.
@@Ojb_1959 Certainly, that is why 4D said keep air pressure low...OTOH, guess what you can do if you are not careful, with various wires...yeah...unhook or damage the tubes.
I have a 2013 hyundai elantra. My rear (behind my seat) driver side floor is wet, and its causing massive humidity inside the car, especially now in fall/winter time. I have the panorama sun roof, virtually the entire roof is the sun roof. Any clue as to where my drains are on my model??? Today the frost inside the car was just as bad as the frost outside on the windshields and windows. Once I get the leaking figured out then I need to get absorbent gems to absorb all the moisture to prevent this entire winter to be like today. Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for helping. Went online looking for why the passenger side floor was soaked in my 2012 Mercedes. Your video was very informative. Passenger sides are wet after each heavy rain. A second hurricane has come in a 30-day period and now my floors are soaked again. I am a senior citizen (66) and on a budget. I need to know the approximate cost for mechanics to charge me to correct this drainage problem. I feel cheated often. Your input would likely help.
Hi My car hasn’t been working, engine light comes on but only sporadically. So after two garage visits, new battery, being towed etc I’ve been told water has been leaking (loads in footwell) and has been getting inside fuse box wet. Is this common. I’m going to try fix this myself - I have an old Nissan teranno 2 - ant tops please ??
we have tried to do cleaning your way and found the passenger side I believed opened up saw the water drain down and out of the car. Driver side not so much. blew it out, then pushed grass trimming plastic thru and still no luck. What else could it be.
I have a leak inside my trunk that goes into the wheel well only on one side. Where is the drain for the trunk? This is a new problem and my car is 20 years old and I love my VW Passat. Sure would appreciate help, googled, but no luck.
Are the drains still there in vehicles without sunroofs? We have water coming into the trunk of a 2016 Honda HRV, no idea where it's coming from. Car parked overnight will have water on the C Pillar and has killed the rear LED taillight
If your vehicle isn't equipped with a sunroof, there will be no drains. With your HRV, it could be a leaking roof rack, taillight, window seal, or tailgate gasket.
Thanks,, my leak just started on both sides when I go through the car wash. Will try everything you suggested. Everything is open now because I am changing the headliner. I adjusted the sunroof glass to level on the corners, and it still leaks, I will check the drainage and the gasket around the glass for wear. Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks for the video and any insight you may have. Agape'
Ugh this is happening to my Nissan Sentra I think. The water pulls on the floor mat on passenger side. I also saw water coming out of door speaker. Does it seem like it’s a clogged sunroof?
I watched these videos and tired but still couldn't get them unclogged. So i bought some liquid plumber poured some on and it didn't take two mins and they were open. Then i just made sure i used enough water to wash them clean. Was a very simple fix
I would never recommend using Liquid Plumber for such an application. Liquid Plumber can be used to strip paint and even remove rust to give you an idea how strong of a chemical it is.
as already said, liquid plumber is very caustic to metal - you would really be screwed if there was a leak in the drain tubing, and it wound up all inside the interior of the car and the metal around it. But, if it's an old car that might near it's end - guess if it works.....just be warned.
Hi, I've tried this with very thick weed eater line, and got one side unclogged, but when i try on the other side, I can get about a foot and a half in, and no further no matter how hard I push on the line. any tips?
update! I tried some different line that was thinner, and I got it through the blockage, and now it drains, albeit slowly. When I tried to go back through with the thicker weed eater line, it still wouldn't pass the blockage. Where should I go from here? Thanks!
I have a 2001 VW Passat the rear passenger carpet is wet on the left side. Would I need to unclog the same drain hole as in the video, or a different one?Thanks.
i have a question. my 96 toyota 4 runner is leaking bad threw the roof. how ever my sunroof dont open. and i cant find the drain location from under carrage. do you have any ideas i could try
i was thinking this looked like it should be easy for a shop to do but was concerned they would come up with a more expensive solution. I just paid one to reseal or reinstall my luggage rack or something they thought might be the problem when I was pretty sure the drainage lines were the problem. At least the nonfix only cost me 80 something bucks. I currently have a lake in my floorboard though because it has rained incessantly the past couple weeks. I might could get a compressor at work to try this during a lunch break or get a coworker to help with it after work as I don't think i could handle it on my own.
