SDL sunroof leak.
 

We're finally getting rain in Texas but now, the roof on the SDL is leaking. I'm guessing that it't a clogged sunroof drain but, I cannot figure where they exit the body WHERE ARE THEY?

The FSM is no help and I've searched this one and The Other Forum with no success either.

One other thing, the sunroof doesn't operate on this car...ie, you can hear the actuator motor run when manipulating the button but, the panel doesn't move.

Randy it's probabaly one of two things: The seals or the adjustment of the compression slide (lifting arms). Now I may be using the wrong term (compression slide) but that is the final stage of the "flip open" option of the sunroof. This compresses the roof against the seal when closing. Sometimes I will have to flip the roof down, slide it back (open) and then forward to get it to seal good. I have not seen any drains up there.

Look at this file in the FSM program\Chassis\77-170.pdf

Thanks John!

Hmmm...maybe it's probably not fully parking the roof closed because the cable is hosed or something like that.

Its a real complicated mess as anyone who has been into one of these will agree, and definately hard to explain in words (show me). as the roof slides forward that slide get larger and compresses the roof against the seal. After years of use - it wears out. Do you mostly use the "flip up option"?

When traveling dow the highway flip the back of roof up, then close. Are you still getting some wind noise? Slide roof to rear, the forward - does noise go away?

If you are sure that it's the sunroof that's leaking, then you can stop reading this now, but......

I had a massive leak in my 85300d on the passenger side. I thought for sure it was the sunroof or the windshield. But it was the drain hole located under the hood behind the battery. A little rust in there chipped off and clogged the hole that drains the battery pan and out the fender. It had been clogged long enough for rust to eat a little hole in the firewall where most of the water would drain. Good luck.

Right now, I'm pretty sure nothing other than motor noises happen when you manipulate the sunroof switch. Since it's never opened at all, I don't remember fiddling with while underway it but, there doesn't seem to be excessive wind noise at any time.

Since I have no owner's manual, this also raises the question: "What all does that roof switch do?" It sounds to me like the switch provides more functionality than the simpile "open/closed" action of the W123.

Could you 'splain it to me? Yesterday, I sat in a pint of cold rainwater; low on the fun meter.

Fairly sure it's the sunroof because yesterday, I sat in a puddle of cold rainwater and I could see it dripping in at the aft edge of the sunroof (directly above the driver's collar).

Slide the switch towards the rear of the car opens the sunroof. Pushing up on the rear side of button flips the back of the sunroof open for ventilation only. The ventilation function is the part that does not seat well on mine and occasionally requires a slide open the closed to seat.

Randy, ask Hattie about that roof..........he's had to deal with it a couple of times........and he might remember how it was done.

Open the sunroof and look in the forward corners, those are your drains. Now go look at the back of the front wheel wells, see the black rubber hose in each well? Thats the exit.

Make sure they are clear, there is a gutter around the sunroof that these drain. The sunroof kind of just sits there and channels the water to the gutter.

As far as the sunroof not working you need to pull the headliner part that is attached to it, and probably the metal panal as well. Its hard to tell whats not working until you get a close look.

That will be a real trick since it doesn't do anything except whirr when you fiddle with the button.

Thats a problem, you can't really get it apart unless you can open it. I am not sure how it can be done manualy. You could try the crank in the trunk, but it sounds like the cable is no longer connected.

That's what I am thinking. For this car, DAP� bathtub seal around the crack in the roof might be the right fix.

I'd say that sounds like the sunroof. Sorry to butt in with irrelevant mumbo jumbo. I'm going to get back to my scotch. :rolleyes: