Leaking sunroof (2014 Pathfinder Platinum)

[rojoloco]

After the Pathfinder sitting for a month, we just found tons of mold growth. I learned it was from a leaking sunroof I didn't know about. I sprayed the gasket area from the top and water was spraying into cabin. It's more prevalent at the rear but also coming a little from the front. The drain tubes seem to be flowing just fine. Since it appears to be the actual sunroof gasket, does anyone have a write-up on how to replace this? Also, a part number. I think I have the right one (91246-3JA0A) but want to be sure. Thanks!

[Rockwood]

I have not worked on a 2014, but the service manual is available to help you out. Look at the banner at the top of the page, and find service manual, and follow the links. You can download any section you need.

Probably roof for the sunroof part of the job, and interior because it looks like you have to pull the headliner down to get to the sunroof frame.

Hope that helps!

[rojoloco]

Turns out it was much easier than anticipated. No interior removal at all. You simply slide the headliner open while the glass is shut. There's two star bolts (size T25) on each side. Remove those and it comes right out.

[rojoloco]

Interestingly enough, the weatherstripping is atill fairly pliable. I'm not really sure why it's leaking so badly. I'll likely replace it anyway but I may look into adding a bit of silicone to help seal from the elements (sort of like how you'd add a small amount to the gasket of an underwater camera case). Not sure if it'll help but it might be with trying before dumping $125 into new weatherstripping (especially with how easy it is to remove). FYI, you'll want two people when putting it back in. There's room for slight adjustment. You'll want one person tightening on the inside and another telling you you're flush on top.

[Rockwood]

Might look at sunroof leaks on youtube for various Nissan models and see if it helps. $125 is kinda pricey.

[rojoloco]

I researched it to death. My options are either replace it or permanently seal it off. I bought some PB Blaster silicone spray today. I removed the weatherstripping, completely coated it in the spray, wiped it down, and placed it back on the sunroof. I did another leak test and it's still leaking. I think the weatherstripping, while still being pliable, is likely too compressed to properly seal. I bit the bullet and ordered the new one. At least it's only a 10 minute replacement job when it comes in.

[Dogred08]

I have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder that I bought with a mildew interior and full of water. I found 2 leaks. One was the sun roof drain tubes and the other was the rear driver side door for the back seat due to it being warped. I'll attempt to attach pictures but it always seems to fail so you might have to copy and paste the link. But in order to unclog the sunroof drain tubes the headliner has to be removed which wasnt a problem for me since I already had the rest of the interior ripped out due to mildew and mold.



https://imgur.com/a/BIYioTS

My Pathfinder has four of these drain tubes and how you unclog them is to pull them off the plastic sun roof gutter nipple and take a pressurized water source like a water hose with one of those selectable nozzles so you can set it to jet and put it up against this tube and thoroughly flush it out for a few minutes. You will be surprised on how much trash will come out. Repeat this for all four tubes. Then make sure the nipples where the hose connects is also completely clean. Wipe out the gutter with a wet paper towel as much as you can and then take an air compressor and blow out each of the nipples to make sure they are completely free of any debris.
With the right tools and patience this can be done by one person in one day.

Also check for warped doors just take a water hose and put the selector nozzle on shower mode and thoroughly spray each door at the top including the back hatch and see if any leaks inside the vehicle. On mine it only took a sight warp in the door to make a waterfall inside. Luckily this is a cheap and easy fix just go to Lowe's and buy the purple pack of weather stripping and run it across the top of the door jamb where the top outer most seal meets so that when you close the door the two pieces of weather stripping smash together and make a rainproof seal that will never leak again. I know double gasketing is a sin but in this case it's a blessing.

Another quick test to see if your sun roof may be leaking is a water stain at any low spots on your headliner and a way to see it is to pull the inner most door gasket loose and back then shine a bright flashlight inside and see if you can find a rubber tube. If it's covered in condensation or has drops of water hanging from it then it's a good chance it's clogged and over flowing/leaking.

I hope this helps. Btw parking under a tree or in a really dusty environment followed by frequent rain showers seems to cause these drain tubes to clog up faster.

[Dogred08]

Btw the gasket on my sun roof atleast serves no purpose at all other than slowing the speed in which water leaks into the sun roof drain gutters. I also called around the plastic gutter nipple assemblies just incase the seal on it was old and leaked a little but not totally necessary and if only the rear tube or tubes are clogged it's hard to notice if its draining properly since it flows so far back before it even reaches the tubes also at every door pull up the trim pieces at the floor so you can stick your hand under the carpet at each point and see if the carpet padding is soaked. That can be a pretty good giveaway that it's the drain tubes and the top carpet will stay dry for quite a while so you may think the rear is dry when in reality there's an inch of water hiding under your carpet absorbed in the carpet padding.

And if you plan on taking the sunroof glass out you will have to adjust it when you put it back in or else when you raise it up it won't go back down. The process is fairly straight forward it's just a pain and time consuming. All you do is put all the torx screws in and starting on the front push up till it's flush on that corner on the roof then push forward on the sun roof as hard as you can and while your holding it forward with all your strength tighten that torx bit down snug and repeat the same for the opposite front side. And the rear if you somewhat aligned it before cranking down on the front all you have to do is raise it up till it's flush then snug it down on both sides. Just make sure before you start just somewhat align the entire glass piece but only put it in loosely so it can still be manipulated by force until you do the steps above for the front first then rear.

Then grease all moving parts of the sunroof casset with a high heat water resistant grease that has a decent film strength. Then play with all the controls and make sure the sun roof goes up and down properly along with back and forth. Btw the back and forth function will work if you don't have the time to attempt to align it correctly just dont raise it up and down until you align it or else you will be stuck with an open roof that won't close.