Mine gets blocked from the bottom not the top by the sunroof. When leaves debris and dirt collect under the car where the drains drain the water can't drain fast enough then it backs up the tube inside the car. You have to locate these slits under your car mine are under the front doors and under the back doors that wher the drains are. Wiggle a flexible wire or coat hanger in those slits and that clear them out so the drains will flow freely.
I have a F150 with water pool in the front passenger foot wells as well as soaked carpet. Do you think its a clogged sunroof drain? I'm gonna clean the drain lines tomorrow and see if that works.
It's very possible. Other issues can also be a leaking heater core or perhaps a leak from another locations such as a door seal, firewall seal, plugged hvac system drain, or even the windshield.
Check to see if the drain is plugged first. If that passes, you may need to adjust the sunroof or there might be an issue with the drain which would need to have the headliner dropped down to be inspected.
One more area to check is the blk triangular part that connects to the long blk bar that is near the drain ..i have an 2007 honda ex and i removed my headliner and poured water in the drain tubes...no issues there but i saw from inside the car theres a screw that holds that blk triangular part down in my case its slightly misaligned so i tried removing it and putting it back and put more adhesive sealant around the triangular parts base. So a leak could be caused by this , clogged drain , worn seals around the window...aq
Not always. Ideally it's best to find the exit points and go from there, but they're not always easily accessible. I've never had any issues and many people who have commented here used the same method with success.
It can, yes. If the blockage is too firm, blowing air will blow off the tube inside the car, then you really have problems. This is why I never use compressed air and don't recommend it, but I have fixed probably a hundred or so where someone said "My mechanic blew out the drains and said they flow fine"....but the reality was, they did flow fine: Right into the interior, because the air pressure blew them off. You CAN get away with it sometimes, though. If it's the only one you're ever going to do and it works for you, then it's a win. I do this every day though, so I see plenty of times where it doesn't work.
Hi there, I started getting a leak today. Found out one of the drains of my sunroof is clogged. I tried inserting a trimmer line but it can only go about 12 inches. The other hole is okay. I don't have a compressor. Can I use a compressed air duster?
It could be catching up around a corner so you may need to wriggle or rotate it while pushing it in the drain. Air duster can be used, although be careful with the angle as it'll spray out nitrogen. I would recommend wearing safety glass because the nitrogen can damage your eyes. A vacuum may work too.
My 2010 Ford Fusion sunroof i think is leaking bad. After this car wash my sun glasses holder was dripping water. I’ve already checked the drains and they were clear what is the problem lol
Could be windshield. But on that model, might well be the sunroof glass itself. It gets water behind the seal, into the window frame and then it comes out and drips into the greased part of the track, where it then goes down into the headliner and finds a low spot, which is often the overhead console. One other thing it could be is the plastic trough or "tray" at the rear of the sunroof opening. It's supposed to be there to catch any water that gets by the rear of the seal and direct it to the side troughs and then to the ground. They are plastic and sometimes break. When the break, they usually get pushed to the back of the headliner and stay there. Check to see if it's in place or not.
Great fix! What gauge rubber hose are you using in the video (for the blow gun)? Where can I buy the flexible rubber hose to attach to blue gun? Thanks!
Alfredo On RUclips My 2013 have the Lake on the back window and the corners of the roof after they replace the sunroof I'm wondering if that could have anything to do with replacement of the sunroof
Best idea would be starting with the sunroof drains first. If that passes, ensure it's adjusted correctly and then make sure the seals are in good condition.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Did this today for my Volvo S40 and it worked like a charm! For others: I went to Home Depot and bought 9 ft of 3/32 coated wire rope for just about $3. In retrospect I would’ve gotten less wire (2 feet would’ve been plenty) and maybe even something thinner like 1/16. When I looped mine through, it didn’t go all the way to the output of the drain, rather I just shimmied it in until it wouldn’t go further (maybe half a foot or so.) I was worried that I couldn’t fit the whole wire through, but once I did the water test the blockage was fixed and the water drained properly immediately.
