Water leaking from driver side headliner

[coppens1]

Dear Vibe Users, I recently purchased a 2005 Vibe, and we had a lot of rain recently. I notice water leaking from the joint where the headliner meets the plastic covering the roof column. It is dripping on my thigh when I drive. I checked for a blocked drain, but there none by the driver door. Has anyone else had this problem?

I noticed someone else had a leaks problem, too, ("Water leaks on the driver's side") but he is getting water on the front and rear floormats.

[vibrologist]

You did not say if you have a moon roof. If you do the drains may be blocked. They are running towards the rear of the car. If you take the interior side panels out in the trunk area you can see them. I would try blowing compressed air through them. I don't know if there are any towards the front.
If you don't have a moon roof there may be a problem with the seal of the windshield.

[mktrat]

Could also simply be a poorly adjusted moonroof overflowing the drains (assuming one is present!)

That's how mine was for a long time. Took forever to figure it out. (I didn't know about genVibe at the time)

[coppens1]

Sorry, I forgot to mention there is no moon roof. The leak is just inside, maybe coming from the black rubber grommit by the rails on the roof.

[coppens1]

Now it is leaking from both sides!

[lannvouivre]

The grommets can be pried off gently no problem. Look under the fronts of them and see if you can spot anything.

[coppens1]

Dear lannvouivre, thanks for replying. Do you think it can be fixed by prying the two grommets (both sides) off and using silicon caulk? JC

[jolt]

Has the windshield been replaced? It may be leaking from the top of the windshield if the windshield was not installed properly.

Silicon caulk will work if the surfaces are clean and rust free. You may want to pull some of the interior trim to verify where the water is coming in at, and after fixing the problem, to verify that it is not leaking any more. Down the road, you may run into some electrical problems as the water that has leaked into the car will corrode electrical connections. It all depends on how much water came in and were it ran. If it is dripping from up above, chances are more water is also running off to the side behind the headliner.

[coppens1]

Dear Jolt, I think you hit the nail on the head when you asked about windshield replacement.

What is amazing is that there is no water till you move the car after a rain. When you move forward, you get a flood.

My analysis is that the hollow windshield posts fill with water and overflow when you move the car.

I have tried caulking the front part of the channels that run from the luggage rack forward to the windshield, to no avail.

I took the car to an auto leak specialist this morn, and he looked it over, noticed the windshield is an aftermarket glass, and told me the leak is from an improperly installed windshield. He said the windshield has to be removed and reinstalled, and if it breaks, I have to pay for a new windshield, too.

I am going to try caulking the long joint between the top of the windshield and the roof, all the way across the roof, around 4 feet. What do you think?

[coppens1]

Vibe User Group 270516 Water leaking from headliner at joints with front roof pillars

Dear Vibe Owners, I have read of several other owners also having difficulty with Water leaking from headliner at the joints with front roof pillars.

In my case, I finally went to an auto repair shop that specializes in fixing leaks. After a few seconds the expert there informed me that my windshield had been replaced and improperly installed. He quoted $200 for taking the windshield out and installing it again. He also said that frequently when taking the windshield out, it would be damaged, and have to be replaced, quoting $350.

I bought silicon caulk and filled the 1/4" gap between the top of the windshield and the roofline. I have had no leaks for the past month.

[coppens1]

Vibe Owners 070721 Passenger Headliner Leak

Dear Vibe Owners, I still have a Headliner Leak, but on the passenger side of my 05 Vibe, from the joint where the headliner meets the plastic covering the roof column..

The problem was previously diagnosed as a leaking windshield. I was going to have my windshield replaced, but Safelight won't replace it because of some corrosion at the top of the windshield. I bought Fix Tape Rubberized Waterproof Tape, for Boat Repair (Clear, 4 inches x 5 feet), and put it all the way across the top of the windshield. The leak continued.

It appears the leak is from the luggage rack, and seems to be coming from the driver side luggage rack. When I covered the passenger side luggage rack and tested it in the rain, the leak persisted. So it has to be coming from the driver side luggage rack.

Has anyone else had the lead problem? How did you fix it?

[coppens1]

Dear lannvouivre, here is your post of 2016: "The grommets can be pried off gently no problem. Look under the fronts of them and see if you can spot anything."

