Water Leak in 2004 Vibe

[Daisy]

Hi- I'm new here, and recently purchased a 110kmi 2004 Vibe. It has the "Moon and Tunes" package (which is a sunroof and supposedly upgraded stereo). The sunroof was retired from usage prior to my purchase (it was siliconed shut, and the fuse pulled). I paid very little for the car, and figured it'd be one less thing to worry about leaking, but I discovered I have a leak dripping from the headliner where it meets the plastic A pillar cover on the front passenger side of the car. It's quite unlikely that the leak is coming from the sunroof drains, so I assume it's coming from the roof rack mounting bolts above and rear of the passenger front door. Can anyone advise how I access those bolts to add silicone sealant to stop the leak? How do I remove the covers from the front mounting points of the roof rack?

[tpollauf]

Welcome to GenVibe Daisy! It's very possible you are having the exact same problem that I had with my 204 Vibe Gt. Read this post IN IT'S ENTIRETY and then see if it's possible that this could be your problem too! Do you know if the windshield has been replaced?

viewtopic.php?p=536821#p536821

Also I commend you for showing financial responsibility and accountability for your young son with the purchase of this as his first car. Valuable lessons that will shape his future. Finally update your profile showing us your approximate whereabouts. Keep us posted. We're all here to help others like yourself out!

[Daisy]

Thank you for the kind reply! I did read every post in the referenced thread, and I do not think the leak is coming from the windshield. I took the plastic A-pillar trim off, and if the leak were coming from the windshield- there would be water evident on or in the A-pillar. It appears to be coming from the region further back from the windshield and A-Pillar. This car has a sunroof, but it was closed up and the fuse pulled and a bead of marine silicone was added around the perimeter (it was like that when we purchased it). I'm thinking that the front roof rack mount is allowing water to seep into the perimeter of the passenger-side headliner. I'm going to allow the leak to continue, since my son does not seem too interested in stopping it. When he has had enough- I'll assume I'll be assisting him in searching for the source with the headliner dropped.

[VibeNation2024]

It sounds like it is the windshield moulding gap/seal. You could put some flowable silicone windshield sealant and add it between the moulding and car metal to see if the leak goes away. I attached a picture. Correct me if that is not your issue.

[tpollauf]

Good pic of the same issue that I had. Daisy ....... Please send us a good pic of your "wet spot" or drips, and if it is similar to both of ours, then it is very likely windshield related and NOT the luggage rack.

[Daisy]

Thank you both for your replies and comments!

I do not have a picture of the wet spot, but it is 100% identical to the picture posted above (but on the passenger side of the car). I will closely inspect the windshield interface and will add some sort of sealant to that channel that is in the upper corner area and will report back.

Any recommendations on a "flowable" silicone sealant? The only sealants that I have used have been the thick clear silicone used to seal fish tanks and the like. I imagine I'd dispense a bead across the top channel of the windshield, and force it into the channel to (hopefully) stop the water from getting in.

Thanks again!!!!!!!

Edit- I ordered this sealant:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BKEBO0?re ... title&th=1

Reading the comments, it's thinner than standard silicone sealer and so is more likely to flow into small openings. I'll try sealing the top of the windshield near where the water intrusion is noticeable. It truly seems like the leak is happening several inches rear of the top windshield frame, but if that is the area that most have this same leak, then for $8 it's worth a try, and I guess it can't hurt.

[tpollauf]

Sounds like you have the "economical" plan in place initially and hope it works out for you. One question you failed to answer is this ............ Was your windshield ever replaced? Do you know if it is the original windshield? Hidden defects that you can't see, can result in the windshield leaking AFTER it got replaced by a sloppy, careless technician. I've reattached a pic of how my headliner looked when it rained outside. The initial thought was that there is no way the windshield leak could be causing this to happen, but it WAS! Almost a foot to the rear and yet leaking from the windshield ... YES! The channeling effect AND the design of the A-pillar trim piece make this happen.

Gently peel back the rubber gasketing trim on the upper corner of the windshield, clean & inspect thoroughly (send up pics if possible) then apply your silicone. Then reattach rubber trim. Let us know how it goes & good luck!

[Daisy]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!! Hard to believe that the windshield could wick water that far away from the entry point. My car is leaking in the exact same spot (to a lesser degree). I have owned the car for 6 months (and we LOVE this thing)- so I have no idea whether the windshield is original or not. Are there markings that I can find that will tell me if it's original or a replacement? Here's a picture of that upper corner of my car.

Vibe Windshield Leak Spot.jpg (892.49 KiB) Viewed 371 times

[tpollauf]

Are there markings that I can find that will tell me if it's original or a replacement?

Not sure on how to determine OEM from replacement ... BUT it almost looks like someone did repaint the edge just under the rubber trim moulding. Either that or the pigment separates as the clear coating fades off & exposes it. In any case, peel back the rubber trim and inspect what's under there. Also perform a water test too ONLY in that direct area to verify leakage.

[2004ohiovibe]

It wouldn't hurt to carefully check the silicone sealant used around the sunroof, especially since you don't know how long it's been there. I had the same thing done to my sunroof - siliconed it and pulled the fuse. After a few years, a couple of gaps opened up in the sealant. The biggest gap was probably only about 1/16 inch wide by 1/4 inch long, but it let in a surprising amount of water in that accumulated at the A-pillars just like your photo. I ended up getting a roll of black Flex Seal tape (let the roasting begin) and cut it into strips to fit over the sunroof edges. So far it's held up for 4 years, which was longer than the silicone did, and no more leaking.

[Daisy]

We purchased some flowable silicone sealant and diligently cleaned and sealed the top of the windshield- but overnight rain entered the car (again)- so that was not the source of the leak. The only other possible entry points in the vicinity of the leak are the sunroof and the roof rack bolts.

As previously-mentioned- the previous owner retired the sunroof, and siliconed it shut. We inspected and added a layer immediately after purchasing the car (out of caution). My son took the car to school this morning, but when it's back home this evening, I will see if the sunroof tray is full of water
(it shouldn't be) Does that leave the only other likely culprit to be the roof rack mounting point? I read in this forum at least one account of a leak having been stopped by sealing around the front roof rack mount.

My sister used to have a Honda Fit which was leaking water into the hatch. By searching online I discovered that it is not uncommon for the seam sealer used whare the roof and hatch meet to fail. I added silicone sealer to that area and the leak stopped. Is that a known point of failure on early Vibes? The roof seam has a plastic trim piece, which I am certain will shatter if I try to remove it. I know to wait for a warm day to attempt it (so the plastic is as pliable as it's going to be) but is this something I should attempt, and if so- any tips of removing it in one piece?

[VibeNation2024]

I would be skeptical that the roof rack mounting rack is where the water is entering. I would also caution on trying to remove the trim piece since I have heard they get brittle and break when removing. Was the sunroof tray full of water?