Thanks for the thorough video! Was easy enough for me (early 20s female w/ little knowledge of cars to perform.) Given my very limited knowledge, going to get my car repaired can be quite daunting as I think my demographic makes me especially prone to getting ripped off. Thanks for saving me likely a few hundred dollars!
Awesome to hear you were able to fix it and thank you for the feedback! If you have an S40 between the years 2004-2012, they have an issue with the sunroof drains too. I had a C30 and it's a common issue long that platform, the tube would disconnect behind the pillar, letting the water drain into the car. The can eventually cause electronic issues. I have videos covering this topic for the C30, but it's the same process for the S40 of the same generation. It was a shared platform, they're known as the P1 cars. I have plenty more repair videos too, I keep everything fairly easy to follow.
Sir. To you I pay my utmost respect.
I followed your method but used 2.5mm whipper snip cord and found my channels were ok.
So, I decided to investigate further....
And found that the outlets for drain channels were situated just about my sideskirts behind wheel arch cover. And from the bottom of my skirts all the way up to channels outlets was buildup of mud and leaves and sticks.
Thanks to you, not only did I find the cause of my leak. But you also helped me discover an issue that may have cost me much more in rust repair.
Videos like yours are what makes RUclips great.
Again kind Sir, thankyou.
Thank you for the feedback and I'm glad this video was helpful! With the fender liner back, I would also recommend applying a rust inhibiting oil or wax spray as further protection. That's typically what I do when panels are pulled back.
Already ahead of you 😉
I used this video to unclog my sunroof drain on my 2015 Toyota RAV4. I actually used my vaccum to clean out the drains instead of blowing them. I ended up taping a straw to the end of the vaccum extension and suck out any dirt and particles. Thanks for the great video!
Thank you for the kind words and tips :)
Thoroughly explained everything needed to know without rambling on about things that are not important. Thank you sir.
Happy to help and thank you for the feedback!
Good advice. I am a water leak/wind noise/sunroof repair specialist and have done hundreds of these. I use trimmer cord, or a small tube and my own lung power to blow it out. I would recommend not using compressed air at all...you CAN get away with it sometimes, but it doesn't take much to blow a tube loose behind the dash, and then many of those are darn near un-accessible. So I prefer not to make more work for myself.
Hi sir where u based I have that leak in my sun roof
Can you help me? or maybe recommend someone in my area, I’m out of work and need this fixed ASAP on a budget
I’m in Dallas
This video is what helped me fix the headliner leak for my mazda CX5. I cleaned the sun roof gutter first, then used a #14AWG THHN wire, then a #12AWG THHN shoved in the drain multiple times. I poured in 1 liter of water afterwards, no leak whatsoever. Thank you
Happy to help and thank you for sharing your experiences!
Excellent video! The drain was clogged in my Toyota Avalon, and I vacuumed out several gallons of water from my floorboards (after heavy rains). I worked several feet of weed eater line through the drain and now it’s running great. Thanks for sharing your video!!!
No problem, happy to help :)
I love DIY’s. I have wet carpet in rear floor and can only imagine how expensive something like this would be to have professionally done. It took us losing everything to become crafty and do things on our own but actually I am thankful for that! Great video, greatly appreciated!!!
Happy to help and thank you for the feedback! I've heard shops dropping the sunroof assembly to source out a leak instead of just unplugging the drains.
I just wanted to say THANK YOU so much! You saved me almost a grand on my wife’s QX60 Infiniti.
Awesome to hear and happy to help :) I have plenty of more tutorial videos to help save money too!
a grand?!
It’s usually $100 at most places 👀. You must’ve taken it to infiniti at an extraordinary labor rate
Thank you very much! My 'new' avalanche leaked each time it rained. Was convinced it was leaking around the windshield. I got tired of the soaked headliner, and had to put a stop to it after the drips leaked into the steering column and caused the horn to short out. Thank you, again, for your clear instruction and explanation!