I need further instruction as to how to pry the grommets off. Can you send me a photo? Jim Coppens

[coppens1]

Dear lannvouivre, here is your post of 2016: "The grommets can be pried off gently no problem. Look under the fronts of them and see if you can spot anything."

I need further instruction as to how to pry the grommets off. Can you send me a photo? Jim Coppens

[coppens1]

Shame on you, ihjwernml579, for wasting our time. Your post had nothing to do with the topic, and appears to be advertising. JC

[tpollauf]

Vibe Owners 070721 Passenger Headliner Leak

Dear Vibe Owners, I still have a Headliner Leak, but on the passenger side of my 05 Vibe, from the joint where the headliner meets the plastic covering the roof column..

The problem was previously diagnosed as a leaking windshield. I was going to have my windshield replaced, but Safelight won't replace it because of some corrosion at the top of the windshield. I bought Fix Tape Rubberized Waterproof Tape, for Boat Repair (Clear, 4 inches x 5 feet), and put it all the way across the top of the windshield. The leak continued.

It appears the leak is from the luggage rack, and seems to be coming from the driver side luggage rack. When I covered the passenger side luggage rack and tested it in the rain, the leak persisted. So it has to be coming from the driver side luggage rack.

Has anyone else had the leak problem? YES .... ME

My 2004 Vibe GT just started having this problem about 3 months ago. I'm definitely convinced that it is due to the windshield frame corrosion being totally gone, and allowing water to enter the pass side headliner. The pictures pretty much tell the story. My solution will to be have the windshield removed , repair any/all rust & repaint, then reinstall windshield. Ill post pics & progress when I get started. Probably in a month or so but not too much longer than that.

[coppens1]

Mine is leaking from the Passenger side headliner. I tried all kinds of things, including caulking and tape over the windshield top, then discovered :
1. Does not leak while driving car.
2. While parked, If you use a small 5' x 7' tarp that covers the windshield back about half way, you get no leaks. The tarp is held down by the windshield wipers and 8 small magnets. It only takes about 2 minutes to put the tarp on the windshield.

I can take a photo if anyone is interested. JC

[tpollauf]

I can take a photo if anyone is interested. JC

YES. I'd be curious if you have rust along the top of the glass similar to what I have. That is clearly where my leak is originating from.

[coppens1]

I will take some photos of the rust, and of the tarp that solved the problem.

In my case it is not leaking from the upper windshield. I put clear Gorilla tape there, all the way across the top of the windshield. It didn't stop the leak! I can''t really figure out where the leak is. I just have a solution. Jim

[coppens1]

tpollauf 021122 Photos of windshield top, and tarp

Dear tpollauf, here are Photos of windshield top, and tarp. Since the Gorilla Tape didn't work, I removed it. I still have a lot of clean up to do from that. But at least the tarp stopped the leaking. Jim

SDC14031Vibe w Tarp.JPG (331.01 KiB) Viewed 845 times

SDC14036Vibe w Tarp.JPG (332.69 KiB) Viewed 845 times

SDC14035Vibe w Tarp.JPG (335.73 KiB) Viewed 845 times

SDC14034Vibe w Tarp.JPG (333.06 KiB) Viewed 845 times

SDC14033Vibe w Tarp.JPG (330.51 KiB) Viewed 845 times

[tpollauf]

Wow ... you went to extremes BUT at least you temporarily controlled the leaking! Mine is getting worse by the week. Today, we got the remnants of that Hurricane along the lakeshores of Lake Erie and it rained all day. The Vibe's interior got even wetter since the last rain. Passenger seat is totally soaked & the headliner is getting worse. I'm going to have to do something sooner than later. Was hoping to put this off till December. Not sure now

[coppens1]

The tarp is not the ideal solution, but it works and is inexpensive. I put the tarp on when there is rain forecast, and I can't park the car in my carport. I have not had the leak in a year because of the tarp.

Before I discovered the tarp solution, I tried everything, but was unable to pinpoint the leak. So the tarp was the simplest solution for me.

Let me know what happens with your leak, and if you discover the exact source. Jim

[coppens1]

Vibe Forum 271122 Leaking from passenger side headliner.

