Help: Water leaking into the tool bay (1 Viewer)

[RedogLX470]

New Lexus LX 470 owner here. Finally bought a 2001 with 100K miles. So far so god. However I am getting water dripping into the tool bay from the trim above when the truck is parked uphill (only). The rear window seals seem to be in good shape. Could this be coming from the sunroof? I just put masking tape around the entire sunroof and waiting for the next downpour. Previous owner mentioned something about the sunroof and that the glass assembly needs to be replaced. I had a small leak from the window gasket dripping into the center of the car. Used some silicone and it stopped.
Any other ideas or tips are much appreciated.

 

[LEX]

Check your 3rd brake light. Could be loose or seal is bad.

 

[REKCUT]

There should be a sunroof drain that comes down through the rear quarter. I would start there. Little holes around sunroof you can pour water in and see if it turns into leak or comes out underneath where it should.

 

[RedogLX470]

thanks, is it possible that the drains are not just plugged but also torn/disconnected, which would require taking the trim off?

 

[hoser]

Likely, only plugged. But who knows what the PO did. The rear drains are not so easy to access. I thought this idea was brilliant. You can buy a cheap endoscope for your smartphone for $20.

Sunroof Rear Drain

 

[geanes]

Either 3rd brake light OR you have a bolt in the roof rack (where it attaches to the roof) that is leaking. When I put my Gamiviti roof rack on, one of the bolts on the back left was rusted and leaked bad. I cleaned it up with a wire brush and RTV Siliconed the new bolts. No more leaks at all.

 

[RedogLX470]

Either 3rd brake light OR you have a bolt in the roof rack (where it attaches to the roof) that is leaking. When I put my Gamiviti roof rack on, one of the bolts on the back left was rusted and leaked bad. I cleaned it up with a wire brush and RTV Siliconed the new bolts. No more leaks at all.

Good point, there has been some damage to the factory rack. PO painted the front foot, also a plate/cover is missing exposing 3 bolts.

 

[REKCUT]

Run a hose on the bolt and see if water comes in. Run water on sunroof hole and check. Run water on bake light and check. yada yada yada. Id find where its going in before i start taking things apart.

 

[REKCUT]

If your headliner is not wet then i wouldn't think its from roof rack. I believe the tube for the roof runs right behind that wet panel

 

[RedogLX470]

Run a hose on the bolt and see if water comes in. Run water on sunroof hole and check. Run water on bake light and check. yada yada yada. Id find where its going in before i start taking things apart.

Yes, will report back
thanks

 

[RedogLX470]

Ok, taped the rear window and ran the water along the roof rack. It's definitely coming in thru the rear roof attachment.
Will try to take it off and check the screws.

 

[geanes]

Ok, taped the rear window and ran the water along the roof rack. It's definitely coming in thru the rear roof attachment.
Will try to take it off and check the screws.

Clean them up with a wire brush and clean the holes as well. Then RTV Silicone the threads and torque down. Should stop the leak.

 

[RedogLX470]

Ok, I did take the rack off and cleaned the threads. Surprisingly it did look pretty good. No corrosion still had some silicone on the threads. I only had regular silicone at the moment.
have not tried to spray with the hose yet. Will let it dry first/ Somehow I am skeptical that it worked.

 

[RedogLX470]

update. It appears the leak did not come from the roof rack but the small rear driver side window. I will take it to an Auto Glass place next week for repair. They quoted me $100. Thanks for your help.