Happy to help and thank you for the feedback!
Thank You! I had no idea there were drains until they clogged up!
No problem!
Thank you for your clear and concise video and explanation. It was raining when I went to pick up a 2000 Ford Expedition with a sunroof I was purchasing only to find water leaking from the pillar handles, quite a bit on the driver's side. The seller claimed it hadn't done that before, which is possible but not probable considering how much water was coming in. I decided it wasn't a deal breaker and probably a simple fix. I am glad to know that may be the case after all! I will find out tomorrow! Thank you again!
No problem, happy to help!
Did this work to help you unclog it
It turned out the tubes were not clogged, they drained fine. Water was going beyond the frame then down the pillar. I decided to seal around the top of the sun/moon roof with clear sealant since I had no intentions of opening it and I had no intentions of removing my headliner!
I'm not much of a car DIYer but this video was so well explained and demonstrated that I feel confident in treating this problem now. Also, if I wanted to seal the sunroof completely, what would be the best method?
Seriously, thank you for this video. I was having a hard time understanding where the front drain holes are. I took one look after this and pulled out a stick that was stuck in the hole. Problem is now solved
No problem, happy to help :)
Very good advice, and video. I have an 01 Olds Aurora, that I love and it seems
to be leaking from the sunroof where it closes to meet the frame, or it's leaks
from exterior outside, at top corner of passenger window? Not sure where water
is getting in ? but I see the cloth on the slider underneath the sunroof glass is
starting to sag, and also getting water on the passenger floor, after heavy rain.
What would you do ? test by pouring water on different areas and look for leaks ?
or maybe just seal off the whole sunroof on surface of roof ? I don't open the
sunroof glass ever, only pull back the slider and use the sunroof as a window.
I've also seen guys use weed wacker line, and attach it to a drill and put it down
the sunroof drain holes, and it seems to work. I'd prefer not to seal my whole
surface of my sunroof, even though I don't use it, as it will look not that good.
What would be your suggestion ? I guess you'd say, follow my video :)
Sounds like it could be a sunroof issue. I would start with the drains, then adjust the sunroof, and potentially replace the gasket.
I had same problem, Wire didn't help. Used weed wacker string and it did great job.
Thank you for the feedback!
My weed eater string worked on one drain but the other one is jammed towards the top. I think I need to suck out the clog as using a compressor will mean the debris has to get pushed almost the entire length of the drain. Ugh. Garage said they cleaned the drains (yeah, right... Why is one clogged the next day when I check?) and found a bunch of rust, which I too saw. This is not going to be fun since we're drowning in rain in the Northeast.
Thanks for the weed string info.
Straight to the point. I like it. No unnecessary talking.
Thank you! This was much more helpful that the last video I watched on the subject, which told me that I'd have to TAKE OFF MY FRIGGIN' DOOR to access the drain tube outlet!
Happy to help!
Sweet! I knew what the problem was, but I didn't know what to do next. Thank you!
You're very welcome!
this is exactly what’s happening with my 2016 altima w/sunroof, i’m going to try this right away, thank you
Same here, 2016 Nissan Rogue
No problem!
Mine too!!
Just a heads up. I have an 02 Mercury Mountaineer. The sunroof seems to have been added (unknown by whom) after it was built as the control panel was cut into the front dome light lens. Anyway after installing it and putting the headliner back up they pinched the vinyl tube between the metal roof and some aluminum honeycomb headliner stiffener nearly blocking it completely. So it's not always dirt or debris that's the problem......
Great tip, thank you for sharing!
Quick Question: How to access the rear drains - the front drains are clearly visible, but are the rear drains also accessible by sliding the roof all the way back, or does the sunroof panel need to be removed. Thanks
Can you show how to drain the rear’s please? Thanks 🙏🏼
Worked fine with my Slime tire inflator. Set a dry towel under your wheel well and watch the crud come out. Thanks!
Excellent to hear and happy to help!
Man.....just what I needed I had the air compressor method In mind but the wire i will try actually can't wait to try! Thank you, you did a 10 out of 10 on this instruction
Thank you so much, happy to help!
