Thanks for the video. I quickly found the main leak. I could see light coming through one of the corners of the rectangular piece on the passenger side. Water would have literally poured through. After sealing the rivets and gaps, I have had no further leaking. I was about to take this to Ford before finding your video. You saved me a lot of money and solved the problem!
Came here to say thank you, I have this video queued up for my dealer. 2023 Raptor with less than 3k miles on it, was gone on a 2 week business trip, came home to a musty interior and my driver side seat vinyl is absolutely wrecked from what was clearly a decent amount of water that has since soaked into the seat and backrest foam.
Thanks for the video! Definitely helped me getting to the sunroof pan and drain tubes. On my 2020, the rivets are NOT in the channel that carries water to the drain. The rivets are to the inside of that channel. So the only reason there should be water in the area where the rivets are is if the drains are not draining properly. In my case, the front and rear passenger side drains were clogged. The front drain you can blow out with a compressor from above without removing the headliner. You do have to remove the headliner to access the rear drain tubes. I decided not to seal the rivets because this just a bandaid fix when the real problem is with the drain tubes. I took a picture to illustrate where the water is and where the rivets are, but we can't post pictures here in the comments.
Thank you!! First step....CLEAR YOUR DRAIN LINES! If even one gets clogged (especially in the front), water backs up where it should not be and you'll have an interior leak. Great job! Your video definitely led me in the right direction. I'm glad I didn't waste my time with the dealer/service shop. Nothing to replace, just clean up and maintenance.
Thank you for taking time to video this repair. I have had my 2017 f150 in the shop 5 times in 3.5 years for this POS sunroof. Didn't ask for it, came with the truck. Within 8 months of purchase the sunroof leaked badly. Had to adjust the glasses (both) because they came incorrectly adjusted. Fast forward 1.5 years. Had to replace both glasses because the rubber seals shrank on both glasses causing severe leaking. Just got it out of shop for rail replacements. Now headliner is rattling so bad with sunroof open I can't use it. Why can't things just work like they are supposed to? Oh, First Choice Painting & Remodeling LLC......Please film in landscape so we don't have to turn our computer screen sideways. Not everyone watches on phones. Great info bro.
Thanks! My 2016 F150 Pano roof leaked like a faucet with the last storm we had. Also guys, be sure to keep a look out for the following issues on around the 2016 models...upper radiator hose problems...mine started ~ 60k. Known design problem, you'll see a leak at the front of engine on ground. VCT Solenoids ~50k-55k...truck will run like crap...die at idle. Lug nuts...two piece design, which are known to swell and become a royal pain to even remove. Two piece lug nuts are used across other brands/models. Recommend Gorilla or another quality lug nut.
Thanks a lot for the video. I wanted to check in with you to see if it solved your leak now that it’s been six months. I getting ready to repeat what you said. Thanks
I sincerely thank you for this video. I’ve been looking for something that didn’t show the same old video of clearing out the front drain tubes. My 2016 has been leaking and it has been a thorn my side dealing with it. I’m going to take your video give it a couple views and then try to, do the same thing in the next few weeks. I’ll post again to let you know how I make out but wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post this.
THANK YOU!!!! I, too, kept smelling something. THEN, I was driving in a bad rain and noticed my driver hand hold started to leak EXACTLY where you pointed to. I'll get this fixed ASAP. You saved the day, Sir.
THANK YOU MAN! I am about to trade my 2014 F150 Lariant Super Crew to my son so that he can put a car seat in the back for my very first Grandchild. This has just gotten to be a problem for my sunroof. The last thing I want to do is trade my son into a big bill or having to live with a leaking roof. I now know how he and I can get after the leak should a simple fix like a stopped-up drain not solve the problem. It is a shame Ford allows this "engineering and build" to continue year after year. Anybody that understands sealing and protecting against water knows that holes in a drain compromises the drain. Even seals silicone will give up over time. It's just poor design. Great job on the video.
Thank you for this video. I have a 2017 and after every rain, as soon as I start backing out of the driveway water comes pouring in from either the driver or passenger side grab handle pillar or it drips down through the middle map light area onto the gear shifter area. I’ve read all the forums about these notorious sunroof leaks but didn’t want to leave it at a dealer for them to do a repair that might not be a guaranteed fix. This video helps a lot. Much appreciated.
Thanks so much for posting your video. I followed a lot of your advice and it was very helpful. There are a few changes on the 2020 model. There is a bigger support bar across the front and side that covers the tray where the air diverter is. Also, my issue was that the LF drain tube was kinked near where it exits below the A post. I did seal the rivets and joints with the sealant you suggested. Too bad the Wedi does come in smaller tubes. Thanks again.
Thank you for the video! I thought my drains where plugged up or disconnected and couldn’t find where the leak was coming from. This definitely has to be the reason why my sunroof leaks. Will be doing this.
This was so super helpful! I had a leak for a bit but it always dripped down my passenger A pillar and to the floor. Thought it was just tube leaking and finally looked into it. But the passenger side tube was fine. I finally started pulling the headliner down and found it was way worse then I thought, and all coming in from the rivots on the third metal plate (just behind the B piller). What your video confirmed was that just trying to seal up the plate/rivot that is leaking is the way to go. I just wish I knew more about good sealant for this so I can make a good choice. But thank you thank you for this video. I hope to be able to get this awful situation fixed by myself. That means no more stink, and no $$$$ going to the dealer.
Awesome..Videos help both types..those with the problems and those who will have them. I'm the later and will do this before any issues develop on my 2018 F150 Raptor. Thank you a million times over!
