Leaking sunroof (Page 1/2)
Benster JUN 17, 08:12 PM
So, I've just started daily driving my 85 get and it's rained hard for the first time this year and the sunroof started leaking. It was all around the roof except for the back, even the latch was dry. I've pulled the weather strip and its been replaced by the previous owner, I have the receipt form the fiero store, and I'm unsure on where to go from here. Logic says to use weatherstrip adhesive but from the videos I've seen it doesn't seem necessary I've also seen people pull the headliner as a whole, and I can't see why I would need too. The problem could also be the interior strip that sits below the glass, if that's shrunk over time, generally unsure on where to go from here, any insight would be helpful, thanks.
Patrick JUN 18, 01:42 AM
The sunroof shouldn't leak water into the cab even if it's open. (I drive in the pouring rain with my sunroof always flipped open.) Have you checked to make sure the drain holes in the corners are free of debris?

And if your Fiero doesn't have the drain holes...

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-18-2025).]

82-T/A [At Work] JUN 18, 08:38 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

The sunroof shouldn't leak water into the cab even if it's open. (I drive in the pouring rain with my sunroof always flipped open.) Have you checked to make sure the drain holes in the corners are free of debris?

And if your Fiero doesn't have the drain holes...





Patrick... I noticed your image says "for 1984-1986 Fieros" ... was there a change from 86-87 so that 87 and 88 Fieros don't have a similar issue? I'd never had leaks in my sunroof (and I lived in South Florida), but I don't remember holes (they're probably there, I just didn't see them).

When my daughter and I removed the rear upper quarter panel... there was nothing like what I expected involving the sunroof. I couldn't really see "inside" the roof so to speak... but I'm wondering if there is actually anything in the frame (like a tube or something)... or if it's literally just a hole and the water drains down through the inside of the space frame and exits somewhere?
Benster JUN 18, 10:22 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

The sunroof shouldn't leak water into the cab even if it's open. (I drive in the pouring rain with my sunroof always flipped open.) Have you checked to make sure the drain holes in the corners are free of debris?

And if your Fiero doesn't have the drain holes...






I definitely don't have drain holes, is it necessary to drill them, or is there a way I can stop the leaking without putting extra holes in my car?
cliffw JUN 18, 12:37 PM

quote
Originally posted by Benster:
The problem could also be the interior strip that sits below the glass, if that's shrunk over time, generally unsure on where to go from here, any insight would be helpful, thanks.



Benster, welcome to the forum. Is this your first Fiero ? Do you know that the sunroof can be totaly removed and it stows under the front deck lid ?

I had your problem once (on a long gone Fiero). I stuffed some thin sash cord in the folds of the lower gasket raising the upper section. It worked well till I sold the Fiero.
Benster JUN 18, 12:46 PM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:


Benster, welcome to the forum. Is this your first Fiero ? Do you know that the sunroof can be totaly removed and it stows under the front deck lid ?

I had your problem once (on a long gone Fiero). I stuffed some thin sash cord in the folds of the lower gasket raising the upper section. It worked well till I sold the Fiero.



Yup, this is my first Fiero, I knew about the sunroof, it's currently sitting under the hood, and I was just looking for a more pretty solution than jamming some stuff in the gasket. Thanks for the tip though.
cartercarbaficionado JUN 18, 01:39 PM

quote
Originally posted by Benster:

So, I've just started daily driving my 85 get and it's rained hard for the first time this year and the sunroof started leaking. It was all around the roof except for the back, even the latch was dry. I've pulled the weather strip and its been replaced by the previous owner, I have the receipt form the fiero store, and I'm unsure on where to go from here. Logic says to use weatherstrip adhesive but from the videos I've seen it doesn't seem necessary I've also seen people pull the headliner as a whole, and I can't see why I would need too. The problem could also be the interior strip that sits below the glass, if that's shrunk over time, generally unsure on where to go from here, any insight would be helpful, thanks.


cam you see between the glass and seal? how proud is the seal? did you have the front in properly?
Patrick JUN 18, 02:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

Patrick... I noticed your image says "for 1984-1986 Fieros" ... was there a change from 86-87 so that 87 and 88 Fieros don't have a similar issue?



I don't know off-hand if those years mentioned are necessarily correct, but yes, there was a change where eventually the drain holes were made in the plastic roof panels at the factory.


quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

I'm wondering if there is actually anything in the frame (like a tube or something)... or if it's literally just a hole and the water drains down through the inside of the space frame and exits somewhere?



No tubes. The water simply drains down and off of the metal roof that is under the plastic roof panel. If I remember correctly (from when I swapped a sunroof onto one of my Fieros), there are beads of "tar" on the metal roof that more or less direct the water towards the side quarter windows where the water can then drain out.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-18-2025).]

Patrick JUN 18, 02:54 PM

quote
Originally posted by Benster:

I definitely don't have drain holes, is it necessary to drill them, or is there a way I can stop the leaking without putting extra holes in my car?



Why would you not wish to properly fix the problem? This is how the later year Fieros with sunroofs all came from the factory. I did this simple modification to my '84... works great. My '88 Formula came with the drain holes, so nothing needed to be done.

I've had four Fieros with sunroofs. None of them have leaked water into the cab... and I live in a rainforest!
82-T/A [At Work] JUN 18, 04:03 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

No tubes. The water simply drains down and off of the metal roof that is under the plastic roof panel. If I remember correctly (from when I swapped a sunroof onto one of my Fieros), there are beads of "tar" on the metal roof that more or less direct the water towards the side quarter windows where the water can then drain out.





I'm kicking myself for having not taking really detailed pictures. My daughter spent a lot of time sanding, painting, and even Por-15'ing the entire steel roof and replacing all the closed-foam gaskets in there as well.

There are seams where the various parts of the space frame are welded together, and they're jammed with tar all around... often looks like someone pinched it between their fingers. But it would seem like the water drains down the inside (behind the fiberglass) panel... but I wasn't sure if that was the case... made sense though.