I'm seeing everyone recommend using cord so I'm going to try that first. It's not all the time but sometimes rain causes water to pool on the floor of the passenger side of my Saturn L300. We just had a lot of rain...thus a lot of water at the bottom. I hope cord can solve this as I really don't want massive water damage.
SO INFORMATIVE!! I am a chick and love DIYing. I just went out to my PT this morning after an all-night rain and found my front seat floor flooded with water! I plan to try the wire method and am wondering if clothesline would work. It seems thick and pliable, but strong, too. It seems as though it would not damage the drain hose, do you agree? Thanks so much!!
Thank you! Clothesline cable personally I think is too think and may cause damage. Diameters for these drains can vary. I would try to get something smaller instead.
@@4DIYers Wow, thank you for your kindness in responding! My PT Cruiser is a 2002.
Very helpful!! Great video quality, and explanation. You cut straight to the point. I will be looking at all your videos. Thank you!
Thank you so much for the kind words :)
How does water get in the drains if the sunroof stays closed? My sunroof appears to seal when it is closed, so I'm wondering how would water get to the drains.
Bradley Coleman seals are not completely water tight and some water will get into sunroof channels, which is why there are drainage lines.
@@benjaminblack5888 Correct, the seal is supposed to keep out MOST of the water, not ALL of it.
Just did the drains on my Avalon. The driver's side A pillar was wet all the way down to the speaker. I used string trimmer line and a straw. I blew both air and mouth fulls of water through the straw into the drain holes.
My mazda 3 has been having this issue, thought is was the seals smh, thank you for this video you saved me another headache
Glad I could help, thank you!
Same here Mazda 3 a couple weeks ago.
You are awesome thank you. I was going to use a wire hanger than saw you using this and I snipped the head and butt off an old usb 10 foot cable and now drains like new. Stupid guy told me I have to take off the head liner side panels and everything what a dope.
No problem, happy I could help and thank you for the kind words!
The SBD 10' Premium Sunroof Drain Snaking Tool Works Great! I used it on my Range Rover Sport! Available on Amazon.
Out of curiosity, what did you pay for that? I couldn't find a price, but it looks like trimmer line to be honest.
Very well done, to the point and NEEDED on all cars - *THANKS*
Thank you for this video. Can this cause water collecting in the truck also?
No problem! Yes it can. Other areas to look for is a leak around the windshield, sometimes the drain can become plugged in the hvac system, may have a leaking door seal, hole in the floor, cab clearance lights, or some new trucks are now having recalls on the rear windows leaking too.
Meant to write *trunk! Thank you
@@xutowlimvmilwotux Oh, well in that case a sunroof most likely wouldn't cause this. It's most likely a trunk seal, could be a hole in the floor, or the trunk isn't aligned properly.
Can you recommend an air compressor for this? Does the standard gas station air pump work?
excellent question
I would not use compressed air, even turned down. There is too much chance of blowing off the drain hose either up in the headliner or behind the dash. If the one behind the dash blows off, that's usually pretty challenging to reconnect. Trimmer cord is the best, and sometimes I use a small tube and blow on it myself because lung power won't blow a line loose. If lung power doesn't free the debris, you need to use a trimmer cord.
For reference, I am a water leak/wind noise/sunroof repair specialist and have fixed hundreds and hundreds of leaks like this.
Just a FYI I spoke with Ford today regarding my leaking sunroof which was draining into my courtesy lights and onto my infotainment system and made the car smell like mildew. They said this is normal. Made my decision between the model x tesla and the Mach e way easier Thanks Ford
Started not to watch this video as it was not focused on a specific car. I'm glad I watched this video as it is very simple and easy to understand. I will try the line method. At least I have a starting point. Thanks.
3 years later and here i am. Good video.
Thank you!
do all sunroofs have/need drains ? how about aftermarket pop up sunroofs?
