[Sharky]

For some reason, there has been an epedemic of front sunroof drain hoses not draining due to the little anti-crud flap sticking shut.

To prevent this, open your driver's door. There is a black rubber thing in the hinge area that flattens out on the end, and points downward. Squeeze this thing with your fingers and make sure the flat part opens up.

Do the same thing on the passenger side.

If it makes you feel better, either snip the flat part off with a scissor, poke a hole in it, or put some silicone slickum between the flaps to keep them from sticking.

Do the same for the passenger side.

The rears cannot really be messed with easily, and I've yet to see a problem with one anyway.

Such a simple thing, but man does it ever save some heartache.

 

[Rusty]

Thanks, Sharky - I'll squeeze my hose today! :lol: :thumbup:

 

[Jesstzn]

I always wondered what those were for .. I clean in there all the time and always squeeze them but didn't know they were the roof drains.

TY Sharky :bow:

 

[RechtsFahren]

I didn't realize the flat part was a flap (I looked at it and was like, "hmm...hose comes to an end...okeydokey..." :??? Thanks for the tip.

 

[S_Klass]

Cool, I'll be sure to squeeze my ho today...

Oh wait... you said ho-se! :lol:

...I always wondered what those were for ..

Me too! Thanks.

 

[Slider]

Thanks Sharky. I appreciate the tip.

 

[JimmyDee]

Good tip. Post it in the Information Forum too.

I always wondered what the heck those hose things were for...

Jimmy

 

[natskiboy]

I will check it out. Thanks Sharky

Maybe its better to have pictures if ever this post gets moved on the Info forum

 

[Altair 4]

A couple of quick squeezes - I felt like I was milking my car! Flaps seemed clear, but worth keeping an eye on them.

 

[Sharky]

.... Flaps seemed clear......

Just remember, it isn't that they get clogged, its that they stick shut.

 

[Altair 4]

.... Flaps seemed clear......

Just remember, it isn't that they get clogged, its that they stick shut.

10-4. I'll just add this routine to my "things to do when washing the car" list. Thanks!

 

[methane]

Son of a Monkey! I WISH I had known that yesterday before I got two inches of water on the passenger side of my car. As predicted, I pressed on the passenger side tube and a cup or so of water drained out. It must have been full.

Can someone tell me: Does this mean that the sunroof is expected to take on water but that it's supposed to drain out via these tubes?

I can only imagine what VW was thinking when they don't tell you this when they sell you a car. They REALLy have to give you a super detailed tour of the car before you drive it away.

1000 "thank you"s

-Brad

 

[Sharky]

Can someone tell me: Does this mean that the sunroof is expected to take on water but that it's supposed to drain out via these tubes?

Yes.

The felt seal around the glass of the sunroof is there only to slow the water down on the way to the big drip tray that surrounds the opening. The water collects in the tray and drains out of whatever drain hose is closest.

....which is why having drain hoses that actually drain are so important.

 

[raceral]

The sunroofs on any model car are designed to leak and drain water, they are not waterproof, which is why in winter conditions you must not let a pile of snow sit on the roof of your car. If the temperature starts to warm up the snow will melt on the car and drain into the hoses, if it freezes again at night the hoses will freeze, any remaining snow on the car will thaw the next day and have nowhere to go but to come into the car as it melts, so if you leave the car outside, dont let it sit with snow piled up on top especially if you are starting into a warming spell.

 

[IDriveB5]

thanks sharkman.

while we are on the subject of sunrooves, what should we lubricate the track with?

 

[Sharky]

thanks sharkman.

while we are on the subject of sunrooves, what should we lubricate the track with?

VW is very specific for the lubricant. It is part number G 000 450 02. It is all I will use.

When you lube them, get some Q-Tips and clean as much of the old lubricant out of the tracks as you can, along with the dirt and grit and whatever else is in there.

 

[Guest]

Sharky's promoting hose squeezing what is the world coming to! :lol: i squeeze regularly, thank you!

 

[kezho]

Can you please suggest a proper technique to my girlfriend :bow:

 

[nyibpass]

Wow, thanks for the reminder and part # Sharky. I meant to ask you about the stupid little end caps, mine used to stick shut fairly regularly, and I wondered if it was just me. I still wonder if it's pollen, or just random crud that makes them stick shut. I wound up putting nylon posts (used for keeping ICs in their anti-static tubes) in the flaps to keep them open.

I once again have a drainage problem. It's not the flaps sticking, it must be either a detached drain tube at the sunroof, or perhaps a damaged tube (possibly due to freeze/thaw cycles).

If I pour some water into the drain tray, I get a nice pour from the drain cap, but I also get a fair amount working its way down the A pillar, and then to the back footwell via the door frames. I've verified that the drain tube is well-fastened to the rubber drain cap piece.

How difficult is it to get to the drain tube attachment point in the A pillar? (passenger side). Is there access under the headliner, or is the first step "remove the sunroof rails"?

 

[koolaid]

I wonder if thats why I found water in my rear pass dome light? things that make you go hmmmm