Leaking Panoramic sunroof? Have a look here...

[chris16bit]

Picking up a 2010 yeti next week, loved the car when we test drove/purchased it - but my only concern was that there was quite a bit of water sitting around the sunroof frame - the front mesh wind defector part was really wet and gunky... carpets in the car were dry and the headlining wasn't stained. Thanks to this thread/forum I now know of the issues so will be tackling asap! Hopefully just a case of the drains needing a thorough clean  

[SKOYET]

On 27/12/2018 at 16:37, SKOYET said:

My Yeti is currently with the dealer for the third time with a leaking sunroof  that started in January. It's been in since the week before Christmas and before it went in this time I raised a Case Number with Skoda UK because a.  A new, "top of the range" L&K sunroof with drains checked and cleaned regularly shouldn't have started leaking at two years old, and b. This the third time for two plus weeks each time, so why hasn't the dealer, who I'm told is "liaising"  with Skoda "technical",  been able to identify and solve the problem?

I pulled the headliner down at the front myself when it first started and checked for the obvious (pinched hoses, leaking connectors, blocked drains etc) but it was none of those with water dripping from the plastic cassette onto the headliner, running down the A pillar covers and off the back of the instrument panel and fuse box onto the carpet and filling  both driver and passenger footwells. I managed to divert the leaks, dry it all out, sealed the sunroof from the outside and removed the fuse while waiting for a courtesy car to become available, but it's a pain.

Whether it's a design, manufacturing or installation fault and appreciating that the source of a water leak isn't always easy to find,  a sunroof isn't exactly "rocket science" and I'm not prepared to have it back until I know what it was, how it was fixed and guarantees it won't happen again, or perhaps "it's not fit for purpose".

Watch this space!  

 

Although it took a month, the problem has apparently been solved. After changing both front drain hoses, removing the sunroof cassette, sealing all the joints, trying a new cassette, etc, the sunroof was still leaking. The dealer then put blocks under each pair of side wheels, then  the front and back wheels to water test the roof at different angles. It was eventually discovered that water was getting in past the thin rubber gasket that goes around the hole cut in the metal roof. The "U" shaped rubber gasket is glued to the edge of the hole in the roof as a "trim" around the sunroof glass and apparently wasn't sealed properly all the way round. Water was getting in when parked at certain angles, running along the inside of the groove and dripping onto the cassette and headliner. The complete sunroof and gasket were removed, the hole in the roof cleaned and prepped and a new gasket fitted with a special sealant. Although out of warranty, Skoda agreed to pay for the repair and I negotiated a two year parts and labour warranty against any future leaks along with two year service plan at no cost. I'm happy with the result, but more importantly, my Yeti is nice and dry inside!  Finding the problem was mostly labour, but FYI the following parts were required: F5N0877459A Seal/Gasket, FD00940104 Cleaner & FD00920002  Primer.

[macfell]

I have this morning found water dripping down passenger side lower foot well panel, causing carpets to be damp.  Yeti is a 3 1/2years old, L&K Outdoor.  Having read the threads can only assume that  this is the cause of the water ingress into the interior of the car.  Quick question, how sympathetic are dealers to this issue?

[SKOYET]

Hello Macfell,

 

It really depends on why the sunroof is leaking and the first thing to check is whether one or both of the front drains are flowing freely and not become blocked (a simple DIY job).

 

If they're OK and considering your car is out of warranty, it really depends on how good a relationship you have with your dealer. Did you buy it from them, have they serviced it for you from new, etc.  because they  would have to justify the problem to Skoda UK to get any "goodwill" reimbursement. 

 

You could also go direct to Skoda UK through their "Customer Service", but it is time consuming and I don't know how much success you'd have without knowing EXACTLY why the sunroof is leaking.

 

Good luck! 

 

 

 

[macfell]

Thanks very much for that.  The car was bought second hand via a trader and not an authorised dealer, so looks like checking the issue out for myself myself. The threads are very helpful. Regards.

[munrorunner]

I have since sold my Yeti but as this thread is still running I thought I'd share some of my experience.  My facelift Yeti ended up having a complete new sunroof cassette installed by Skoda to tackle the roof leaking issue. Here are a few points that may be helpful. 

