Alhambra leaking from sunroof (potentially)

[dgodea]

Hi There,

After a bit of information from anyone that may have had this issue. In summary, we recently (3.5 months ago) purchased a 2016 Alhambra from a dealership. We were really happy with the car until it started raining. Water drips down the drivers side a-pillars and down into the passenger footwell. Took it to a garage and they targeted a potential blocked drain linked to the sunroof. They blasted some air through the drainage system and gave it back to us. Few days go by and it rains again - same issue. Take it back and they again looked at the drains and spotted a pipe somewhere in the system that was loose. They reattached it, feeling confident that the problem was solved. Rained last night -same problem. Anyone had the same issue and managed to solve it? I read about someone on here who had the sunroof replaced. I have attached a picture. Thanks in advance.

 

[RADIOTWO]

Just a thought maybe the pipe has come off the bottom of the sunroof

 

[head]

Id be more inclined to poke a guitar string down each drain tube rather than air. Then test with a pyrex jug of water to see the water drain off underneath.

 

[Rampage]

I had this last year.
If you open the sunroof and look at the rubber seal, it had come unstuck on the corners. Water was running down the inside of the A Pillar trim and going onto the floor / body control module. Had loads of random faults, like just one brake light on while the car was locked at night. Had to dry / clean the body control module and it was ok then. Seat wanted something like £1000 for the body control module!

 

[SampleX]

Had the same here.

Chased it for 18 months due to COVID interruption.

It manifested itself simultaneously with a problem with the car fogging in all weather and climates, just misting up. I was convinced it was the infamous sunroof cassette issue from outset. Over several months the local SEAT dealership chased every vague ‘source’ of a ‘drip’ (defying the laws of physics, fluid dynamics and the sheer volume of water in the process) and got me to spend about a grand in increments, never fixing the problems…

I ended up having to complain to SEAT UK who were slow but actually brilliant in escalating the issue at the dealership, who conceded that I’d paid quite enough to expect a fix more precise than a dozen attempts at trial and error, and in cooperation with SEAT corporate UK, proposed the replacement of the sunroof seal and a sunroof realignment, so I was told. They vigorously denied any ‘known’ sunroof design flaws or cassette problems. With juggling back and forth to accommodate lockdowns it was a long and painful process and almost a comedy of errors back and forth, with ‘solutions’ that never fixed the full range of problems which we all assumed were related to ingress and volume of water. Turns out that the dealership simply pursued a physical leak as the prevailing theory and never did a diagnostic. Them finally doing that showed a knackered motor in the air vent system which was locking the recirculation on and steaming everything up, and it was jolly embarrassing for them because they had me hire an independent aircon engineer to ‘regas’ the car believing it would fix the misting issue. Ten minutes with the car and he’d determined the gas was still full and his diagnostic panel showed an air recirculation fault. So he sent me back to dealership who then couldn’t produce a diagnostic from their work records, because it hadn’t been done…

Pleased to say they were totally quick to take ownership and just fixed the faulty motor at their own expense and the car has been super ever since.

It went from a used car I regretted buying due to endless fault, to one I could finally enjoy. A lot.

I guess I’ll never know if it was really the seal or if the cassette got quietly replaced. I know the labour was a ‘full strip down’ and explained as a ‘couple of days in the workshop’ number…

Came to Seat Alhambra from Peugeot 807 and KIA Sedona due to lack of alternatives, really, and swore off another VAG after such a sour experience, though having now enjoyed the Alhambra I’d probably trade in for another but be really worried about when the sunroof would fail again…

 

[FlamesGTF]

I had this last year.
If you open the sunroof and look at the rubber seal, it had come unstuck on the corners. Water was running down the inside of the A Pillar trim and going onto the floor / body control module. Had loads of random faults, like just one brake light on while the car was locked at night. Had to dry / clean the body control module and it was ok then. Seat wanted something like £1000 for the body control module!

Hi Rampage,
I know this might be too late, but is there any chance we can ask for some pictures which exact seals you do mean?

Thank you in advance.

 

[FlamesGTF]

Very the same issue on mine.
Since I have started parking up the hill (I know not all of us have this option), I have never had this problem ever again.
Im doing random checks on roof-upholstery and a-pillar, always dry.
Have checked rear too and there was no sign for water/rust etc.

