Water Leak from Sunroof

[khanif]

Hi to all of you.
I am a first timer, never been on a forum before specially regarding cars issues.
May be because I drive TOYOTA 97 you know what i am saying...
They usually do not ran into problems.

I bought this care brand new for my wife. Now it has 122K miles.
Since I am driving now a days back and forth between work I am jamming up the miles.
After this short synopsis here is my issue.

Few weeks ago the car was parked outside in the parking and it start raining.
When it was time for to go back home I saw drips of water at the passenger side.
And by looking further I realize that the whole carpet at that side was damped with water.

I thought I might had left the sunroof open slightly cause I am in Texas and due to heat I usually crack the Sunroof in an inclined position.

But later I realize the same behavior that is water at passenger side in rain.
I also saw the same behavior when I was washing the car at home with hose.

This week I went to get my cracked windshield replaced hoping that this cracked windshield may be causing the problem. The guy at that shop told me that it is due to bad design.
There is a small pipe running to the front tire and weh this pipe gets clogged you see this problem.

Now my question to you all Pros. out there is there any solution that some one can resolve at home rather than taking it to the dealer?

I would appreciate the reply.
Thanks

Khalid

[eyeball96]

I don't have the prob on my gen 3.5,but I'd love to have this imformation too!!...Sorry I can help ya...I'm sure tho, somebody here knows how to fix your problem, just keep bumpin the thread!

[El Tano]

Welcome to the forum!!!

[keithy]

anyone has pictures of where the drain tubes leads to? maybe you posted it on the wrong section. should be in camry gen4 forum section. Might get more reply.

[KensMR2Parts]

Greetings khanif ... Where to start ... yes, when a drain gets clogged, water ends up inside the vehicle ... What causes it? ... any kind of foreign matter; bugs, plant matter, environmental debris, whatever ... Is it a bad design? ... I personally don't think so ... If you disagree, as the guy at the winshield shop seems to; they (you) will have to take it up with everyone who designs, manufactures or installs sunroofs ... How to correct it ... clean the 4 drain tubes; there is 1 in each corner ... if cleaned frequently, flushing with water will probably do it ... If cleaned only when there is a drainage issue, probably need a combination of mechanics wire (gentle use of wire coathanger for DIYers), water and air (pressurized) ... Let me restate "GENTLE" use of wire, parts of these tubes are flexible and can be damaged ... Sunroofs are nice ... But everything in life requires maintenance ... After all, someone cut a big hole in your roof ...
Ref kiethy comment on drain tubes ... they are illustrated in the Toyota Factory Shop Manuals in the "Sunroof" section ... generally in all cars, they come down the roof pillars and drain at the wheel wells (behind the front ones and in front of the rear wheels) ...
Hope this helps ...

[KensMR2Parts]

Greetings khanif ... Where to start ... yes, when a drain gets clogged, water ends up inside the vehicle ... What causes it? ... any kind of foreign matter; bugs, plant matter, environmental debris, whatever ... Is it a bad design? ... I personally don't think so ... If you disagree, as the guy at the windshield shop seems to; they (you) will have to take it up with everyone who designs, manufactures or installs sunroofs ... How to correct it ... clean the 4 drain tubes; there is 1 in each corner ... if cleaned frequently, flushing with water will probably do it ... If cleaned only when there is a drainage issue, probably need a combination of mechanics wire (gentle use of wire coathanger for DIYers), water and air (pressurized) ... Let me restate "GENTLE" use of wire, parts of these tubes are flexible and can be damaged ... Sunroofs are nice ... But everything in life requires maintenance ... After all, someone cut a big hole in your roof ...
Ref kiethy comment on drain tubes ... they are illustrated in the Toyota Factory Shop Manuals in the "Sunroof" section ... generally in all cars, they come down the roof pillars and drain at the wheel wells (behind the front ones and in front of the rear wheels) ...
Hope this helps ...

[khanif]

Ken,
I really appreciate your help in this.
I am going to do what just mentioned here. Yes I will be gentle, you are absolutely right, I can mess it up even more than what it is now.
Ken, do you know if Toyota Shop Manuals are on the Web some where (I doubt it)?