• Initially, it was the roof creaking that I noticed (when shut). Local dealer looked at that for free and applied a service action. Creaking returned shortly after. Then with winter arriving, I started to notice the leak.
• Leak symptoms were: creaking roof (I expect related), large amounts of condensation on the inside of the sunroof, condensation on the front window, wet carpet (driver's side for me). 
• If I had not had it repaired under goodwill, I would have likely got it repaired independently by a sunroof specialist who said it can usually be resolved for around £80.
• Depending upon franchise dealer, the cost for sunroof cassette replacement can be in excess of £2000! 
• Investigating the leak also costs and generally at your own expense, even if you don't go ahead with repairs.
• Unless you have a special relationship then it's unlikely dealer will be sympathetic.
• Only some dealers can make the repair! My first local dealer refused to take the car, even within the warranty period because they don't have facilities to deal with sunroofs! Doesn't inspire confidence with this dealer!
• Sunroof is NOT covered by the full warranty (3 years) and not at all in the Approved Used Warranty. I think you get 3 months cover on a new vehicle. This information is difficult to find. There is an exception in the warranty for "bodywork". Even though the sunroof is mechanical, Skoda conveniently considers the sunroof to be bodywork for warranty purposes. You haven't found this written down because  Skoda does not provide a list of items considered as bodywork. Talking to Skoda with Trading Standards helping me, we found that the sunroof is considered bodywork and not covered.
• Your best chance of having the repair covered with the minimal argument, is if you notice the leak within the first days of purchase (30?), under ordinary consumer protection rules. I made the mistake of believing an Approved Used Vehicle would be covered and was appalled to find that you could but a vehicle under this scheme with no comeback on a fundamental "fit for purpose" matter. Skoda passes the responsibility to the dealer, but in my experience, the dealer can quickly find a way to wangle out of helping you if they think it will cost them a penny. 
• Lesson learned - go directly to the dealer you bought from, as a starting point. Skoda advised me to go to a local dealer for initial investigation. The dealer I bought from then used this as an excuse not to help me, claiming they weren't prepared to interfere with work carried out by another approved dealer!  

Although, after a lot of pain, my sunroof was completely replaced and fixed perfectly, it's unlikely I'll ever buy another VAG sunroof vehicle, so long as I live in a country with this weather!

Another plus is that I know I've sold my vehicle with a new Skoda installed trouble-free roof and not passed on a lemon to the next person, as the dealer did to me!

 

HTH

 

[macfell]

Thanks for the information, interesting reading.  Will advise how I get on. Regards.

How difficult is it to remove the headlining from the interior of the car; any specific tools required etc?

Edited 8 March, 2019 by macfell

[macfell]

Looking for information relating to this thread, primarily the location of the front drainage channels of the sunroof.  Which parts, if any have to be removed to access the drains in order to check they are clear?

Macfell

[SKOYET]

You don't have to take anything apart to check the drains are clear. Just open the sunroof and front doors and looking from the top (you'll need something to stand on!) with some water in a jug pour it slowly into the front corners of the sunroof frame where the drain holes are.  If clear, the water should run away and come out of a rubber grommet about two thirds the way down the door jamb. If the water "pools" in the sunroof channel or isn't coming out of the grommet at roughly the same speed as you're pouring it in, the drain tube(s) may be blocked.

There are many photos on the "other" forum showing where and what has to be done.

Hope this helps!

[macfell]

Thanks for that.  Will try as soon as the weather lets up.

[Chris123beth]

May I just say the pictures and advice posted by Yeti-man are excellent. Although I could not find it again when asked in a previous post, the official warrentry time for Skoda on a sunroof is 3 months. Unless a Skoda main dealer 'guarantees' from the start the repairs will be carried out free, find a good independent body shop and use them. Mitchell's near Chester told us it would be repaired for free under 'guarantee and then charged us about £450. A complaint to Skoda about this only resulted in a Skoda voucher for £250. About the cost of a service.

[PerryM]

A year ago I suffered the blocked drain pipe issue on my 2014 Yeti H&K - it was rectified at great length (mould had set in!) and I received some financial support from Skoda UK. We moved on.

This winter the first prolonged rain drenched the passenger footwell - I subsequently removed about 2 litres! I was very lucky that I managed to dry out the underfelt without any apparent mould setting in. (it took a week!)

The dealer has now found an apparently identical problem and solution to Skoyet, at a cost to me of nearly £700. Skoda UK have refused any support this time, supposedly because the dealer reported signs of moss or fungus on the seal.

The car has been parked on a driveway, so has plenty of fresh air. We live in the country (Surrey) next to a forest, but the car is not parked under or even near a tree. My question to you learned folk is what is the best way of keeping my new seal free of future problems? The seal has a rather curious 'fabric' surface feel, and I worry that this could harbour spores that could then grow. Is there some form of 'magic' potion that could help?