Nice video...however, I have some bad new for you: You didn't actually fix the leak there. That part of the track is never supposed to have water in it, EVER. So if the system is operating properly, those places don't need to be sealed...which is why they're not. Pretty much all sunroof tracks are made more or less the same way as this one. If water is coming out of those places (and I've seen it before), something else is wrong: Drains could be stopped up. On 15's and 16's, there is an updated seal for the front glass...the original lets too much water by and in heavy rains, the drains can't keep up even if they're flowing properly...they get overwhelmed. This can get water into where you saw it. Only other thing is, and this is a much less common issue, water getting between the glass itself and the frame it's glued to....that will deposit the water into the area where you saw it coming out. Fix for that is also replacing the glass. You did a nice job sealing those places, but that didn't fix the problem...there's still water where it shouldn't be. The symptom might be alleviated, but the problem remains and you should probably investigate it further. So no, they do not all leak there. Not if everything is working normally. The ones that DO leak, many times the water will come out in those places, yes....but it's never supposed to be there at all. The part of the track where you sealed is where the guides slide back and forth. If you remove the glass, you'll see there are 2 channels....one is all greasy and that's where you sealed..that's where the guides are. The outer one will be dirty and that's where the water is supposed to flow. They are walled off from each other, so again...if water is in the greasy part (and it was if that's where your water was coming from), something else is wrong and it needs to be addressed. You can look at my channel to see what your track looks like from the top if you need a visual.
I appreciate your feedback and thank you for pointing out to me that I should have also noted in my video that I did in fact blow out all 4 drain lines with an air compressor and a rubber tipped air chuck so as to ensure that I created a super tight seal. All 4 drain lines were operating perfectly fine during the time I was experiencing my leak issue so a clogged drain line was easily ruled out. That said, it has been 6 months since my fix and I have had 0 issues with leakage. I know who you are from watching your videos on TH-cam and I know that you are far more of an expert than I am so I will certainly not debate your credibility on your feedback. In fact I believe you did help me diagnose the real issue. I have the original seal around the glass so if, as you point out, Ford has created an updated seal to allow less water to filtrate in to the drain rails to prevent overflow then boom there's the issue. Like you say the portion of my track that is designed to carry the water to the drain lines is more than likely getting overwhelmed with too much water and overflowing in to the greasy outter portion where these rivots are located and then leaking out. In my opinion this still proves me to be right as this is still a very poorly designed system and now for more reasons than just the original one I pointed out. The seal around the glass should have been designed better from the get go and also anytime you have a track with holes punched through it that is located so close in proximity to a track that's sole purpose of existence is to carry water to drain lines, then Ford would certainly have been wise to seal them up from the factory in case of overflow due to heavy rains. My truck new with all the options was around $60k and it's not even a platinum. People spending this much on vehicles shouldn't have to worry about water inside their cabins. Fortunately and most importantly as pertaining to my fix, both tracks do lead to the drain tubes at the end of the tracks so my fix does in fact correct the issue I was experiencing. It's just a shame Ford didn't do it from the start because I as well as everyone else expressing this problem wouldn't have to go through all of this headache to correct what a little bit of sealant could have prevented. Best of luck everyone!
Pacfanweb you seem very knowledgeable. I have a leak and discovered it a pinching drain line at passenger rear. It works and slurps at downhill angle and stops and overflows on another angle. Did you ever hear of this. I built extensions for trough under both glasses to keep water out of track and still leaked so I knew it wasn't issue in this video. This video very helpful though!
Thanks for the video and all your hard work on this. I have a 2021 King Ranch with the same issue. I hope the dealership has figured this out by now, because I'll be taking it back asap!
Quick question if you don’t mind, what problems did you notice that prompted you to go to the dealer? Was water coming through? Wet headliner? Or just smell? I also have a 2021 my headliner isn’t wet and there’s no visible water, but the inside of my truck smells like a wet dog after rain. I just don’t know if mine is actually leaking or if it’s the cloth diffuser that causes the smell, it definitely smells and I have to clean it occasionally.
Hey guys I'm here to add my list of issues to the list. When trying to retract my roof the rear seal had stuck(even after wiping with amour-all to leave an oil layer) forcing the gearing to skip in the motor and throwing the roof position off. I reprogrammed (there's solid videos on this) and ever since I've been anal about the seal leaking that exists. Wondering if it's an intentional design because the window seal isn't perfect. This video was very informative and come this spring 🤞 should nothing force me otherwise, I'll be doing this sealant preventatively. Thank you for being so informative and being helpful in a calm and simple description. Well done brother 👏 my truck is a huge portion of my life and I intend to maintain it with the same enthusiasm.
I was wondering if that might work, butyl waterproof tape from the top. Doesn’t interfere with anything and you got in there just by opening the sunroof ?
great video! Thank you sooo Much. i just bought my truck on friday.... a mint 2015 f150 lariat...and had my first leak yesterday after a crazy day of rain and my truck was parked facing up-ways on a hill. ! i didn't see any evidence of a prior leak on the headliner because i was looking. im happy to know i can easily fix it. This was insanely helpful. do you still have your truck?
Hey man thanks for sharing I’ve had this same problem with my truck I know this is an old video but I’d really appreciate a response if you can find the time after the repairs you’ve made have you had any further problems with leaks in the cab cause I’m at my last straw with this damn moonroof and I need a permanent fix I have everything I need to complete this repair I just want to know if this has fixed your problem or not again thank you for this information I was really getting tired of hearing “clean your drains” from everyone I asked and every where I looked I’ve cleaned them multiple times already now and have seen the water pour threw them onto the ground under the truck again thank you sir! Hope to hear back
Yeah I meant to say steel. Aluminum isn't magnetic. Keep in mind though, that I diagnosed this issue on my own in my driveway and fixed it, 3 years now with no leaks, when countless Ford dealerships and engineers couldn't get it right. So maybe overlook the accidental vocabulary oversight. Or don't 😂
Purchased a 2015 lariat (70k miles) on 7/22/2024. Cleaned it the next day, headliner was soaked😢. $2225.10 Dealership is paying but still …..will they do it right? Many people don’t take pride in their work these days. Thanks for the info.
It’s because they are not supposed to be sealed the water is leaking down onto the track it self and not were the water track is . the reason for the water leaking down wrong is the seal on the back glass shrinks up I work for ford and have fixed this issue plenty of times
@@arideout yes the seal in the back glass shrinks and causes water to fall into the track and not the water track if you look at the corners we’re the front and rear glass meet you will see a little gap the you can shine your light trough!
