Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

'86 924S

I've got a lot of water coming in. It seems to be originating from the bottom of the A-pillars and running off the bottom edges of the dash and onto the floor. It also runs from the pozi screws recessed in the sunroof front hinges, and a join in the trim pieces where the A-pillar trim cover meets the sun visor related trim piece spanning the entire width of the cabin (located along the top of the screen).

I'm aware there is some kind of drain tubing from each of the front corners of the sunroof, but how is it accessed? I don't want to release the headlining ideally, but am willing to do so if i must. Changed sunroof seal years ago, but it had no impact on the problem; the drains seem to drain water onto the floor when you pour it into the gulley from a mug so aren't blocked. When driving in rain, if i turn a corner it will literally pour in from the described areas!

I've gaffer taped up the external trim pieces that surround the screen. I don't think there's a leak there, but they don't fit well and are lifting off. Can anything be done with these?

I've got a full day to hit this on saturday, weather looks like it'll be dry.

Another convoluted and difficult one, thanks for any advice.

Take the sunroof panel out and trickle water into the 4 corners of the sunroof channel. there are 4 outlets, 2 drain pipes go down behind the quarter panels and can be seen as white pipes clipped to the rear inner wings, exiting through the floor in the side boxes. 2 go down the front A pillar and come out below the screen by the bonnet hinges. make sure they all work. It has been known for a pipe to become disconnected (the rears are in 2 pieces I think), also for the outlet tubes from the sunroof channel to become rusted out if they have been blocked over time. If you need to delve further the headlining needs to be removed

Thanks. The problem presents as though the front tubes have become partially disconnected; rusting out is now looking likely. I think this is a common problem, i'll try to remember to take some pictures of what i find.

I've got seam sealer, dum-dum, and gaffer tape, all of which will solve most problems of this nature.

first thing is to try clearing them out, nothing violent, strimmer line works the best, clean all four out, then clean out the scuttle drains

The screen trim is unlikely to be a source of a leak, they are mainly cover pieces for the screen recess, they are held in by a series of clips which may have rusted. They are available from your OPC, at a price!

Know little about these cars, but as a general point, we see similar problems in the 911,Boxter cars with blocked drains being a culprit, be very careful how you go about clearing them, gently being the watchword and as mentioned, strimmer line a decent shout.........too vigorously applied can dislodge tubes from sunroof/cab hood drains and you can end up with a can of worms?

Thanks. Work begins tommorrow, hopefully with some pics to follow. I don't have strimmer wire, but i have tri-rated 0.75 which will do i think.

There's a chance the leak is around the a-pillar base in the scuttle, unlikely though TBH.

I think i'm going to need some of these expensive clips. Everything at Porsche is priced in mulitples of £100 starting at £97.98 i often find. Full kit of clips- £97.98?

Most OPC's are giving 10% discount to Tipec members, although you have to ask, and often prove membership?

The car wouldn't part with the A-pillar trim piece, some kind of clip related hassle going on. Drains clear, problem persists. I might have to take it take it somewhere and get it looked at, the outer sunroof seal came from Porschshop and doesn't quite fit as good as i'd like, lid is not flush with roof.

The A pillar trim is a PITA, the top screw is never directly under the opening and has to be fished for with a phillips screwdriver, it is in there somewhere.

The roof never shuts right after a seal change, there are no clips on the A pillar trims just screws, and as mentioned can be a real pain to find

It does sound like your tubes might have been sliced by a screen fitter, it’s not the first time and won’t be the last

The other possibility is that because the lid is proud of the roof, water is escaping over the inner seal through the gap that shouldn't be there and getting into the cabin.

Someone told me you can heat sunroof seals to make them more malleable, it might sit down after that. For now it's gaffer taped up whilst i dry the footwells out.

So the top screw was there after all! Grrr.

You would need a huge amount of water getting in round the outer seal to flood the inner seal,

It has been noted that some capillary action can take place on the inner seal