Roof seal/lining leak advice

mjvracing83 · Post by **mjvracing83** » 04 Dec 2025, 04:40

Hi guys,

We've just purchased a 1998 V70 here in the UK which has what appears to be a perished rubber seal that runs from the front of the roof to the back. It's letting in a small amount of water mostly near the driver's door that is making the headlining wet on that section.

If the seals are the most likely culprit, can you still get them, and if so how easy are they to replace?

Thanks in advance

Post by **scot850** » 04 Dec 2025, 09:49

Do you have roof rails on your car, or just the black filler strips? This parts drawing would infer they are still available:

https://www.volvocarstorontoparts.ca/a/ ... 76055.html

However, the rubber coated filler strips are not a total seal. There are holes below that for the clips that hold it in place. These have like a butyl strip to seal the screw holes. Those may not be available any longer, but any sealant like silicon should work.

Other areas to check are the door seals. The seals can compress and allow water in.

If it is coming from the roof area, then I'd be checking the sunroof drains have not split (one at each of the 4 corners).

Final thing to check is the windshield seal. I chased a leak and eventually it turned out the new windshield was badly sealed and leaked into the car.

Neil.

mjvracing83 · Post by **mjvracing83** » 04 Dec 2025, 13:09

Thanks Neil,

I'll take a look and see what we can find. It's just the black filler strips, of which this side has snapped and has released from the clips. I can get some photos over the weekend to provide some evidence of the problem.

Thanks for the diagram as well - it looks like it's part 3 and however many clips/supports required that we would need, although as a temporary fix as you say silicone may be enough to stop it while we find some available in the UK. At least I've got part numbers now

Post by **matthew1** » 04 Dec 2025, 14:03

mjvracing83 wrote: ↑04 Dec 2025, 13:09 I can get some photos over the weekend to provide some evidence of the problem.

Welcome to MVS, MJV. Photos always help, yes.

I can't help you directly, but maybe this can viewtopic.php?t=70515

I emailed that poster about the photos to see if he still has them.

Post by **jreed** » 04 Dec 2025, 16:35

I put some photos of the butyl rubber strip and how I fixed it on my '97 855 here: viewtopic.php?t=92586&start=10

Post by **scot850** » 04 Dec 2025, 16:57

I remember you writing about this! I bought at the time, the last install kit with the butyl seals from Volvo NA. I had planned to install rails on the 'R' but determined what was the point as I never carry anything on the roof. I had even pulled the rails and they are still sitting on a shelf in the garage today in a box.

I did also go pull some better complete strips as the R has one now that the black vinyl has started to split slightly. So I those are also on the shelf, 'just in case'.......

Neil.

mjvracing83 · Post by **mjvracing83** » 06 Dec 2025, 06:40

Managed to get some photos from my dad, who is currently storing the car.

I've not been over to see the car myself yet as it was purchased local to my dad (we're using it for an NC500 road rally event in May next year). I believe the slightly wacky black lines on the windscreen are shadows from the garage, and that is actually straight!

Any thoughts are welcome - having seen these closer images it looks like the rubber seal that mates with the roof trim - I would assume that all comes as one assembly if you buy it OEM.

Post by **jreed** » 06 Dec 2025, 06:41

That piece of rubber broke loose on my car a while back... I used a rubberized epoxy to bond it back in place... has been holding up fine so far.
The source of the water leak may be in the channel underneath the weatherstrip. You may be able to pry it up gently and find the source and plug it, then gently put the weatherstrip back in place into the channel.

mjvracing83 · Post by **mjvracing83** » 10 Dec 2025, 07:05

Thanks - I'm hoping to get down to the car just before Christmas - these holes for the roof rails do seem to be a common topic, and I've also seen a youtube video relating to the same thing. I'm also wondering if fitting some roof bars would be an alternative option, but I know that gets us into even more trouble with the weather strips!