How about the rear. Can you access from the top. I went up from the bottom but didn't get through the clog
My car has a wind deflector on it will I have to remove that to get to the holes I’ve been dealing with this for over a year when I bought the car
Do you happen to know where the exit point is for the drain on a 2011 Nissan Rogue? I live in Miami and with all the rain we get I have to do maintenance twice a month to get the sunroof to drain properly. I've looked all over the place but I've only seen videos on later year's model. Thanks for any help.
You are what makes youtube great
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the kind words!
Do you know what the black square part that is bolted to the roof is called? Where the drain tube is connected.
I think this was just what I needed to hear. Thank you,
Excellent to hear, thank you for the feedback!
Did the help fix the issue?
Thanks for the video. I used about a 6 ft. piece of nylon string from the string trimmer and it worked perfectly!
Happy to help and thank you for the feedback :)
Thanks ! A body shop said do it your way cause compressed air can cause the drain tubes to pop off or burst.
@@Ojb_1959 Certainly, that is why 4D said keep air pressure low...OTOH, guess what you can do if you are not careful, with various wires...yeah...unhook or damage the tubes.
Thank you for taking the time out to make a video
Glad to help out :)
I have a 2013 hyundai elantra. My rear (behind my seat) driver side floor is wet, and its causing massive humidity inside the car, especially now in fall/winter time. I have the panorama sun roof, virtually the entire roof is the sun roof. Any clue as to where my drains are on my model??? Today the frost inside the car was just as bad as the frost outside on the windshields and windows. Once I get the leaking figured out then I need to get absorbent gems to absorb all the moisture to prevent this entire winter to be like today. Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.
Perfect video, super helpful! Thanks so much, you saved me a trip to the mechanic ($$ 👍).
Awesome to hear and thank you for the feedback :)
Thank you for helping. Went online looking for why the passenger side floor was soaked in my 2012 Mercedes. Your video was very informative. Passenger sides are wet after each heavy rain. A second hurricane has come in a 30-day period and now my floors are soaked again. I am a senior citizen (66) and on a budget. I need to know the approximate cost for mechanics to charge me to correct this drainage problem. I feel cheated often. Your input would likely help.
Worked great on my daughters flex. Thanks for the help.
Awesome to hear and happy to help!
Hi
My car hasn’t been working, engine light comes on but only sporadically. So after two garage visits, new battery, being towed etc I’ve been told water has been leaking (loads in footwell) and has been getting inside fuse box wet. Is this common. I’m going to try fix this myself - I have an old Nissan teranno 2 - ant tops please ??
we have tried to do cleaning your way and found the passenger side I believed opened up saw the water drain down and out of the car. Driver side not so much. blew it out, then pushed grass trimming plastic thru and still no luck. What else could it be.
I have a leak inside my trunk that goes into the wheel well only on one side. Where is the drain for the trunk? This is a new problem and my car is 20 years old and I love my VW Passat. Sure would appreciate help, googled, but no luck.
Question do u have a video on how to change lisence plate bracket in infinity g37x
Unfortunately I do not.
This comment is here to let you know that for at least one car this suggestion worked perfectly.
Awesome to hear and thank you so much!
Are the drains still there in vehicles without sunroofs? We have water coming into the trunk of a 2016 Honda HRV, no idea where it's coming from. Car parked overnight will have water on the C Pillar and has killed the rear LED taillight
If your vehicle isn't equipped with a sunroof, there will be no drains. With your HRV, it could be a leaking roof rack, taillight, window seal, or tailgate gasket.
Thanks,, my leak just started on both sides when I go through the car wash. Will try everything you suggested. Everything is open now because I am changing the headliner. I adjusted the sunroof glass to level on the corners, and it still leaks, I will check the drainage and the gasket around the glass for wear. Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks for the video and any insight you may have. Agape'
Very good quality video, thanks for sharing
No problem, always happy to help :)
Ugh this is happening to my Nissan Sentra I think. The water pulls on the floor mat on passenger side. I also saw water coming out of door speaker. Does it seem like it’s a clogged sunroof?
Almost sounds like the door drains are plugged.
Excellent Video!! 👍🏻
Thank you very much!