I just did this caulk repair on my 2016 Limited today. Thanks for posting the video. I noticed that the headliner itself has a plastic trough channel glued to it also, seemingly for any overflow. Has the caulk job cured your issues or caused more? Well, I just did this to mine because I was tired of musty post rain truck and hope this cures it. Thanks for posting!
Yeah mine has been leaking 2015 ford lariat pano sunroof. I did use waterproof silicone on the rivets in the track but i did take 1 screw a lose but i guess i need 2 tackle thise headliner. Thnx driver side only leaking
Mine leaks from Pass front grab handle, dropped down to check drain tube, was hooked up and I added a clamp just in case. Still leaks. Dropped down again and removed Satellite antenna and sealed gasket up, now we have a hurricane coming through NC and I looked and floor is soaked and dripping from grab handle still. I guess this will be my next check. Very aggravating.
Thanks for making this video - I have a 2018 F150 and get the same "wet dog" smell in my truck after a rainfall, along with visible water leakage from both "holy shit" handles at the A pillar. I've triple and quadruple checked the drain lines and everything seems to be working fine there, so this has to be the issue. Have you or anyone else considered sealing this from the top side of the tray instead of from beneath?
Also, if 38,000 people viewed this video that means at least that many are experiencing this problem. How is this? Not a recall or at least a TSB for repair??
Awesome!! I have a 16 f150 and not a single problem until today. At 60k miles right after paying my truck off I started to get a leak right in the middle of where the switch is. Going to try this to see if it works.
I've had my 19 f150 for almost 5 months. I want my 07 dakota back. This thing has been nothing but a headache and the dealerships have done nothing but give me the runaround. Blue oval can go... you know the rest.
Water drains into the “water track” and it’s so nerve racking hearing water in the roof. No water gets on seats/upholstery. It just gets into the sunroof and then runs along the water trough.
great video, so originally where was the water leaking into the cabin from? currently mine is leaking from the passenger hand grab thing AND in the middle where the sun glasses are held, could this be the same problem?
Thanks for the video, great information. I just want to confirm, everyone expects their sunroof to leak (just noticed mine leaks on the back corners) so this is the solution, not fixing the leak but making it so the water doesn't drain into the cab? I haven't noticed water in the cab, but it seems like the sunroof shouldn't leak in the first place. Thanks!
the sunroof is actually designed to leak in to the rails. the rails are"drain rails". their job is to divert the water to the drain tubes that are found at both ends of the rails and expel the water out of the tubes that run to the bottom of the vehicle. too much water gets in however and causes them to over flow in to areas of the drain rails where water shouldn't get to and that's where the leaks come from. sealing everything up like what i did in the video prevents these leaks from happening
Question for you, when you remove the headliner after removing all of the wire harnesses connected onto the headliner do you have to reprogram everything that gets disconnected or will there be inoperative switches ex sunroof sensors whatever else is tied in, just curious before I take it down, thank you sir.
I have a leak in mine but its the gasket around the glass on the window that retracts. I can see it came apart. Im with the guy that said there shouldn't be any water leaking through the sunroof even tho theres a water trough.
I have a 2016 f150. My truck just started leaking after extremely heavy rain. It only come from the overhead console. Did you see where yours leaked inside the cab?
Would a sunroof leak run down the inside of the windshield? I have two spots about an inch wide that keep reappearing from the top of the windshield to the bottom in my ‘21. I haven’t noticed any puddling in the floors or dripping anywhere. I feel like this is a fairly recent development. I’ve only had it about 8 months and put 7k miles on it and maybe opened the roof 3 times.
My 2018 Ford is liquefying me on the passenger side the dealer asks me for $ 3,200 to install a new frame, did that repair work and what sealant did you use?
Hi very good video do you know another similar product ,for me is almost impossible to get the wedi i takes like 3 days and i have the truck disassemble with no time to wait thanks for your time
Any urethane based sealant that adheres to both plastic and metal will probably suffice. That said, I personally don't recommend anything except Wedi. For me, after all the headache I had already gone through, I didn't chance it.
No I did not. The upper track area was too greasy and therefore I knew I wouldn't get proper adhesion so I didn't bother. Haven't had any issues 3 years later! Hope it helps 👍
This is just a band aide to mask the real problem. There should be no water, none, on that side of the track. Your gutter is probably overflowing into that area. The most common problem is one of the drain tubes is clogged or slow to drain. I could blow air through my drain tubes and I could pour water in the track and watch it drain down the tubes. I did notice 1 of the 4 tubes was a little harder to blow air through than the others. I found this when I tried to manually blow air through the tubes. I removed the tube, ran 12 gauge wire through it & found some black stuff that looked like sealer in the tube. Next I ran brake clean through it and flushed with water. No leaks since the reinstall. There are 4 tubes, 1 in each corner. The whole project took about 5 hours to remove the headliner, test for leaks, clean the tubes & reinstall everything.
I had this same conversation with another TH-camr once before. It is my fault that I forgot to mention that I did use a rubber nosed air chuck to clean out all 4 drain lines prior to sealing everything up with the Wedi. None of my drains were clogged. After cleaning the drains I even water tested them to ensure everything followed properly. This is actually what I was hoping the problem was because it's a super simple fix and I've had other vehicles suffer from that issue before as well. Next, I do agree that ideally water shouldn't reach this area of the track. HOWEVER Ford did design this side of the track to divert any water that gets in to it directly to the drain tubes just exactly as they did the opposite side of the track that is actually intended to get the water. Ford would not have designed both sides of the rail to drain in to the drain tubes if they didn't expect, or maybe fear is a better word, that water would possibly find itself there one day. Either way it has been years since I implemented my fix and I have had 0 leaks. With that said, several years of proven results, 0 leaks and 30,000 miles later, I don't think I would call it a band aid. For me it was a permanent solution.
@@614inc James Moss is 100% correct. There is never, ever supposed to be water in the "greasy" part of the track. That said, now that I see what you wrote about the drain tubes, that was probably the real issue and getting out whatever that black substance was, was the actual fix. I'd love to know if water is still getting into that greasy part of the track. It's never supposed to be there, but if what you sealed stopped it from getting into the headliner, that's great. Still not good for water to be mixing with the grease and the moving parts, but hey...if there's no more water getting in the truck, that's not a bad thing.
