ratlratl

I have had a major water leak at times from the front A-pillar areas on both sides of my truck. It has cab lights and of course a sunroof. I'm not kidding when I say water will pour in as a stream and leave puddles in the floorboard. After numerous trips to the dealer and many weatherstrips I thought it was gone.

It was mostly on the driver side. It only came through the passenger side once. Also the leak only shows up when the truck is pointed slightly downhill. I can't always park pointed uphill so I can't let that be the easy solution. Not long ago it came back after being gone for a while. So I took down the visors to get access for a flashlight. I found a chunk of plastic that was loose in the front tray. I figured it was floating in the tray and blocking the drain causing it to overflow. Seemed to be what it was. I did many leak tests with a hose on the roof trying to make it leak but could not. Including isolating the cab lights all at once and one at a time.

WELL, IT'S BACK!!!

Sooooo, I took the headliner out along with half of the interior just to get access. Sat inside of the truck for around 30 min in a driving rainstorm and VOILA'. It seems the sun roof gutter that catches all the drips from the glass seal has two small gaps above the draintubes. What I've found is that the seal allows water to seep by it and collect into the gutters. However when I have the truck on an incline those drips miss the gutters and go right into wherever they want too.

Now my gift to the dealer is a truck with no headliner or trim pieces to get in the way of finding the leak. The only issue is does Chrysler know about this imperfection and how to solve it or extend those gaps. I do use my sunroof alot and my last truck had a sunroof also. Not one leak though. I'm going to ask for a new glass (the only way to get a seal) and hope it fixes this. That's great and all for now while the warranty is in effect, but what about after 36k?

This is just FYI for any and all sunroof owners that may be dealing with a similar problem. I have alot of patience and don't mind jumping into something like this so I have no problem sharing the info. I'll post up after I see how the dealer will resolve this. As stated before this has been an on going problem. I have had the carpet, a door panel, and all of the weatherstrips replaced on the driver side area of the truck to stop this. I hope this does it for me. I love this truck and really don't want to own it smelling of moisture or mold.


Chris

Al Ex

I have a sunroof too but haven't had any leaks yet. Would it be possible for you to add a picture or two to help clarify exactly where this leak point is. I'm having trouble picturing this based on your written description here. Thanks.

enafzige

I had the EXACT same problem when new. Mostly from the driver's a-pillar, water would stream out...so much that it soaked my left leg from the knee down several times.

I took it to the dealer, and they fixed it. I never asked what they did, but it hasn't happened since.

Hopefully they'll take care of ya...

--Eric

knc77

I had a Ford Expedition that would do the same thing. Hard rain with the nose pointed down hill seemed to cause it to occur most frequently. Basically, if water can get by any of the seals, it is supposed to land in a channel and be funneled out. It was not a closed channel and could run over if too much water made it in or it was on an incline allowing the water to run out of the channel. Sounds like the dodge might have the exact same thing. Water runs out of the A pillar onto your leg or the seat gets all wet. I always figured it was just part of having a hole in the roof.

ratlratl

Here's the area were talking about.....



Chris

ratlratl

Here's a close up of the area. Note the cut out looking area above the drain tube. Yes, notice that it is wet.



Chris

ratlratl

This is what happens when you add a little water....




Chris

ratlratl

And this is the result.......Slight exaggeration.



Chris

slangnasty

I've had the same problem on mine... but on the passenger a-pillar.

thanks for the pics. Now I have something to show my dealer/mechanic.

slang

06MegaCTD

i have the same problem on mine if i am at a incline and it rains, except my water just comes out of the rear dvd player

txpig

Nice write up. It should help lots of folks with sunroofs. That's exactly why I HATE sunroofs. I told the dealer he would have to pay me to buy a truck with sunroof. I like them when they don't leak water or wind but they all DO or WILL leak eventualy. I've never had a vehicle with a sunroof that WASN'T a leaking PIA!!!!
Good luck to all!!!

ratlratl

It did come out of the passenger side once. Luckily the wife wasn't riding that time. She did get to see it happen, of course when it was happening to me. I'll post up any results. The dealer I spoke to about it farms them out to a glass specialist so I'm waiting for an appointment with him.

Chris

TAS05CTD610

Is the drain tube clear? I could understand a drip or two, but the way it's running over that cut off (much like a overflow) almost seems like it's not draining out fast enough? If it were me I would RTV some plastic, or aluminum sheet over it to help keep it inside that little trough. Dealers are great sometimes, but sometimes you can fab up something better

ratlratl

Yeah, the tubes are clear. It just flows right by the corner of the seal and right over the edge of the trough. I used a heavy stream from a garden hose to increase the effect of the leak. It was less when I had it set to shower on the nozzle, still there though, but for the picture's effect it helped. I Thought about the modding of it also, but I wanted documentation on Chrysler's behalf as well as mine. If their repair is satisfactory then I will be satisfied. If not then I will consider a mod to extend the gutter to stop this. I decided to bring this to light for the benefit of others as I was sure that there are others having this very issue. I'll post up any results. Meanwhile I'll keep answering questions from all of my riders.

Chris

TAS05CTD610

I agree with you 100% on the reporting it to the dealer, that way down the road if you have problems or issues with something else (say roof rust) you can then possibly say hey it was from the water, good idea. I can say our dealer has been very good with issues and I've been happy (but only with the warrenty, or free stuff)

Even though for the test I would have put a bucket on the seat