Edited 17 April, 2019 by PerryM

[Dogsbuddy]

I’ve only had my Feb 2015 L & K 2 months and have already had to have the rear wiper motor replaced, so I was somewhat miffed to find  yesterday that that the nearside passenger footwell carpet was sodden and the dampness extending to the rear nearside footwell but with no obvious visible source of water ingress.   A quick test of all four sunroof drainage tubes resulted in a good flow of water out of all exits accompanied with a satisfying gurgle, so the blocked drain tubes do not appear to be the cause.

As this is a ‘Skoda Approved Used Car’ and has covered only 26,000 miles from new I have no wish to have to mess around pulling off bits of trim to find which particular problem was afflicting my car and fix it myself and was planning just to take it back to the local dealer I bought it from and have them fix it under warranty.

I was therefore dismayed to note from Munrorunner’s post that body components including sunroof assemblies, are apparently not covered under Skoda’s Approved Warranty Scheme (since confirmed by reading the cover booklet).  How very convenient, given the multitude of problems VG sunroofs seem to suffer from!

This seems a bit rich, as in my view a properly maintained sunroof that leaks is either a design fault or a manufacturing fault and not fit for purpose, so we shall see.  At least Monrorunner seems to have had a successful outcome, albeit with a lot of hassle, so fingers crossed hoping my dealer will prove to be reasonably sympathetic.

[Pronto]

On 06/02/2014 at 17:31, RDT said:

It would be nice to think that Skoda took the opportunity to rectify this design fault in the facelift. Anyone know if they did?

We would probably expect to keep it as a second car for 10-15 years, so perhaps a sunroof is a bad idea if we don't want to start taking it apart. We are vaguely considering the L&K model

No RDT they didn't. I am a 3 month owner of a 16 plate Elegance which has already spent a week with Skoda trying to resolve leaks into driver footwell - to no avail. Still leaking and scheduled to go back to Skoda for attempted fix on 9 March 2020. 

We paid top money for this car and I'm tempted to return it as being NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

Regards to all

Grahame Trimmer

[DAHOD]

Issue with small drips in passenger foot well beside bonnet opening lever. After much looking found poor bonding on tube at upper joint of forward drain. Sealed with T7000 glue. The red tube was not bonded all round the white grommet. So far seems good. 

[Yettogetidofit]

On 06/02/2014 at 17:31, RDT said:

It would be nice to think that Skoda took the opportunity to rectify this design fault in the facelift. Anyone know if they did?

We would probably expect to keep it as a second car for 10-15 years, so perhaps a sunroof is a bad idea if we don't want to start taking it apart. We are vaguely considering the L&K model

I have a 2014 L&K model it is leaking from the drain upper connector off side front. My local dealer wants 1600 as they claim it can't be fixed without a complete new sun roof tray. I am struggling to find a thread on how to remove the head lining?

[Urrell]

34 minutes ago, Yettogetidofit said:

I have a 2014 L&K model it is leaking from the drain upper connector off side front. My local dealer wants 1600 as they claim it can't be fixed without a complete new sun roof tray. I am struggling to find a thread on how to remove the head lining?

Will this help?
https://youtu.be/jOvMUKAAcJk

[muppix]

There's a very detailed set of instructions on removing the headlining in PDF form here.

[sir gar Vrs]

hello Guys,

Lots of good information here, and lots of Friday afternoon Skoda L&Ks.

We bought a one year old L&K from Sinclair Skoda ( we had a 170 previously without the sunroof - lovely vehicle) it seemed ok. Went in for a service two months later and then the leaking sun roof issue reared its head. We persevered with Sinclair Skoda Swansea and they replaced the "cassette twice" but it still leaked we approached Skoda UK who and they kept us hanging on ( in the meantime we had Covid and even worse my wife a a bleed on the brain) but to no avail the girl at Skoda kept opening new cases and when various episodes occurred said nicely shall I close the case and you get back to me , Ha Ha this happened several times and I took her at her word at"being helpful".   

 

When Covid began to release us I got in contact to be told too late for Skoda to do anything. It seemed to me she was "just churning " the numbers of complaints closed and sorted to make her numbers look good.   

 

Sunroof buyers BEWARE sweet talking SKODA agents is all I can say.

 

I am not looking forward to the return of the wet weather and have bought a cover for the Yeti, its a pain but save damaging a good vehicle,  as my wife likes her Yeti and she's now able to drive again.

 

Waste of time Skoda customer relations. You would think after all this time over all the various brands they would be able to get this water ingress problem solved.