@@SealofPerfection I just replied to you on a other video. And I have this leak but my drains flow clear. I can pour an entire washer fluid jug of water into the track and it all exits the drain behind the fender. However with a hose placed on the windshield spraying onto the roof of cab after 15 minutes time begins pouring from grab handle. Lowering headliner I find water dripping from the air deflector rivet and the two rivets that hold the steel plate in place. I have our 30 year veteran interior guy scratching his head. I just think the drains can't keep up with the volume of water. However I noticed water pouring in at the right front corner. It is worth mentioning the bulb seal is intact and the sliding is properly aligned. I'm debating grabbing a sliding glass panel off a stock unit. Mine is a 2016 F150 for reference.
@@andrewdbach1 3 things off the top of my head: 1. Sunroof adjustment, but probably not. 2. Rare, but sunroof glass can start separating from the metal frame it's glued to, and water will get into the greasy "track" area where it's not supposed to be. 3. Most likely one: Sunroof seal. On 15's and 16's (and a few early 17's) they have an updated seal for ones that will leak on extended rains or hard rains only, but won't leak on brief showers or light rain. They have a new seal that fills the space a bit tighter and allows less water by it. Catch is, it only comes with a new glass. But it's worked every time I've done it, which has been probably 50 or so times now.
@@SealofPerfection thanks for your response. I suspected #2. However I was able to dry the area and isolate water only to the 'wet' channel side and never observed it seeping from below. I like using blue washer fluid too, helps isolate between old water and new leak. I did perform a glass adjustment but it still poured in at a pretty fast rate on the RF corner. It's odd the LF corner has the typical slow drip, drip, drip but RH is coming in at a questionable rate. I wish I was able to observe it overflow into the 'greasy/track' side of things with my mirror but I was not able too. Maybe my borescope? I will retry at the leak in AM after I get a few waiters out. I am suspecting the bulb seal on the sliding glass panel as you said. And I presume this is just known knowledge and there is not service bulletin regarding this condition? Oh and backstory this truck had leak 2 years prior in RF that took out BCM that was blame on a plugged drain. Wonder If it has had the same leak all along?!?! Oh and I want to re-examine the drain tube to verify no uphill slope to them is observed.
@@colet7645 Do to the bad design of the sunroofs on the Ford F150‘s it was the best thing to use and with it being inside the truck it’s not gonna hurt anything and if you have to replace it it’s pretty easy . The problem stems from the water getting into the second channel in the video if you watch where he put all the caulking around the magnets that’s the second channel you have to divert it into the first channel. That’s why all these Ford F150‘s are having problems they did not bring the tabs down far enough to make a drain into the first and it’s getting kicked into the second one!!!
Your 85 thousand dollar pickup might have a leaky sunroof, but Ford is committed to celebrating gay pride. That's all that matters when you're Ford tough. Oops, I meant Ford Proud. (Also, I'd compare the smell to rotten potatoes as opposed to a wet dog)
Thanks for the video. I quickly found the main leak. I could see light coming through one of the corners of the rectangular piece on the passenger side. Water would have literally poured through. After sealing the rivets and gaps, I have had no further leaking. I was about to take this to Ford before finding your video. You saved me a lot of money and solved the problem!
thanks for the support. I'm glad it helped you out!
Came here to say thank you, I have this video queued up for my dealer. 2023 Raptor with less than 3k miles on it, was gone on a 2 week business trip, came home to a musty interior and my driver side seat vinyl is absolutely wrecked from what was clearly a decent amount of water that has since soaked into the seat and backrest foam.
Thanks for the video! Definitely helped me getting to the sunroof pan and drain tubes. On my 2020, the rivets are NOT in the channel that carries water to the drain. The rivets are to the inside of that channel. So the only reason there should be water in the area where the rivets are is if the drains are not draining properly. In my case, the front and rear passenger side drains were clogged. The front drain you can blow out with a compressor from above without removing the headliner. You do have to remove the headliner to access the rear drain tubes. I decided not to seal the rivets because this just a bandaid fix when the real problem is with the drain tubes. I took a picture to illustrate where the water is and where the rivets are, but we can't post pictures here in the comments.
I have a 2020 also. I wonder if you could back feed the air up the tube from where it comes out at the bottom of the truck for the rear tubes?
Thank you so much ,that was exactly what I needed to see !! I'm almost positive I have the same problem.
Thank you!!
First step....CLEAR YOUR DRAIN LINES! If even one gets clogged (especially in the front), water backs up where it should not be and you'll have an interior leak.
Great job! Your video definitely led me in the right direction. I'm glad I didn't waste my time with the dealer/service shop. Nothing to replace, just clean up and maintenance.
Great job on your first video! This has been such a big deal on my truck. My dads was so bad he sold it. I will fix mine your way, thanks a lot!
Thank you for taking time to video this repair. I have had my 2017 f150 in the shop 5 times in 3.5 years for this POS sunroof. Didn't ask for it, came with the truck. Within 8 months of purchase the sunroof leaked badly. Had to adjust the glasses (both) because they came incorrectly adjusted. Fast forward 1.5 years. Had to replace both glasses because the rubber seals shrank on both glasses causing severe leaking. Just got it out of shop for rail replacements. Now headliner is rattling so bad with sunroof open I can't use it. Why can't things just work like they are supposed to?
Oh, First Choice Painting & Remodeling LLC......Please film in landscape so we don't have to turn our computer screen sideways. Not everyone watches on phones. Great info bro.
Thanks! My 2016 F150 Pano roof leaked like a faucet with the last storm we had. Also guys, be sure to keep a look out for the following issues on around the 2016 models...upper radiator hose problems...mine started ~ 60k. Known design problem, you'll see a leak at the front of engine on ground. VCT Solenoids ~50k-55k...truck will run like crap...die at idle. Lug nuts...two piece design, which are known to swell and become a royal pain to even remove. Two piece lug nuts are used across other brands/models. Recommend Gorilla or another quality lug nut.
Buddy, thanks for taking the time to do this. Super helpful
Thank you for doing this. Every time after a heavy rain or even wash I can smell it, but not enough to wet anything. Big ups!
