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Cheap Sunroof Leak Fix

I like simple cost effective solutions to common problems. Such as the sunroof leak common to these old Porsches.

I had my sunroof drains cleared last year when I bought the 944 and for the most part only experienced water ingress through the sunroof in very heavy showers - just like the ones we had the past week. As my '44 leads a privileged life in a warm, cozy garage this is not something I worry to much about.

As a precaution I had begun to investigate replacement sunroof seals, and if you've ever done that you may agree that the Porsche items are over-priced IMO so I was looking into alternatives, particularly from VW. I compared a number of different profiles to that on my 944 and concluded that while the inner seal was easy to obtain for very little money per meter, the profile of the outer seal had no alternative that I could easily source.

While I prodded around the sunroof opening I began to wonder just how the water was making it's way in, over the lip and passed the two seals. I concluded that the seals were not closing the gap, either in the gutter or under the sunroof itself - if you've taken a look at yours you'll see what I mean.

I decided that it was worth at least one attempt at closing those gaps before forking out for a new sunroof seal.

That prompted a wander through eBay and I found a flat 10mm wide x 3mm thick adhesive rubber seal in 10m length for the princely sum of £2.34 shipped.

When it arrived this morning and with the rain pouring down again outside, I decided now was the time to insert the seal in the gutter, leaving the corner drains exposed, and hopefully cure the annoying drip on my right arm when driving in heavy rain.

Firstly I cut the side pieces to length:

Then I carefully removed the backing tape, inch by inch, and inserted the rubber seal into the gutter using a long thin screwdriver to press down the end beneath the hinged edge of the sunroof:



The test of course was whether it kept the heavy rain out, which I'm glad to say it did. So, sunroof leak fixed for £2.34... result.

Comments

  1. Daniel17 January 2015 at 20:47

    yay! is it still fixed?

    ReplyDelete
  2. James Cooper11 September 2024 at 12:56

    Great comment! I appreciate the cost-effective and practical approach to solving a common issue with older cars like the Porsche 944. Sunroof leaks can be a real headache, and it's awesome that you explored alternatives to the overpriced OEM parts. The way you found and applied an inexpensive adhesive rubber seal is a clever solution, especially since it's so affordable. It’s also helpful that you highlighted the importance of leaving the corner drains exposed—those small details can make a big difference. Your step-by-step explanation is clear and valuable for anyone looking to fix similar issues on their own.
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