Water leaking down edge of rear seat. Sunroof?

[31satara]

1998 A4 avant with sunroof.
The rear seat is getting very wet down the edges (mainly o/s). The water appears to be running along the edge of the headlining above the rear door. I assume it is coming from the sunroof. I've found drain holes at the front of the sunroof and these seem fine. I can't see any drain holes at the rear - I'm assuming there must be some - can anyone confirm this and if so where they are and how to check them? Alternatively, any other ideas how the water is getting in?
Thanks.
(Front footwells are dry and the drain holes under the battery are clear).

[johno]

im having the same trouble on my a4 avant 1996 quattro and it seems it is from the sunroof as i think the whole seal for the roof needs replacing now my trouble is my sunroof seems to bind on 1 side when i try and open it so it twists and stops near enough straight away so when i figure out how to get it open i will investigate my leek more and try and let you know

johno

[31satara]

I haven't investigated further yet - it's my brothers car. He has put vasaline around the seal in the past which has helped. However, I was under the impression that this didn't have to be a good seal as water getting past should still be channeled away. (I know with my old volvo I can have the roof tilted open in heavy rain and it still drains away fine).
Maybe it does need to be a good seal, and a replacement is the way to go. Likewise, I'll post back if I find anything.

[Sam]

There are drainage tubes running from all four corners of the sunroof channels.

Two trail down the A pillars, two down the C pillars.

On the Passat with the same body platform (B5) the rear tubes terminate in the rear wheel arches. It is quite common for the nipples at the end of the tubes to become blocked with all sorts of crap.

If you open the sunroof fully you can see the drains, try trickling water down them and see if they work.

Another common fault is the roof aerial base rotting away. Check your headliner to see if this is happening

[docurley]

This should help.

Procedure to clear sunroof drain
There is one hex screw that attaches the rear wheel well to the rear bumper. Remove the one screw
from each side:







Remove trunk liner to access the bumper bolts











Make sure an exit tube behind the passenger rear wheel well is not tangled



With the 2 hex screws and 4 bolts removed, you can push the whole bumper forward

[docurley]

Part 2

With the bumper pushed forward (as far as it will go), you will now need to unclip the bumper from the side supports.
Go to one side, grab behind the bumper @4" down from its top and pull (gently but firmly) straight out / a little down (towards you) from the side of the car. This will release the top portion of the bumper.
Look down and you'll be able to see the bottom clip still attached, just give that a little pull up / out to release it completely.
Do the other side.





What the attaching clips looks like from the inside of the removed bumper



With your bumper removed, you can clear out the sunroof drains, one on each side. Make sure your sunroof is open before proceeding.

Use a standard speedometer cable and snake it through starting at the exit point (under the rear bumper) which will lead thru the rear of your open sunroof.








Do both sides.
Done.


To reassemble your bumper.
Pickup the bumper and slide the bumper supports (on the bumper) into the bumper holes on the frame of your car. Slide the bumper as far forward as it will go.

Ensure the bumper lines up correctly with the rear wheel well.

Once it is lined up, push each side of the bumper straight into the side of the car to reattach the side clips. They should 'pop' back in.
Once secure, pull the bumper back (rearward) to line up with the 4 bolt holes in the trunk.

Insert and secure each bolt (good and tight). Make sure you reattach the cargo net plate and hook as you insert each bolt.

Screw in each hex screw on both sides of the rear wheel well.

Done.

[31satara]

Thanks for that docurly - just what I needed. It's taken me this long to actually do this! However, once I'd got the rear bumper almost off I had a look at the grommet with the drain tube as shown in the photo, but mine didn't have one - just a solid grommet!! So back to square one. I've can only assume the avant is different to the saloon. I've had another look around but can't see where the rear drains exit. I'll put up another post in the hope that someone knows.

[d3xta]

Hi

I realise this is a very old thread but I am hoping that someone out there may have an answer as I am suffering from exactly the same problem and I too have the solid grommet in the rear of my avant....

Can anyone help?

Thanks.

[31satara]

Try this thread:
https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...ad.php?t=17918