Thanks a lot for the video. I wanted to check in with you to see if it solved your leak now that it’s been six months. I getting ready to repeat what you said. Thanks
BEST VIDEO EVER! I just discovered all the same leaking!
Thank u, my 22 has been to the dealer 4 times. Two different dealers. I will show them this video. Thank u, this should be the fix I need
I sincerely thank you for this video. I’ve been looking for something that didn’t show the same old video of clearing out the front drain tubes. My 2016 has been leaking and it has been a thorn my side dealing with it. I’m going to take your video give it a couple views and then try to, do the same thing in the next few weeks. I’ll post again to let you know how I make out but wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post this.
THANK YOU!!!! I, too, kept smelling something. THEN, I was driving in a bad rain and noticed my driver hand hold started to leak EXACTLY where you pointed to. I'll get this fixed ASAP. You saved the day, Sir.
Did it work?
THANK YOU MAN! I am about to trade my 2014 F150 Lariant Super Crew to my son so that he can put a car seat in the back for my very first Grandchild. This has just gotten to be a problem for my sunroof. The last thing I want to do is trade my son into a big bill or having to live with a leaking roof. I now know how he and I can get after the leak should a simple fix like a stopped-up drain not solve the problem. It is a shame Ford allows this "engineering and build" to continue year after year. Anybody that understands sealing and protecting against water knows that holes in a drain compromises the drain. Even seals silicone will give up over time. It's just poor design. Great job on the video.
Been trying to figure this problem out for months. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for this video. I have a 2017 and after every rain, as soon as I start backing out of the driveway water comes pouring in from either the driver or passenger side grab handle pillar or it drips down through the middle map light area onto the gear shifter area. I’ve read all the forums about these notorious sunroof leaks but didn’t want to leave it at a dealer for them to do a repair that might not be a guaranteed fix. This video helps a lot. Much appreciated.
Did this work for you??
Oh dang you lucky dog. I thought this was a tough one, lol. You did okay but this is just you showing your courage
Thanks so much for posting your video. I followed a lot of your advice and it was very helpful.
There are a few changes on the 2020 model. There is a bigger support bar across the front and side that covers the tray where the air diverter is. Also, my issue was that the LF drain tube was kinked near where it exits below the A post. I did seal the rivets and joints with the sealant you suggested. Too bad the Wedi does come in smaller tubes.
Thanks again.
Thank you for the video! I thought my drains where plugged up or disconnected and couldn’t find where the leak was coming from. This definitely has to be the reason why my sunroof leaks. Will be doing this.
My 2018 is leaking really badly, thank you for this video, I now have a new weekend project to add to the list!
This was so super helpful! I had a leak for a bit but it always dripped down my passenger A pillar and to the floor. Thought it was just tube leaking and finally looked into it. But the passenger side tube was fine. I finally started pulling the headliner down and found it was way worse then I thought, and all coming in from the rivots on the third metal plate (just behind the B piller).
What your video confirmed was that just trying to seal up the plate/rivot that is leaking is the way to go. I just wish I knew more about good sealant for this so I can make a good choice.
But thank you thank you for this video. I hope to be able to get this awful situation fixed by myself. That means no more stink, and no $$$$ going to the dealer.
Where is Video 2 of 2?
That's exactly where mine leaks and I have a puddle on my passenger side floor board. Thanks for the info.
Dude, thank you so much for the video. My roof has been leaking like crazy. Now I know how to fix it.
You have to know you know that you can fix it first. Good job!
Awesome..Videos help both types..those with the problems and those who will have them. I'm the later and will do this before any issues develop on my 2018 F150 Raptor. Thank you a million times over!
Nice video...however, I have some bad new for you: You didn't actually fix the leak there. That part of the track is never supposed to have water in it, EVER. So if the system is operating properly, those places don't need to be sealed...which is why they're not. Pretty much all sunroof tracks are made more or less the same way as this one.
If water is coming out of those places (and I've seen it before), something else is wrong:
Drains could be stopped up.
On 15's and 16's, there is an updated seal for the front glass...the original lets too much water by and in heavy rains, the drains can't keep up even if they're flowing properly...they get overwhelmed. This can get water into where you saw it.
Only other thing is, and this is a much less common issue, water getting between the glass itself and the frame it's glued to....that will deposit the water into the area where you saw it coming out. Fix for that is also replacing the glass.
You did a nice job sealing those places, but that didn't fix the problem...there's still water where it shouldn't be. The symptom might be alleviated, but the problem remains and you should probably investigate it further.
So no, they do not all leak there. Not if everything is working normally. The ones that DO leak, many times the water will come out in those places, yes....but it's never supposed to be there at all.
The part of the track where you sealed is where the guides slide back and forth. If you remove the glass, you'll see there are 2 channels....one is all greasy and that's where you sealed..that's where the guides are.
The outer one will be dirty and that's where the water is supposed to flow. They are walled off from each other, so again...if water is in the greasy part (and it was if that's where your water was coming from), something else is wrong and it needs to be addressed.
You can look at my channel to see what your track looks like from the top if you need a visual.
I appreciate your feedback and thank you for pointing out to me that I should have also noted in my video that I did in fact blow out all 4 drain lines with an air compressor and a rubber tipped air chuck so as to ensure that I created a super tight seal. All 4 drain lines were operating perfectly fine during the time I was experiencing my leak issue so a clogged drain line was easily ruled out. That said, it has been 6 months since my fix and I have had 0 issues with leakage. I know who you are from watching your videos on TH-cam and I know that you are far more of an expert than I am so I will certainly not debate your credibility on your feedback. In fact I believe you did help me diagnose the real issue. I have the original seal around the glass so if, as you point out, Ford has created an updated seal to allow less water to filtrate in to the drain rails to prevent overflow then boom there's the issue. Like you say the portion of my track that is designed to carry the water to the drain lines is more than likely getting overwhelmed with too much water and overflowing in to the greasy outter portion where these rivots are located and then leaking out. In my opinion this still proves me to be right as this is still a very poorly designed system and now for more reasons than just the original one I pointed out. The seal around the glass should have been designed better from the get go and also anytime you have a track with holes punched through it that is located so close in proximity to a track that's sole purpose of existence is to carry water to drain lines, then Ford would certainly have been wise to seal them up from the factory in case of overflow due to heavy rains. My truck new with all the options was around $60k and it's not even a platinum. People spending this much on vehicles shouldn't have to worry about water inside their cabins. Fortunately and most importantly as pertaining to my fix, both tracks do lead to the drain tubes at the end of the tracks so my fix does in fact correct the issue I was experiencing. It's just a shame Ford didn't do it from the start because I as well as everyone else expressing this problem wouldn't have to go through all of this headache to correct what a little bit of sealant could have prevented. Best of luck everyone!