 

[Rampage]

Hi Rampage,
I know this might be too late, but is there any chance we can ask for some pictures which exact seals you do mean?

Thank you in advance.

Hi, after I fixed this seal back in place it was fine for months. It then started again, the seal was still sealed.
I think now it it a joint in the sunroof plastic in the front drivers side that´s causing it. It only does it when its raining really hard, so I think it is not able to drain away fast enough in that corner, water builds up and goes through the joint.
Having the sunroof open, blocking the drain and filling up the area with water from a jug - it always starts leaking at the same water height. So that makes me thinks it's this joint in the plastic.
I need to fix it, but parking facing uphill works for now...

 

[FlamesGTF]

Hi, after I fixed this seal back in place it was fine for months. It then started again, the seal was still sealed.
I think now it it a joint in the sunroof plastic in the front drivers side that´s causing it. It only does it when its raining really hard, so I think it is not able to drain away fast enough in that corner, water builds up and goes through the joint.
Having the sunroof open, blocking the drain and filling up the area with water from a jug - it always starts leaking at the same water height. So that makes me thinks it's this joint in the plastic.
I need to fix it, but parking facing uphill works for now...

Up the hill is the way.
VAG Specialists has suggested there are clips (all over the cassette, which might have popped out. Fix is around 350+VAT (quoted Oct. 2020). On one foreign forum was suggested to check the seal between tubes(pipes) and plastic water excess fittings (maybe small jubilee-gently) and /or replace tubes for slightly wider ones and seal them properly (jubilee clip-gently).
It is pretty shame that this (apparently) manufacturing fault(VAG group is not likely admitting-at least those are feedbacks I found on foreign forums) is ruining entire ownership. Some of owners have been lucky and managed to get entire cassette replaced under warranty, but after long "argue" with dealership.
Thank you anyway for sharing idea about them seals, I will double check those.
Take care

 

[dgodea]

Thank you to everyone that posted with some advice on what it could be. We managed to resolve this and I thought to share some information as it might help others. I must be honest that I was pretty dubious that anything would work. We had only had the car for 6 months, and it was a great car for our needs. I was a bit stunned that a car of only 6 years old would need this sort of work done.

We were given the details of Surrey Sunroofs near Dorking, chap called Andy. I cannot recommend them enough. He seemed to be very familiar with the sort of problem as described and was confident that it could be fixed. They had the car for a week and took it to pieces. The bond on the frame of the sun roof had eroded and he rebonded various parts of it. Some comments in the pictures. Problem solved and it feels as though we have a new car. Nightmare over.

 

[Rob Saggs]

Hi - can I be really cheeky and ask how much the repair cost?
I think I’ve got the same problem …. Bought my Alhambra (2014 model) 2 years ago …. We bought during Covid lockdown and the car was delivered to us with this problem - got it fixed through the warranty. But it’s gone again!!! Same issue as before, fogging and leaking along the drivers collumn

 

[dgodea]

Hi Rob. It cost £800, which we ended up splitting with the dealer. They were really fair about it. For us, it was the difference between keeping or not keeping the car. I shudder to think what it would have been like recently, with all the rain we have had.

 

[Rob Saggs]

Thank you - I’m in exactly the same position right now … just wanting rid of it!
But obviously need to get the fix done before I can do that with a clean conscience.

 

[Mehmetozdemir]

I have purchased seat alhambra 2017 and there is a leak on the driver’s pillar and not sure how go ahead with this. I have cleaned the hose with jet air from the roof and did all sorts but its still leaking. Desperate need of some help. Please and thank you.

 

[Mehmetozdemir]

Hi There,

After a bit of information from anyone that may have had this issue. In summary, we recently (3.5 months ago) purchased a 2016 Alhambra from a dealership. We were really happy with the car until it started raining. Water drips down the drivers side a-pillars and down into the passenger footwell. Took it to a garage and they targeted a potential blocked drain linked to the sunroof. They blasted some air through the drainage system and gave it back to us. Few days go by and it rains again - same issue. Take it back and they again looked at the drains and spotted a pipe somewhere in the system that was loose. They reattached it, feeling confident that the problem was solved. Rained last night -same problem. Anyone had the same issue and managed to solve it? I read about someone on here who had the sunroof replaced. I have attached a picture. Thanks in advance.

