80 series windshield/sunroof leak. New owner. (5 Viewers)

[80SeriesElmes]

Hey, I just bought a 1996 landcruiser with 199k miles. Lots of good stuff and lots of things that also need fixing etc.

This morning whilst driving I made a hard turn and water splashed out from the top of my windshield it looks to be right where the headliner meets the windshield.
It wasn’t raining when I drove I don’t think it had rained in a day or 2 so that water was sitting in something.

All of this also adds up to why I have a small rust hole in both front floor pans. Water must have been getting in for a while.
I also don’t know if it is from the windshield itself as there’s no real access points it’s pretty well sealed or so it seems.
I know it could be a lot of things. But if this has happened to you what was the cause and how did you fix it.

Now if you think it’s my sunroof, I’ll add this. My sunroof won’t open. So I’m unable to get to the drain holes located at the front. Do yall know any work around sir fixes to get to that. Once I find a way to get the water out I’d consider sealing it up if that’s the cause.


Thanks!!!

 

[Kernal]

The sunroof is a known leak source, could have plugged drain holes in the pan that collects the water so when you made a hard turn the water sloshed over the edge of the pan.

A quick fix (before the next rain) is to put tape over the sunroof glass-body seam for now.

There is a mechanical method to open your sunroof, basically you crank on a screw that opens the sunroof manually.
If you have the owner's manual IIRC the instructions are in there, or download a copy of the Factory Service Manual (FSM) and look through that.

Or try a Search for words like " manual crank sunroof open"

I'll post a link if I find it.

 

[80SeriesElmes]

The sunroof is a known leak source, could have plugged drain holes in the pan that collects the water so when you made a hard turn the water sloshed over the edge of the pan.

A quick fix (before the next rain) is to put tape over the sunroof glass-body seam for now.

There is a mechanical method to open your sunroof, basically you crank on a screw that opens the sunroof manually.
If you have the owner's manual IIRC the instructions are in there, or download a copy of the Factory Service Manual (FSM) and look through that.

Or try a Search for words like " manual crank sunroof open"

I'll post a link if I find it.

I really appreciate that I’ll look into it more. Thanks

 

[Kernal]

Here's a previous thread discussing the topic of a stuck sunroof:

Thread 'Stuck Sunroof - 1997 FzJ80 - Is there a manual bypass?'

Jul 14, 2022

Can anyone confirm if there is or is not a manual bypass for a sunroof that refuses to open on a 1997?

I found THIS THREAD (post #3) mentioning a manual bypass under the sunroof switch and map light...I'm not home to verify with my own eyes so I thought I would ask.

ISSUE: My sunroof is stuck-stuck and it's something I've been meaning to look into and clean the drains...with the nicer weather (See: No Rain), I want to get at this small project this weekend, BUT, I can't open the sunroof...I'm not sure if it's simply stuck due to dirt and lack of grease on the rails, or if a fuse...

• DirtyPepper
• 1997 electrical sunroof
• Replies: 19
• Forum: 80-Series Tech

 

[MARLIN375]

Hey, I just bought a 1996 landcruiser with 199k miles. Lots of good stuff and lots of things that also need fixing etc.

This morning whilst driving I made a hard turn and water splashed out from the top of my windshield it looks to be right where the headliner meets the windshield.
It wasn’t raining when I drove I don’t think it had rained in a day or 2 so that water was sitting in something.

All of this also adds up to why I have a small rust hole in both front floor pans. Water must have been getting in for a while.
I also don’t know if it is from the windshield itself as there’s no real access points it’s pretty well sealed or so it seems.
I know it could be a lot of things. But if this has happened to you what was the cause and how did you fix it.

Now if you think it’s my sunroof, I’ll add this. My sunroof won’t open. So I’m unable to get to the drain holes located at the front. Do yall know any work around sir fixes to get to that. Once I find a way to get the water out I’d consider sealing it up if that’s the cause.


Thanks!!!

My sunroof was not opening, thought maybe from lack of use, but it turned out it was slightly in vent mode ( it has two open options right) this was preventing it from opening.
Any how im busy looking for the bottom of the tray drains down at floor level in the a pillars....pretty sure I did this 20 years ago, just remember....lol

 

[Malleus]

Hey, I just bought a 1996 landcruiser with 199k miles. Lots of good stuff and lots of things that also need fixing etc.

This morning whilst driving I made a hard turn and water splashed out from the top of my windshield it looks to be right where the headliner meets the windshield.
It wasn’t raining when I drove I don’t think it had rained in a day or 2 so that water was sitting in something.

All of this also adds up to why I have a small rust hole in both front floor pans. Water must have been getting in for a while.
I also don’t know if it is from the windshield itself as there’s no real access points it’s pretty well sealed or so it seems.
I know it could be a lot of things. But if this has happened to you what was the cause and how did you fix it.

Now if you think it’s my sunroof, I’ll add this. My sunroof won’t open. So I’m unable to get to the drain holes located at the front. Do yall know any work around sir fixes to get to that. Once I find a way to get the water out I’d consider sealing it up if that’s the cause.


Thanks!!!

If you have compressed air, you can clear the sunroof pan drains from below. This is actually the best practice, IMO. Remove the kickpanel trim and reach into the hole where the body harness connectors are stored. Pull them out and you'll see a black plastic hose. Pull that out, gently, apply compressed air to the end. That will clear the front drains, whether the sunroof is open or not. I'd use a trigger actuated blow gun, that way you can gently introduce the air at first and gradually work up to fullpressue, as you fell the tube opening. You'll hear the air escaping when it's clear.

» NOTE: if you pull on the tube, you can dislodge it from the nipple on the pan; the retaining clip is a pretty weak spring. If this happens, you'll have to drop the headliner to reattach it. If you get this far, you should remove the tube and flush it with warm soapy water until it is clean inside. This is the only way to completely clear the drains.

You can clear the rear pan drains the same way, but it's much easier. The tubes exit the body in the rear wheel wells.

Even an old sunroof seal will keep enough water out to allow the pan drains to keep up with the inflow, if they're clean.

If this doesn't solve your leak problem, it's your windshield.

FWIW, your rust holes are due to dirt building up in the lower end of the pocket formed by the inner and outer body panels, in that same area. PUll out one of the two body bolts in the bottom of that pocket. You will never have water in your rocker panels again.