Pacfanweb you seem very knowledgeable. I have a leak and discovered it a pinching drain line at passenger rear. It works and slurps at downhill angle and stops and overflows on another angle. Did you ever hear of this. I built extensions for trough under both glasses to keep water out of track and still leaked so I knew it wasn't issue in this video. This video very helpful though!
@@roybrensinger9219 What year truck?
@@SealofPerfection 2022 brand new 4000miles. Factory mistake?
@@roybrensinger9219 Yep, no doubt.
Seen plenty of those over the years.
BTW, water leaks is my main business, goes hand in hand with sunroofs
Somebody should file a class action lawsuit for these cheap sunroofs and their leaks ! Figure it out ford!
You helped me out big time! Thku for your thoughtfulness and sharing
Great explanation and video details. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
Thanks for the video and all your hard work on this. I have a 2021 King Ranch with the same issue. I hope the dealership has figured this out by now, because I'll be taking it back asap!
Quick question if you don’t mind, what problems did you notice that prompted you to go to the dealer? Was water coming through? Wet headliner? Or just smell? I also have a 2021 my headliner isn’t wet and there’s no visible water, but the inside of my truck smells like a wet dog after rain. I just don’t know if mine is actually leaking or if it’s the cloth diffuser that causes the smell, it definitely smells and I have to clean it occasionally.
Thanks a lot for that info. I had water in the passenger side floorboard. I sprayed air in both front drain tubes. That fixed it it seems.
Hey guys I'm here to add my list of issues to the list. When trying to retract my roof the rear seal had stuck(even after wiping with amour-all to leave an oil layer) forcing the gearing to skip in the motor and throwing the roof position off. I reprogrammed (there's solid videos on this) and ever since I've been anal about the seal leaking that exists. Wondering if it's an intentional design because the window seal isn't perfect. This video was very informative and come this spring 🤞 should nothing force me otherwise, I'll be doing this sealant preventatively.
Thank you for being so informative and being helpful in a calm and simple description. Well done brother 👏 my truck is a huge portion of my life and I intend to maintain it with the same enthusiasm.
I have the exact same problem on my 2017 F-250 with moon roof. Thanks for the info!
Nice.
Will do mine soon.
But don't think magnets stick to aluminum.
Thanks. 😁👍👍👍
My 2017 F350 recently had the tracks replaced. The tech forgot to hook the drain tube for the front passenger side back up. Gotta love it.
was able to seal those from the top using electrical tar seal tape strips, so far so good. did not need to remove liner
How did that work so far?
@@arthurperez705 still good
I was wondering if that might work, butyl waterproof tape from the top. Doesn’t interfere with anything and you got in there just by opening the sunroof ?
@@RawLobst3r yup, still good
@@jblaze114 Big Ups my G, Thanx
This is exactly what I’ve been dealing with! Thanks for pointing this out!
My pleasure. I hope it helps you out. Thanks for supporting the channel.
great video! Thank you sooo Much. i just bought my truck on friday.... a mint 2015 f150 lariat...and had my first leak yesterday after a crazy day of rain and my truck was parked facing up-ways on a hill. ! i didn't see any evidence of a prior leak on the headliner because i was looking. im happy to know i can easily fix it.
This was insanely helpful. do you still have your truck?
Thanks Sean! Mine is an F 350 series. Certainly a good video description of what to look for!
Hey man thanks for sharing I’ve had this same problem with my truck I know this is an old video but I’d really appreciate a response if you can find the time after the repairs you’ve made have you had any further problems with leaks in the cab cause I’m at my last straw with this damn moonroof and I need a permanent fix I have everything I need to complete this repair I just want to know if this has fixed your problem or not again thank you for this information I was really getting tired of hearing “clean your drains” from everyone I asked and every where I looked I’ve cleaned them multiple times already now and have seen the water pour threw them onto the ground under the truck again thank you sir! Hope to hear back
No problems for 2 years and 30k miles for me personally. I hope it helps you out!
@@614inc thank you so much sir you rock
“Metal, aluminum,” 😂
Yeah I meant to say steel. Aluminum isn't magnetic. Keep in mind though, that I diagnosed this issue on my own in my driveway and fixed it, 3 years now with no leaks, when countless Ford dealerships and engineers couldn't get it right. So maybe overlook the accidental vocabulary oversight. Or don't 😂
Thank u, I wasn't sure how to begin with my leak. My truck has been to the dealer 2x already.
Purchased a 2015 lariat (70k miles) on 7/22/2024. Cleaned it the next day, headliner was soaked😢.
$2225.10 Dealership is paying but still …..will they do it right? Many people don’t take pride in their work these days.
Thanks for the info.
My super duty has the same musty smell after a rain. Thanks for the video!
You are a legend. Thank you sir!
On my 2017 it wound up being the cab lights leaking. Thxs for the video.
It’s because they are not supposed to be sealed the water is leaking down onto the track it self and not were the water track is . the reason for the water leaking down wrong is the seal on the back glass shrinks up I work for ford and have fixed this issue plenty of times
The back glass? not the sunroof?
@@arideout yes the seal in the back glass shrinks and causes water to fall into the track and not the water track if you look at the corners we’re the front and rear glass meet you will see a little gap the you can shine your light trough!
@@gift-from-godgaming9316 Thanks, so I’m assuming it would need a new seal then
@@arideout sadly since ford is dumb you can only get the seal with the glass so sadly you need a new rear glass
@@gift-from-godgaming9316 lol guess I’ll just do what this guy did then
Appreciate the content, definitely a big help. Great video!
