How To Clean Lube Sun Roof Gaskets

With the button of a button, a sunroof brings the exterior in—and can brand your car feel more spacious.

Then it's understandable that sunroofs are growing in popularity. The number of new vehicles sporting this bright feature has increased dramatically over the by few years, and market place researchers judge that need will jump even more in the next five years. Sunroofs are also growing in size, with panoramic versions condign more common.

And while a sunroof can make driving more pleasurable, information technology does require regular maintenance, says Pat Goss, a Maryland-based mechanic and co-host of television's longest-running automotive program. Without attending, your sunroof can be more than likely to leak or suspension down.

Here are Goss's expert-approved tips on how to help continue that roof over your head working properly.

GEICO Mobile - #1 rated insurance app

Make clean It Regularly

Regular cleaning of your sunroof is the most constructive fashion to continue it functional. Every time you make clean your motorcar, give your sunroof some TLC with these steps:

Open up the sunroof and make clean the entire visible area, using a vacuum if necessary.
Wipe down all moving parts and the gasket around the roof with a soft cloth, automotive cleaner and toothbrush. Clean the slides and tracks.
Use a minor corporeality of lightweight, heat-resistant grease (such as white lithium) to lubricate all moving parts.
For the glass, consider a cleaner that does not contain ammonia or vinegar. (These chemicals can vaporize in warm conditions and crusade irritation if inhaled.)

Detail It Annually

Once a year, it's a good idea to do a deeper detail on your sunroof. (If y'all live in a dusty climate or bulldoze on clay roads, yous may want to make this a monthly do.)

Offset, make clean the sunroof as y'all normally would. Then articulate the sunroof trough (just inside the rubber seal) by blowing low-force per unit area air (no more than 10 psi!) through the drain tubes (at the base of the sunroof seal). Finish the process by inserting a skinny, flexible, non-puncturing wire into a bleed tube, twisting the wire clockwise and and then counterclockwise while gently pushing it deeper into the tube. Brand sure to check the length of your drain tubes; the far ends, ordinarily located under the car well-nigh the wheels, can be tempting places for insects to build nests that can cake the drains and cause leaks.

Then close the sunroof and pour water over the glass. If it leaks into the passenger compartment, wait for cracks or jagged edges forth the sunroof seal, and scan the area around the seal for whatsoever excessive h2o pooling or mold. Withal leaking? Consider taking your automobile to a pro for a repair.

Let It Move Freely

If your roof is sticking or seems to be wearisome, audit the moving parts (if they are visible) for croaky or stripped gears, or a buildup of clay and debris. Turn on your car engine and cycle the roof through the open, closed and vent positions to identify the area where the problem occurs. If it runs more smoothly after a couple of cycles, clean everything and then lightly and carefully apply a lightweight, heat-resistant grease to whatsoever visible moving parts. If it's still stuck, says Goss, information technology could be a malfunction of the circuitry that powers most new sunroofs. Take your car to a qualified sunroof repair shop.

Heed For Common Issues

Popping and scraping noises are mostly not good sounds for cars to make; in a sunroof they may betoken parts that need lubricating, slipping gears, or some other mechanical effect. If yous notice any of these noises, make clean your sunroof and lubricate any visible components. If y'all're nevertheless hearing them, close the sunroof and take information technology to a pro for repair. Some drivers have reported hearing popping noises right before their sunroofs shatter; if you lot hear those sounds, take your car to a qualified repair shop.

Here'due south some other bright thought for your car: affordable auto insurance from GEICO. Go a fast, free quote today .

Read more: 7 car noises you should never ignore

Past Maridel Reyes