I watched these videos and tired but still couldn't get them unclogged. So i bought some liquid plumber poured some on and it didn't take two mins and they were open. Then i just made sure i used enough water to wash them clean. Was a very simple fix
I would never recommend using Liquid Plumber for such an application. Liquid Plumber can be used to strip paint and even remove rust to give you an idea how strong of a chemical it is.
as already said, liquid plumber is very caustic to metal - you would really be screwed if there was a leak in the drain tubing, and it wound up all inside the interior of the car and the metal around it. But, if it's an old car that might near it's end - guess if it works.....just be warned.
LAIR....that's a corrosive.
Wouldn't it desolve the plastic tubing?
You shouldn't give out false info.
Your Mean
thank you for your video, car shop wanted to charge $900 for this job
Thank you for the tutorial. I was wondering what size hose to use?
Hi, I've tried this with very thick weed eater line, and got one side unclogged, but when i try on the other side, I can get about a foot and a half in, and no further no matter how hard I push on the line. any tips?
update! I tried some different line that was thinner, and I got it through the blockage, and now it drains, albeit slowly. When I tried to go back through with the thicker weed eater line, it still wouldn't pass the blockage. Where should I go from here? Thanks!
Are there just two drain holes in front of sunroof? I read someone there is four total. But can only spit two in Chrysler Sebring 05 coupe. Thank you!
I have a 2001 VW Passat the rear passenger carpet is wet on the left side. Would I need to unclog the same drain hole as in the video, or a different one?Thanks.
i have a question. my 96 toyota 4 runner is leaking bad threw the roof. how ever my sunroof dont open. and i cant find the drain location from under carrage. do you have any ideas i could try
Thank you for this! 3k is what they charged me last time to clear mine!
No problem :) Holy, almost sounds like they replaced the unit for that price!
Same problem here, local Toyota dealer said only way to fix leak was to replace entire unit for $2800.
i was thinking this looked like it should be easy for a shop to do but was concerned they would come up with a more expensive solution. I just paid one to reseal or reinstall my luggage rack or something they thought might be the problem when I was pretty sure the drainage lines were the problem. At least the nonfix only cost me 80 something bucks. I currently have a lake in my floorboard though because it has rained incessantly the past couple weeks. I might could get a compressor at work to try this during a lunch break or get a coworker to help with it after work as I don't think i could handle it on my own.
Your kidding....WTF
Mine gets blocked from the bottom not the top by the sunroof. When leaves debris and dirt collect under the car where the drains drain the water can't drain fast enough then it backs up the tube inside the car. You have to locate these slits under your car mine are under the front doors and under the back doors that wher the drains are. Wiggle a flexible wire or coat hanger in those slits and that clear them out so the drains will flow freely.
Very clear commentary; unusually so for RUclipsrs. Very grateful, thank you.
Thank you, I really appreciate the feedback!
Tried weed wacker wire and all it would do is Bunch up in there not strong enough to be pushed through not sure what to do now
I keep getting water in my trunk and noticed a hose going through the side of the trunk is there a drain hose that goes to the back of the car?
Should be a drain. Other issues for water in the trunk could be a hole in the floor, bad trunk gasket, or a bad tail light gasket.
Where did you buy rubber hose attachment for blow gun?
It's just some rubber fuel line I had kicking around. A hardware or auto parts store should carry it.
I have a F150 with water pool in the front passenger foot wells as well as soaked carpet. Do you think its a clogged sunroof drain? I'm gonna clean the drain lines tomorrow and see if that works.
It's very possible. Other issues can also be a leaking heater core or perhaps a leak from another locations such as a door seal, firewall seal, plugged hvac system drain, or even the windshield.
I have a BMW 2000 7401 leaking from the passenger side leaking real bad were is these drain locate and how can I fix it
Check to see if the drain is plugged first. If that passes, you may need to adjust the sunroof or there might be an issue with the drain which would need to have the headliner dropped down to be inspected.
Thanks for such a valuable input i was able to rectify the defect of my car watching this video.
Awesome to hear and glad to help out :)
Helpful video. Thanks for uploading!
what about the rear drains??