Thanks very much. I appreciate the support!
I just did this caulk repair on my 2016 Limited today. Thanks for posting the video. I noticed that the headliner itself has a plastic trough channel glued to it also, seemingly for any overflow. Has the caulk job cured your issues or caused more? Well, I just did this to mine because I was tired of musty post rain truck and hope this cures it. Thanks for posting!
The sealant I used has cured my issues. Been almost 3 years since I did the job and still going strong today!
Yeah mine has been leaking 2015 ford lariat pano sunroof. I did use waterproof silicone on the rivets in the track but i did take 1 screw a lose but i guess i need 2 tackle thise headliner. Thnx driver side only leaking
Super helpful. Thank you!
Mine leaks from Pass front grab handle, dropped down to check drain tube, was hooked up and I added a clamp just in case. Still leaks. Dropped down again and removed Satellite antenna and sealed gasket up, now we have a hurricane coming through NC and I looked and floor is soaked and dripping from grab handle still. I guess this will be my next check. Very aggravating.
Thanks for making this video - I have a 2018 F150 and get the same "wet dog" smell in my truck after a rainfall, along with visible water leakage from both "holy shit" handles at the A pillar. I've triple and quadruple checked the drain lines and everything seems to be working fine there, so this has to be the issue.
Have you or anyone else considered sealing this from the top side of the tray instead of from beneath?
Also, if 38,000 people viewed this video that means at least that many are experiencing this problem. How is this? Not a recall or at least a TSB for repair??
Thank you!
so helpful thank you!!!
What I noticed with f-150’s is that when the sunroof drains are restricted or clogged they fill up and spill over on the sunroof air diffuser
Did it permanently stop the leak?
You saved me from over-paying or buying a lower mile 2015 Platinum. Thanks.
Great video and usefull information thanks
Awesome!! I have a 16 f150 and not a single problem until today. At 60k miles right after paying my truck off I started to get a leak right in the middle of where the switch is. Going to try this to see if it works.
Hey did you ever get around to this? My rear slider button had water leaking from it today and I’m considering doing this repair.
Helped me identify the exact same issue. Thank you
Hope it helps you out. Thanks for the support 👍
I've had my 19 f150 for almost 5 months. I want my 07 dakota back. This thing has been nothing but a headache and the dealerships have done nothing but give me the runaround. Blue oval can go... you know the rest.
Mine just started today. U da man! Thanks
Water drains into the “water track” and it’s so nerve racking hearing water in the roof. No water gets on seats/upholstery. It just gets into the sunroof and then runs along the water trough.
Thanks for your video!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Found the same leak in the rivets on my 2012 f150 with the standard sunroof
God Bless ya, man!
Thnx 4 your video
great video, so originally where was the water leaking into the cabin from? currently mine is leaking from the passenger hand grab thing AND in the middle where the sun glasses are held, could this be the same problem?
Mine was leaking from that same handle. Never had it come from the sunglasses compartment but It's definitely possible that you have the same issue.
Thanks for the video, great information. I just want to confirm, everyone expects their sunroof to leak (just noticed mine leaks on the back corners) so this is the solution, not fixing the leak but making it so the water doesn't drain into the cab? I haven't noticed water in the cab, but it seems like the sunroof shouldn't leak in the first place. Thanks!
the sunroof is actually designed to leak in to the rails. the rails are"drain rails". their job is to divert the water to the drain tubes that are found at both ends of the rails and expel the water out of the tubes that run to the bottom of the vehicle. too much water gets in however and causes them to over flow in to areas of the drain rails where water shouldn't get to and that's where the leaks come from. sealing everything up like what i did in the video prevents these leaks from happening
I have an old explorer, ok 20+ years, 170K miles it leaked. I used some roofing cement from lowes.
Great info! Thanks.
Got a 18 fixing it good stuff. Thanks
Thank you for supporting the channel! Good luck with it.
How is your repair holding up with Wendi sealant? I used Marine good and it started leaking again after a year.
Question for you, when you remove the headliner after removing all of the wire harnesses connected onto the headliner do you have to reprogram everything that gets disconnected or will there be inoperative switches ex sunroof sensors whatever else is tied in, just curious before I take it down, thank you sir.
I have a leak in mine but its the gasket around the glass on the window that retracts. I can see it came apart. Im with the guy that said there shouldn't be any water leaking through the sunroof even tho theres a water trough.
You’re the man
Thanks for the advice
Thank you for supporting the channel!
Great job tank you
Did the smell come through ur vents too?
My2013 f150 leaks somewhere on the left side shorting out my BCM. Can't find it.
I have a 2016 f150. My truck just started leaking after extremely heavy rain. It only come from the overhead console. Did you see where yours leaked inside the cab?
My 2016 F150 is wet in the driver's side floorboard...like a puddle WET...after a hard rain. Any thoughts?
So what's the cause of water inside when there is no moonroof?
I’m sure I got the same problem as my drains are not plugged. I’ll try that for sure
Would a sunroof leak run down the inside of the windshield? I have two spots about an inch wide that keep reappearing from the top of the windshield to the bottom in my ‘21. I haven’t noticed any puddling in the floors or dripping anywhere. I feel like this is a fairly recent development. I’ve only had it about 8 months and put 7k miles on it and maybe opened the roof 3 times.
Wear is the link to get the caulk you used???
Whats the name of it to???
My 2018 Ford is liquefying me on the passenger side the dealer asks me for $ 3,200 to install a new frame, did that repair work and what sealant did you use?
Hi very good video do you know another similar product ,for me is almost impossible to get the wedi i takes like 3 days and i have the truck disassemble with no time to wait thanks for your time
Any urethane based sealant that adheres to both plastic and metal will probably suffice. That said, I personally don't recommend anything except Wedi. For me, after all the headache I had already gone through, I didn't chance it.
Thanks I bought the wedi thanks
What sealant did you use?
Just had mine start leaking last night :/ Guess I’ll have to tear it apart and drop it.
