Sunroof drains chronic problem

[hangman]

I’m getting water in both front carpet and the driver’s side rear. I’ve pulled away all the trim to access all 4 sunroof drains.

i’ve cleaned them out periodically with a weed trimmer line. These things were designed very poorly! The hoses barely fit in those rubber connectors. I cut that tapered end off the rear drivers rubber plug. That’s the part that gets clogged. The hose came out again!

I know that the rear ones drain out through the wheel well. Where do the front ones exit? They eventually exit in the wheel wells? Or do they exit in the plastic grill underneath the wiper arms? Because I’m trying to figure out if I need to cut the end of that rubber plug (the part that clogged).

I was thinking of getting a plastic Barb and putting it inside the existing drain hose and adding a couple extra inches in length. Then use some some small hose clamps to hold it in place.

This way it will go into that rubber connector firmly. Will probably put gorilla tape around the connection..

how have you fellas fixed the drain hoses?

2013 JSW

thanks

 

[mikerob97]

Years ago I solved this problem once and for all. I replaced all of the tubing with the newer styled flexible tubing. Have not had a leak since.

See my post below.

https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?threads/panorama-roof-rear-drain-fix.509484/

 

[egiese319]

I’m getting water in both front carpet and the driver’s side rear. I’ve pulled away all the trim to access all 4 sunroof drains.

i’ve cleaned them out periodically with a weed trimmer line. These things were designed very poorly! The hoses barely fit in those rubber connectors. I cut that tapered end off the rear drivers rubber plug. That’s the part that gets clogged. The hose came out again!

I know that the rear ones drain out through the wheel well. Where do the front ones exit? They eventually exit in the wheel wells? Or do they exit in the plastic grill underneath the wiper arms? Because I’m trying to figure out if I need to cut the end of that rubber plug (the part that clogged).

I was thinking of getting a plastic Barb and putting it inside the existing drain hose and adding a couple extra inches in length. Then use some some small hose clamps to hold it in place.

This way it will go into that rubber connector firmly. Will probably put gorilla tape around the connection..

how have you fellas fixed the drain hoses?

2013 JSW

thanks

front hose drains into the plastic grill, you will need to remove the windshield wipers to get into there. Mine werent clogged but the hose just shrunk and wouldn't fit back into the front drain. I had your idea and bought a brass double sided barb to add length. It ended up being one side was larger than the other (im sorry I cant remember what sizes i used). Had to use some grease and a long needle nose plier to get that barb into the drain but works like a dream and no more wet floors!

 

[borninabus]

when i did mine i used a quick HOT water soak on the hoses to be able to stretch them out for more length.
i'm sure you could use the same technique in conjunction with a properly sized cylindrical object to "flare" the ends of the hose out a bit.
when i reassembled the hoses, i used plastic weld epoxy on the junctions @ the tray and maybe the rubber ends too.
nothing wrong with the design of the drains--except for maybe the rubber ends--they work great!
it's the execution and application that is the problem.

oh! and be prepared for some clean up when you pull the plastic cowl. it will be nasty in there. reminded me of when i used to have to clean the gutters on my parent's hose. pretty gross and that's the air your HVAC has been pulling in from outside

 

[Tuheeden]

My fix was to just seal the thing shut!! No more problems!

 

[Bob S.]

Where do the front ones exit? They eventually exit in the wheel wells? Or do they exit in the plastic grill underneath the wiper arms? Because I’m trying to figure out if I need to cut the end of that rubber plug (the part that clogged).

2013 JSW

thanks

the front drains exit in the upper corner each side of the windshield wiper mechanism/ECU plenum under the plastic tray under the windshield & wipers (wiper arm & tray removal required to access them). similar to the rear ones, they seal closed with debris. Cutting the tips off & massaging the often solves the problem. Certainly, the system is problem prone.