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I have purchased seat alhambra 2017 and there is a leak on the driver’s pillar and not sure how go ahead with this. I have cleaned the hose with jet air from the roof and did all sorts but its still leaking. How did you solve your problem please. Thank you.

 

[dgodea]

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• #14

I have purchased seat alhambra 2017 and there is a leak on the driver’s pillar and not sure how go ahead with this. I have cleaned the hose with jet air from the roof and did all sorts but its still leaking. How did you solve your problem please. Thank you.

Morning. Sounds as though you have the same issue as I did. First thing you do is clean out the drains with air and see that all the pipes are connected properly and not broken/cracked. After all that it's likely that the bonding has worn away on the sunroof (like a big disc that plugs into the roof). I took some good pictures above. You can see all the detail. Let me know if you would like the details of the company that fixed mine. They were really good and deal with this sort of thing all the time. I spent alot of time speaking to the guy about it and it's very common on Alhambra's and a lot of cars with a sunroof. I didn't think that it would ever be fixed but there is a solution and it's brilliant once it's done.

 

[Mehmetozdemir]

Morning. Sounds as though you have the same issue as I did. First thing you do is clean out the drains with air and see that all the pipes are connected properly and not broken/cracked. After all that it's likely that the bonding has worn away on the sunroof (like a big disc that plugs into the roof). I took some good pictures above. You can see all the detail. Let me know if you would like the details of the company that fixed mine. They were really good and deal with this sort of thing all the time. I spent alot of time speaking to the guy about it and it's very common on Alhambra's and a lot of cars with a sunroof. I didn't think that it would ever be fixed but there is a solution and it's brilliant once it's done.

Thanks for your support, is there any way you can forward me their details. I live in London and not sure where you are based but more than happy to drive long way to get rid of this stress. Thank you

 

[dgodea]

Thanks for your support, is there any way you can forward me their details. I live in London and not sure where you are based but more than happy to drive long way to get rid of this stress. Thank you

No problem at all, I remember the feeling. It feels hopeless and that nothing will work. You hear the rain and you wonder what you will find in the morning. I ended up buying a big car cover from Halfords and put it on every night. The guy to speak to is Andy at Surrey Sunroofs - his contact details are the website. https://www.surreysunroofs.co.uk/. They will have the car for a week and dismantle the whole sunroof. They are based near Dorking I think. Good luck! Be interested to know how you get on.

 

[Mehmetozdemir]

No problem at all, I remember the feeling. It feels hopeless and that nothing will work. You hear the rain and you wonder what you will find in the morning. I ended up buying a big car cover from Halfords and put it on every night. The guy to speak to is Andy at Surrey Sunroofs - his contact details are the website. https://www.surreysunroofs.co.uk/. They will have the car for a week and dismantle the whole sunroof. They are based near Dorking I think. Good luck! Be interested to know how you get on.

Thank you for your kindness. I have spoke to him and he said £840 to get it all sorted but he is busy until mid March so temporarily I have purchased a clear tape from halfords to put on. What a nightmare, you and I feeling the same pain so I know your feelings really well. What did he exatcly say on yours? Was the tube or the elastic around the frame? Once again I really appreciate your support.

 

[dgodea]

Thank you for your kindness. I have spoke to him and he said £840 to get it all sorted but he is busy until mid March so temporarily I have purchased a clear tape from halfords to put on. What a nightmare, you and I feeling the same pain so I know your feelings really well. What did he exatcly say on yours? Was the tube or the elastic around the frame? Once again I really appreciate your support.

No problem at all. He will definitely get to the bottom of it and sort it out. He said that there was hardly any bond/sealant on the front drain channel and he resealed another two parts of the sunroof. I think that the sealant they put on the cars seems to wear away pretty quickly, which lets the water in. I would not expect to have this kind of issue on a car that is 5 years old. If you look at my post above, (6th March) you can read his message to me with the comments and some pictures of what they resealed. Hopefully the tape works! I put the cover on my car last night as the sliding doors have been frozen shut due to the cold. Absolute pain.