Thanks my Brother , looks like l got my work cut out for me , could you send me the name of the sealant and where to get it thanks a lot my brother
Wedi sealant. Do a Google search. You can find it on the Internet. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Perhaps the only video I’ve seen covering this.
I’m hoping to fix this and then sell it. Ford is complete garbage.
Dealing with the same issue. Just wondering did you seal the top of the rivets
No I did not. The upper track area was too greasy and therefore I knew I wouldn't get proper adhesion so I didn't bother. Haven't had any issues 3 years later! Hope it helps 👍
@@614inc Seems like you just answered my question I posted about 5 minutes ago. Thanks again for this video.
This is just a band aide to mask the real problem. There should be no water, none, on that side of the track. Your gutter is probably overflowing into that area. The most common problem is one of the drain tubes is clogged or slow to drain. I could blow air through my drain tubes and I could pour water in the track and watch it drain down the tubes. I did notice 1 of the 4 tubes was a little harder to blow air through than the others. I found this when I tried to manually blow air through the tubes. I removed the tube, ran 12 gauge wire through it & found some black stuff that looked like sealer in the tube. Next I ran brake clean through it and flushed with water. No leaks since the reinstall. There are 4 tubes, 1 in each corner. The whole project took about 5 hours to remove the headliner, test for leaks, clean the tubes & reinstall everything.
I had this same conversation with another TH-camr once before. It is my fault that I forgot to mention that I did use a rubber nosed air chuck to clean out all 4 drain lines prior to sealing everything up with the Wedi. None of my drains were clogged. After cleaning the drains I even water tested them to ensure everything followed properly. This is actually what I was hoping the problem was because it's a super simple fix and I've had other vehicles suffer from that issue before as well. Next, I do agree that ideally water shouldn't reach this area of the track. HOWEVER Ford did design this side of the track to divert any water that gets in to it directly to the drain tubes just exactly as they did the opposite side of the track that is actually intended to get the water. Ford would not have designed both sides of the rail to drain in to the drain tubes if they didn't expect, or maybe fear is a better word, that water would possibly find itself there one day. Either way it has been years since I implemented my fix and I have had 0 leaks. With that said, several years of proven results, 0 leaks and 30,000 miles later, I don't think I would call it a band aid. For me it was a permanent solution.
@@614inc James Moss is 100% correct. There is never, ever supposed to be water in the "greasy" part of the track.
That said, now that I see what you wrote about the drain tubes, that was probably the real issue and getting out whatever that black substance was, was the actual fix.
I'd love to know if water is still getting into that greasy part of the track. It's never supposed to be there, but if what you sealed stopped it from getting into the headliner, that's great.
Still not good for water to be mixing with the grease and the moving parts, but hey...if there's no more water getting in the truck, that's not a bad thing.
@@SealofPerfection I just replied to you on a other video. And I have this leak but my drains flow clear. I can pour an entire washer fluid jug of water into the track and it all exits the drain behind the fender. However with a hose placed on the windshield spraying onto the roof of cab after 15 minutes time begins pouring from grab handle. Lowering headliner I find water dripping from the air deflector rivet and the two rivets that hold the steel plate in place. I have our 30 year veteran interior guy scratching his head. I just think the drains can't keep up with the volume of water. However I noticed water pouring in at the right front corner. It is worth mentioning the bulb seal is intact and the sliding is properly aligned. I'm debating grabbing a sliding glass panel off a stock unit. Mine is a 2016 F150 for reference.
@@andrewdbach1 3 things off the top of my head:
1. Sunroof adjustment, but probably not.
2. Rare, but sunroof glass can start separating from the metal frame it's glued to, and water will get into the greasy "track" area where it's not supposed to be.
3. Most likely one: Sunroof seal. On 15's and 16's (and a few early 17's) they have an updated seal for ones that will leak on extended rains or hard rains only, but won't leak on brief showers or light rain.
They have a new seal that fills the space a bit tighter and allows less water by it.
Catch is, it only comes with a new glass. But it's worked every time I've done it, which has been probably 50 or so times now.
@@SealofPerfection thanks for your response. I suspected #2. However I was able to dry the area and isolate water only to the 'wet' channel side and never observed it seeping from below. I like using blue washer fluid too, helps isolate between old water and new leak. I did perform a glass adjustment but it still poured in at a pretty fast rate on the RF corner. It's odd the LF corner has the typical slow drip, drip, drip but RH is coming in at a questionable rate. I wish I was able to observe it overflow into the 'greasy/track' side of things with my mirror but I was not able too. Maybe my borescope? I will retry at the leak in AM after I get a few waiters out. I am suspecting the bulb seal on the sliding glass panel as you said. And I presume this is just known knowledge and there is not service bulletin regarding this condition? Oh and backstory this truck had leak 2 years prior in RF that took out BCM that was blame on a plugged drain. Wonder If it has had the same leak all along?!?! Oh and I want to re-examine the drain tube to verify no uphill slope to them is observed.
Nope you can fix it with duck tape I did mine. So far so good on mine
LOL why not get some flex tape and do it right the first time! Kinda serious if you'd tape it, why not grab something intended for water
@@colet7645 Do to the bad design of the sunroofs on the Ford F150‘s it was the best thing to use and with it being inside the truck it’s not gonna hurt anything and if you have to replace it it’s pretty easy . The problem stems from the water getting into the second channel in the video if you watch where he put all the caulking around the magnets that’s the second channel you have to divert it into the first channel. That’s why all these Ford F150‘s are having problems they did not bring the tabs down far enough to make a drain into the first and it’s getting kicked into the second one!!!
@@dgregory28 Wish you would of made a video
@@mayanaztec6440 I never made a you video let me see if I can to help y’all out !!
@@dgregory28 I’m honestly trying to get rid of my f 150, with the inflation on prices it might be a good time to do so.
What is your caulk name that u used
He didn’t say it in the video at 5 mins or anything…
Your 85 thousand dollar pickup might have a leaky sunroof, but Ford is committed to celebrating gay pride. That's all that matters when you're Ford tough. Oops, I meant Ford Proud. (Also, I'd compare the smell to rotten potatoes as opposed to a wet dog)