Rain leaks in my car

[927max]

Hello,
I have 97 maxima, from last couple of rains I see rains leaks in my car on the front driver side as well as passenger side. Water drips from the car interior sealing on both sides. I tried to put tape on the rubber between the cartop and the door but it didn't help much. Driver seat and the passenger seat get completely wet as well as the carpet. Can you please let me know who can fix my problem a regular car mechanic or body shop and roughly how much it can cost me?

Thanks
927max

[MTZI30]

Do you have a sunroof? Are you sure its not clogged roof drains? You can try replacing the weather striping maybe but it sounds like clogged roof drains. I had a Taurus SHO that was really fun but one winter my roof drains got clogged. This storm came through and when I started driving my car no kidding like half a gallon of freezing water fell out of the sunroof and got me super wet. It ever ruined my hot choclate.

[927max]

MTZI30,
I do have sunroof, it is closed. How do I check the clogged roof drain? and if it is the sunroof then complete interior roof had been soaked right? But this is just the door sides frame.

[MTZI30]

Ya its tought not too sure on a maxima. Try opening the sunroof. It'll prolly have like 4 hoses/holes in the roof where the water drains. They run down the car to the ground. Try a google search? If the weather stripping was bad your windows would prolly be wet, i doubt any water would soak into the roof from there.

[loystock]

The weatherstrip is designed to reduce sunroof wind noise and not seal it. When it rains, water will get into the sunroof so it is very important that all the drain holes on the 4 corners of the sunroof are not obstructed. There are 4 drain holes to make sure water drains out regardless of car's attitude (pitch/bank).

The front drain holes go thru the respective door pillars. So if they are clogged, water will build up and flood the associated headliner area then into the front seat. The rear drain holes, depending on the generation, may drain into the wheel well area or close to the bumper. In the 4th Gen, the rear drain on the pax side is T-ed with the power antenna drain (which if broken, may flood your trunk area).

Open the sunroof and look for the drain holes. Your best bet is to use compressed air (with extension tube) to blow out each drain line. A coat hanger may or may not work. Once unclogged, squirt water into each drain hole and verify water drains out all the way to the ground.

[927max]

Loystock,
The other day I tried to open and see the sunroof drains but I could not see by standing next to car, are these drains visible directly or do I have to make some tilts/bends to myself to look for it?

Thanks

[loystock]

Unless you are a 7-footer, there is no way you can see the drain ho;es by simply standing besides the car. You have to open the driver side door and stand on the door frame so you can see the them. If you don't see any drain hole at the corner, then they are probably covered with dirt.

[927max]

Thanks MTZI30 and Loystock, my car survived the last cople of rains. I believe there was some gap left on the sunroof which leaked the water into my car door frame. I opened and closed it again and also checked the drains every things look good to me know.

[boost_boy]

Dude, you need to clean those drain ports or your car will be drinking water on a regular. I've been down this road before with the same exact issue and I had tried everything as well as blame the seals. All the stuff I did was in vain because it still leaked. I rooted the drains which were clogged with leaves and caked-up dirt and now the problem is solved.

[927max]

Dee,
The drains looked pretty neat and clean with no clog at the opening, how did you check the drains? do I need to insert something into it to find it out?

[MTZI30]

Ya you really should. I work for Audi and we have a tool to insert and clean those drains. There is actually a class action lawsuit against vw for those drains clogging and causing damage.

[loystock]

Dee,
The drains looked pretty neat and clean with no clog at the opening, how did you check the drains? do I need to insert something into it to find it out?

Did you read my previous post? You have to do something about it.

[927max]

Hi Loystock,
I did read your previous post and did the things you asked me, I found no clog but the rain still leaks on my driver side and passenger side door frame, can you suggest whom should I vist, the regular mechanic or other professional. This is happening when there is moderate to heavy rain not when it drizzel's.

[MTZI30]

Well how did you clean them out? Compressed air? You could go to the dealership, give them a call.

[927max]

Yes, I used compressed air from the auto mechanic and straightened laudary hanger in the front vents only. Is there any other place I can go other than dealer. Any body specializes in this kind of problem?

[MTZI30]

Ya maybe, hit the yellow pages and start making calls...

[loystock]

You have front and rear vents. The rear ones are harder to reach. You need an adapter tube with funnel so you can pour water into each vent hole and verify that it goes out to the respective drain line, front or back. Also check the weatherstripping of the door/window and sunroof.