Sunroof Gasket -- This isn't right, right?

angrydan · #1 01-04-2010, 06:18 PM

Dumb, quick question... I just got my car back from a body shop who fixed some cracking paint on my roof. Understandably, they had to remove the sunroof gasket to paint, but it looks to me like there is a piece of the gasket broken or missing?

Can someone just confirm for me that there shouldn't be that gap in the middle? And if so, what is SUPPOSED to be there? Its something I never took notice of... Thanks in advance!

-Dan

**Ewie** · #2 01-04-2010, 06:35 PM

No gaps in mine at all....

angrydan · #3 01-04-2010, 06:46 PM

Ok... thats what I thought. Thanks! Does anyone know if there is like some small piece that is supposed to join over the two ends of the gasket or anything? All I can guess is that either a piece of the gasket broke off or there was some coupler piece that they didn't reattach... any thoughts?

MadMaxSvx · #4 01-04-2010, 06:53 PM

Rubber is flexible, maybe they reattached the gasket not making enough tension so the rubber goes all around the sunroof line.

gstape · #5 01-04-2010, 06:57 PM

When I had mine off to repaint my roof a couple years ago I ended up with a similar gap when I put it back together. I took it back off and stretched it a little and put it back on. Then the gap was mostly gone. There isn't anything else that goes in there.

angrydan · #6 01-04-2010, 07:50 PM

Ok, thanks for everyone's input. I am just going to take the car back to the shop tomorrow and have them attempt to fix it. This way if anything gets damaged in the process, it won't be on me

Green1995SVX · #7 01-04-2010, 08:16 PM

the seam in the rubber should be at the back of the sunroof, too. Not the front.

AyeJaye · #8 01-04-2010, 09:29 PM

Mine has a gap and has never leaked in the time I've owned the car.

ZMan · #9 01-04-2010, 09:50 PM

Yes, they can have a gap - it is designed so water can leak in, but there are four drain hoses - one in each corner - to let the water drain out.

tiv0 · #10 01-04-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZMan

Yes, they can have a gap - it is designed so water can leak in, but there are four drain hoses - one in each corner - to let the water drain out.

But if you can avoid it, wouldn't you not want the gap? And not have water leak in?

It should be pretty simple for them to fix it, might just have to stretch it a bit as gstape mentioned.

svxcess · #11 01-04-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstape

When I had mine off to repaint my roof a couple years ago I ended up with a similar gap when I put it back together. I took it back off and stretched it a little and put it back on. Then the gap was mostly gone. There isn't anything else that goes in there.

There should be no gap.

My pearlie had a gap in the sunroof rubber (about 1/2") when I bought it. When I had the sunroof panel repainted, the shop took the molding off. When they reinstalled it, they also stretched in so that it actually overlapped at the ends. After they installed it the rubber was compressed at the ends and has never moved, maintaining a perfect seam with no gap. The same with my polo

Do this in warm weather or use a heat gun or hair dryer to soften the rubber a bit to make it more pliable.

.

ZMan · #12 01-05-2010, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiv0

But if you can avoid it, wouldn't you not want the gap? And not have water leak in?

It should be pretty simple for them to fix it, might just have to stretch it a bit as gstape mentioned.

Yes, it would look a little nicer without the gap.

I was saying that it doesn't matter if water gets beyond the sunroof [ i knew i shouldn't have used the word leak]

I had a clog in one of the drain tubes once, and after i cleared it i tested all 4 drain tubes by pouring GALLONS of water in each corner to make sure they were clear.

Not a drop of water got into the car - which is the way it's supposed to work.

So if it bothers you, then fix the gap, but if your drain tubes are clean, and you should make sure they are, it won't matter if water gets in there or not.

angrydan · #13 01-05-2010, 02:09 PM

Thanks for everyone's input. The body shop was able to heat it up and stretch it to fix the gap. They also put the seam in the rear of the sunroof where it belongs!

Thanks again!!

BRADY · #14 01-05-2010, 08:45 PM

Cool. Thanks for this. Mine has a gap at the rear of the sunroof. I have always wondered if this is right or not. I shall fix this now.