Dear tpollauf, since we are both having exactly the same problem with the leak, and it is a complicated problem, I think we should talk by phone to go over all the details of our leaks and the solutions.

But I don't want to give you my phone number in a public forum. I can give you my email address, or have you go to a website where I have a secure registry, and you can register there so we can establish communication that way. Let me know. Thanks, JC

[tpollauf]

Sure. Email me at tpollauf@hotmail.com I'm not worried about privacy and am not on a witness protection plan either We'll go back & forth that way BUT will still upload progress to the GenVibe site so others can benefit from this.

My theory on this topic is that the robotics which painted our vehicles somehow did NOT apply enough primer, color, clearcoat on the passenger area where this rust has eaten away the metal and allowing rain to pass through.

I'm waiting for a space down at my shop, which I share with a couple retired brothers, where I'll then park the Vibe for a week or so. We have a friend who does automotive glass for a living and he'll stop by to remove the windshield. While out, I'll perform the body work. Once completed we'll have our friend reinstall the windshield. It's looking like it's going to de mid-December for me.

[coppens1]

Dear tpollauf, I sent you an email. Let's talk. If this leak is widespread, we may have a manufacturing defect. JC

[joatmon]

Most of my early cars had perforating rust, sometimes more bondo than metal, and there were a lot of rusted out cars on the roads. Don't know if it was a change in winter road treatments, better steel, something else, but where I am it is now rare to see a rusty car. Hurts to see the bubbling rust on a Vibe. Unfortunately, Vibes came with a 6 year warranty on rust through corrosion, and being out of production for over a decade it would be pretty tough to get GM to do anything about it now.

[coppens1]

My Vibe is in Florida! It is leaking in the same places, i.e. left and/or right side headliners as the other contributors. I took the car to a couple of body shops, and they told me the problem was because of an improperly installed replacement windshield. But I haven't heard this from other contributors. To stop my leak, I tried caulking everywhere I could think of. No effect, still leaks.

When I tried putting a small tarp on the car when parked (as shown in the photos I posted here) covering the windshield and half the roof, the leaking stopped.

Strangely enough, when you drive the car reasonably fast in a rainstorm, it doesn't leak! JC

[mktrat]

Make sure you check the roof rack attachment points. Mine was leaking around the front driver side location.
Also, a bead of caulk around the windshield molding has seemed to help immensely.

"when you drive the car reasonably fast in a rainstorm, it doesn't leak!"
It needs to soak to leak for me too. Sitting parked outside during a rainstorm will do it every time.

[coppens1]

Caulking the roof rack attachment points didn't help in my case. Also a bead of caulk around the windshield molding did not help.

The only thing that helped is the tarp over the windshield, and over the front half of the roof rack.
It'a a strange leak! JC

[mktrat]

I also ran a beam from the roof rack attachment to the windshield. I kinda started caulking any and all seams and junctions.

[coppens1]

Dear mktrat, I am not sure what you mean by "I also ran a beam from the roof rack attachment to the windshield." JC

[tpollauf]

Dear mktrat, I am not sure what you mean by "I also ran a beam from the roof rack attachment to the windshield." JC

Look like a typo to me. I'm sure he meant to say "ran a bead of silicone/sealant from the roof rack to windshield". Looks like I'm still a few weeks out before I get started on my leak. I will likely pull it into the "unheated" portion of the shop and at least get started. Headliner and all trim pieces will come out first. Once totally removed I may take it outside and "simulate rain" so I'll definitely be able to see where it's leaking. Have to watch the weather though .... it's winter up here now and don't want it to freeze anywhere.

[coppens1]

thanks for your input.

I have a call to you, on my list of things to do. Maybe tomorrow.

Have a Blessed Holiday. Jim

[tmc]

I've had this issue of and on with my vibe for a couple years - at first just sealing the spot where the roof rack channels meet the windshield seemed to help but it always came back. I now think it's a broader windshield seal and rust issue (mine was replaced a while back), made worse by the fact that those roof channels dump all the water right down the side edges of the windshield.
I just caulked all the way around the top and sides of the windshield seal (prying the rubber seal away from the metal as I went to get it in there). So far it seems mostly fixed!