One more area to check is the blk triangular part that connects to the long blk bar that is near the drain ..i have an 2007 honda ex and i removed my headliner and poured water in the drain tubes...no issues there but i saw from inside the car theres a screw that holds that blk triangular part down in my case its slightly misaligned so i tried removing it and putting it back and put more adhesive sealant around the triangular parts base.
So a leak could be caused by this , clogged drain , worn seals around the window...aq
How do you remove water pooling in the footwells?
Wet/dry vaccum
Wouldn't blowing it inside just push everything inside more and get it stuck even tighter?
Not always. Ideally it's best to find the exit points and go from there, but they're not always easily accessible. I've never had any issues and many people who have commented here used the same method with success.
It can, yes. If the blockage is too firm, blowing air will blow off the tube inside the car, then you really have problems. This is why I never use compressed air and don't recommend it, but I have fixed probably a hundred or so where someone said "My mechanic blew out the drains and said they flow fine"....but the reality was, they did flow fine: Right into the interior, because the air pressure blew them off.
You CAN get away with it sometimes, though. If it's the only one you're ever going to do and it works for you, then it's a win. I do this every day though, so I see plenty of times where it doesn't work.
Hi there, I started getting a leak today. Found out one of the drains of my sunroof is clogged. I tried inserting a trimmer line but it can only go about 12 inches. The other hole is okay. I don't have a compressor. Can I use a compressed air duster?
It could be catching up around a corner so you may need to wriggle or rotate it while pushing it in the drain. Air duster can be used, although be careful with the angle as it'll spray out nitrogen. I would recommend wearing safety glass because the nitrogen can damage your eyes. A vacuum may work too.
Very professional... A+
Thank you!
My 2010 Ford Fusion sunroof i think is leaking bad. After this car wash my sun glasses holder was dripping water. I’ve already checked the drains and they were clear what is the problem lol
Could be windshield. But on that model, might well be the sunroof glass itself. It gets water behind the seal, into the window frame and then it comes out and drips into the greased part of the track, where it then goes down into the headliner and finds a low spot, which is often the overhead console.
One other thing it could be is the plastic trough or "tray" at the rear of the sunroof opening. It's supposed to be there to catch any water that gets by the rear of the seal and direct it to the side troughs and then to the ground. They are plastic and sometimes break. When the break, they usually get pushed to the back of the headliner and stay there. Check to see if it's in place or not.
You just saved me a heart attack - thanks for sharing
No problem, happy to help :)
I have bmw x5 do I have to remove the front tires to drain out the water
Nope
Very helpful thank you. I just bought a car with a sunroof I never knew about the drain tubes.
No problem, happy to help :)
Mine is leaking on the drivers side every time it raining the floor would get wet
Great fix! What gauge rubber hose are you using in the video (for the blow gun)? Where can I buy the flexible rubber hose to attach to blue gun? Thanks!
To attach to the blow gun not blue gun....sorry. Spellcheck and autocorrect not always friendly :)
Alfredo On RUclips My 2013 have the Lake on the back window and the corners of the roof after they replace the sunroof I'm wondering if that could have anything to do with replacement of the sunroof
Could Drain-o work for the rear drain holes I can't reach?
No, dont use draino..... that's an acid, and if not flushed after could damage all the parts it comes in contact with.
@@18837dc It's a base but I expect you're right.
Were the holes of Nissan xtrial is
Thank you so much. I had no clue what the heck was going on. Happened to have a roll of wire in the shed and voila!!
Glad I could help :)
Can compressed air be blow through the BOTTOM side of the drains, from the bottom of the car?
Yes you can certainly do that if you know where the drain exists.
I have a 2008 Infiniti m35.with a sun roof but never. Open it the carpet on the back passenger side gets wet. Any ideas.
Best idea would be starting with the sunroof drains first. If that passes, ensure it's adjusted correctly and then make sure the seals are in good condition.
Thank you; very informative. 🚙
No problem and thank you for the feedback!
Thanks, greatly appreciated
You're very welcome!
My sunroof doesn’t open so how will I unclog mine
U cant.
It would help if you let us know what kind of car you're working on!!!
What guage wire did you use?