Roof Leak Solved, but Have Questions

[calskibum]

I'm a new owner of a '99 LC (less than one month of ownership). We had moderate rain here last night, and this morning when I drove it, I had about a third of a cup of water pouring out of the front center ceiling dome light (the one between the two sun visors). Needless to say, I was quite discouraged since I've just had to replace a failed starter last week and it felt like if it's not one thing, it's another. However, after searching this forum and reading posts about leaks caused by the sunroof drains, I tested them and found the right drain plugged. Tomorrow I will go to a hardware store to get some wires to clear the drain as suggested to see if that solves the problem.

I also want to take down the front center ceiling light assembly to dry it to make sure that there isn't any amount of standing water still collected/pool in the switches or over the electrical contacts. Can someone advise how I can take this light assembly off of the headliner? I saw only one screw inside the remote transceiver compartment and unscrewed it but the assembly still feel pretty tightly mounted to the headliner. I didn't want to force it down and risk damaging it before I ask people in this forum if there is anything else I'm supposed to unscrew or loosen.

Also, in one of the posts, a forum member mentioned that the sunroof drain opens down to the windshield area. Can someone point me to exactly where? Is this lower opening visible so when I thread a wire through to clear it, I can see it coming out of the drain opening and know that I've threaded it through the entire length of the drain?

This brings me to the next question. Are there any other drains in the vehicle that I should run the wires through to clear before the raining season gets into full force?

Thanks again for your help. Without this forum, I wouldn't have known to test the sunroof drains.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Pop the lenses out of the lights, the screws holding the dome are behind them. AFAIK the sunroof drains go all the way down to the rocker panels, you should be able to syringe water into the clear one and see where it drips out on the ground.

 

[calskibum]

Hi Trunk Monkey,

I can't seem to find a way to pop out the light lenses. Confirming this is on the front personal light assembly, the one with the sunroof switches?

 

[1loudLX]

yes. The lens has an indent on it allowing you to put something thin in and pry it off. make sure to use something that wont mar the plastico.

 

[mikeacs]

I'd add that you keep the slides and moving parts of the sunroof well greased, My 99's sunroof started binding from lack of lubricant, and wouldnt close fully. It's a big problem if one of the cables break!

 

[calskibum]

Thanks everyone for the tips and info. By the way, I see the two sunroof drain holes on the frontal edge of the sunroof. Are there any in the back that I also need to clear? I looked and didn't see any, and the threads that I found here for the 100s only mentioned about the front two drains. I would assume that Toyota would have put drains on the back edge also in case the vehicle is parked on an incline and the water leaking through the sunroof collects in the back first.

 

[aljordan]

Just drains on the front from doing mine a few months ago. I just blew 40 psi of air into the sunroof drains and it's been fine since. I took the pillar panels off in order to get a good look at them.

 

[Tchecki]

What is the proper lubricant for the slides? I can see residue that looks like some type of grease (white-ish). Any idea what is spec'd for this?

I'd add that you keep the slides and moving parts of the sunroof well greased, My 99's sunroof started binding from lack of lubricant, and wouldnt close fully. It's a big problem if one of the cables break!

 

[GaFJC]

Just drains on the front from doing mine a few months ago. I just blew 40 psi of air into the sunroof drains and it's been fine since. I took the pillar panels off in order to get a good look at them.

Trimmer string works well also if you don't want to use compressed air


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[12guns]

White lithium grease. Get it at any parts store or Lowes.


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