94 855T leaking Sunroof

Mike-Halewai · Post by **Mike-Halewai** » 03 Oct 2008, 17:30

I just bought a new to me 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo Wagon (270K Kilometers). The last owner claims that the vehicle was well-maintained, that is true for only the regular items, like the oil and those that effect the driver ie: the seat heaters.

The sunroof itself is leaking, that is to say that the felt trim which surround the glass roof is logged with mildew which my local body shiop says I should thoroughly clean and dry.

Secondly I'm told that I also have plugged drain holes, or worst-case plugged-drain hoses.

So in general my request is for possible insight into this issue?

Is cleaning the sunroof felt going to be a deal breaker?

MOST IMPORTANTLY to me, I am wondering where and how I will or I should find this "could-be" plugged drian holes/hoses.

All knowledgeable advice is accepted

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 03 Oct 2008, 18:47

I had a leaking sunroof on my S70 (almost the same design for the sunroof as your car) almost 2 years ago and it ended up being the metal retainer on the glass itself was rusted out and allowing water to get in between the glass and this piece. I took the sunroof out, took the rubber molding off of the glass and oh, what a mess. I spent a weekend, taking the metal off (as much as I could), using rust converter on it and then repainting it and sealing it before installing a new rubber surround piece on the glass. It was quite a chore but in the end, the leak stopped. Let's hope this is not your case.

In regards to the drains, they are in the very corners of your sunroof enclosure...open your sunroof all the way and you'll see them. I used a drain snake (small one in diameter) to fish through those holes. Be careful pushing through too hard...the drains are really a plastic sleeve that extend down to the bottom of the car through your headliner and down your A-pillars (up near the corner of your windshield). If you push to hard, it could cause the plastic connector in the headliner to come loose and then you'll have to deal with taking the headliner apart. Conversely, I suppose you could use some compressed air to clear these lines. As a final check pour some water into the holes to see if they drain out the bottom, or you could do that first to see if they're clogged or if they leak into the headliner.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

Mike-Halewai · Post by **Mike-Halewai** » 03 Oct 2008, 20:49

Thanks for your reply MIJ - I do have a bit of corrosion at the front of the of the sunroof at the glued on rubber liner; I fear that this could be similar to your problem

I certainly don't have the luxury of a garage where I am, and I'm in Vancouver BC Canada.. where the rain just started and will probably extend into March of next year

I think I will start by cleaning the felt and clearly the drain holes... and then, if that doesn't work... I think I'll cry a bit, and then borrow a dry car port, or purchase a tarp... or wait for the rain to stop?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 03 Oct 2008, 21:01

One other method I have used to clear the sunroof drain holes is to snake a weedeater string - strong yet flexible - down through the drain holes to just ram the crud out if that turns out to be your problem.

On my sedans I just use the wand at the carwash to blast the crud out of the drains around the trunk but I'm thinking that would be a bad plan on the sunroof.

...Lee

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 03 Oct 2008, 22:26

Check these threads out (the first where I discovered I had the same problem, and then the second, where I tackled my problem): http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=68538
http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=52360

Mike-Halewai · Post by **Mike-Halewai** » 04 Oct 2008, 10:32

Yup... that looks exactly like what I have going. Man, between an oil trap, and Rear Shocks not to mention the rear tailgate. I really didn't want another project.

But none the less this is all good info.

MIJ; I don't suppose you know of a thread or if you yourself could outline the easiest way to actually remove my sunroof from car? My haynes manual doesn't cover it - my 95 volvo repair manual that I DL'd doesn't give instructions for this either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Mike-Halewai · Post by **Mike-Halewai** » 06 Oct 2008, 19:07

Well I think that I am going to simply silicone the top side of the sunroof to allow for a warm and dry Winter.. then in the Spring, I hope that the wrecker will have a nice roof for me.

I checked with the dealer they and the sit MIJ recommended want $200 bucks for the seal and 800$ for the sunroof. I think I will be going with the 180 that the wrecker wants... here's hoping I can find one that doesn't leak.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Oct 2008, 19:34

Bay13 (repair and maintenance section) of www.volvospeed.com has information on how to get the sunroof out and back in. You can try the silicone but remember that it's from between the glass and trim piece that leaks...so make sure and seal the lower side of the glass as well.

Btw, the rubber seal around the glass is considerably less than $200 from places like www.fcpgroton.com It isn't on their site so make sure and give them a phone call.

mbsl98 · Post by **mbsl98** » 07 Oct 2008, 10:09

You can sometimes find the glass panel on Ebay, pretty cheap. The glass from models through 2000 fit, so go for a late one. Also, this is mostly a northern issue (rust), so try wreckers down South, SW or CA for a higher quality part. The felt is not a big deal, but probably not a leak issue either - felt is never actually waterproof, just keps most water out of the drains. Removing the glass will take you about 5 minutes max.

Mike-Halewai · Post by **Mike-Halewai** » 07 Oct 2008, 13:56

I will have a look on Ebay, and that's a good thought on the down south... however I have heard that down south there is often less leaks because of less rain, and that sometimes, there is a leak, however just not detected, because of the lack of moisture, etc.

Sounds like a little bs to me, but food for fodder right? I mean, for thought, yeah that's it.