Ford Sunroofs Suck - Seal Issue Discovered

[4Reeley]

While doing this once again while driving, my wife noticed the rubber bellows on the drivers side under the sliding glass section was flopping around while we traversed rough roads.

I noticed this same issue this week and put it back just as you described. Wonder how long it was like that?

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[bosox8]

I have a Lariat ER without moonroof.

You Canadiens get all the luck!

 

[Ice No More?]

I discovered another moonroof related issue, for weeks I have been hearing a rattling sound while the sunscreen is closed, often when I open the screen halfway or fully the rattle goes away.

While doing this once again while driving, my wife noticed the rubber bellows on the drivers side under the sliding glass section was flopping around while we traversed rough roads.

This was the source of the rattle, after arriving home, I took a closer look and sure enough the upper lip of the bellows untucked from the rigid plastic at the edge of the glass panel, I tucked it back into position, took the truck for another pothole adventure and 93% of the rattles are gone!!

I didn't have the rattle but I was showing a curious co-worker my truck and we opened the screen to look at the moonroof and that piece fell out. Pushed back up and will tuck back in this weekend. Did you use RTV or someting to keep it in place?

 

[EdRudy]

My 2018 Lariat, 2021 Platinum, and 2022 Lightning have all had the rubber bellows on the driver side come lose and I had to tuck them all back in. I never used any silicon or any lubricants. It usually stays put once tucked back in.

 

[Ice No More?]

My 2018 Lariat, 2021 Platinum, and 2022 Lightning have all had the rubber bellows on the driver side come lose and I had to tuck them all back in. I never used any silicon or any lubricants. It usually stays put once tucked back in.

Thanks for that feedback, i will try that before going crazy with RTV.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Thanks for that feedback, i will try that before going crazy with RTV.

I also have had good luck with just pushing back into place, try using the bare minimum of RTV.

 

[ctuan13]

I discovered another moonroof related issue, for weeks I have been hearing a rattling sound while the sunscreen is closed, often when I open the screen halfway or fully the rattle goes away.

While doing this once again while driving, my wife noticed the rubber bellows on the drivers side under the sliding glass section was flopping around while we traversed rough roads.

This was the source of the rattle, after arriving home, I took a closer look and sure enough the upper lip of the bellows untucked from the rigid plastic at the edge of the glass panel, I tucked it back into position, took the truck for another pothole adventure and 93% of the rattles are gone!!

Yooo I've got that rattle as well and I narrowed it down to the sunroof screen, but because I never open it, that's as far as my investigation has got me. I'm definitely going to check it next time I get a chance, because that rattling is super irritating.

 

[Jim Lewis]

And I couldn't care less about looking through the glass in the roof, and I keep the shade closed and try very hard to forget that I even have a moonroof... that to me is only a liability, and something that requires additional maintenance. Adding insult to the inconvenience, the fact that I couldn't get this truck with an extended battery without having to take the extra hole in the roof.

My sentiments precisely. I didn't want a moonroof and regarded it as an excuse for Ford to jack up the price. Mine hasn't leaked or rattled yet in limited testing while still at low mileage, and except for initial testing, showing to friends, and driving around for a couple of weeks while the 3M window tint on it set,*** I haven't operated the shade or the moonroof - it's gonna stay closed for the life of the vehicle. The JerryRig video on assembling F-150 Lightnings at least assured me that if they're awake and on the job during QC, my truck wouldn't come leaking: So, my roof didn't come leaking and I just hope it stays that way if I ~never open the damn thing (never opened the moonroof in 16.5 years of owning a 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid-same deal there, it came with the vehicle, IIRC).

*** The tint was applied just to help reduce interior heating whenever the vehicle sits in the sun in Texas. Even so, when it's 106 deg F out, if I put my hand up on the shade, I can feel a lot of heat coming through to the shade - instead of having a nice, all-white reflective (and better insulated?) roof that bounces rays back rather than letting them into the truck through the moonroof.

 

[astolleis]

I discovered another moonroof related issue, for weeks I have been hearing a rattling sound while the sunscreen is closed, often when I open the screen halfway or fully the rattle goes away.

While doing this once again while driving, my wife noticed the rubber bellows on the drivers side under the sliding glass section was flopping around while we traversed rough roads.

This was the source of the rattle, after arriving home, I took a closer look and sure enough the upper lip of the bellows untucked from the rigid plastic at the edge of the glass panel, I tucked it back into position, took the truck for another pothole adventure and 93% of the rattles are gone!!

Thanks TaxmanHog, I've been looking for what i think is this rattle for a month and not found it yet. I now have someplace to look. In my truck, when the screen closed sometimes there is a rattle. I had figured out if the screen is open no rattle.

To others thanks for pictures of moonroof seal, also another thing to keep an eye on.

 

[Zprime29]

I open and close the shade and the roof every week. (or I do when it's cool enough outside) So far so good, no rattling, no leaks, less noise in the rain than our Honda Pilot (I can hear the rain draining through the pillars).

 

[EdRudy]

Took my 22 Lariat ER in for all Recalls and CSP’s. While there the service department noticed moisture in the carpet and discovered the sunroof drain line was kinked and leaking inside the truck. They replaced the line, the bracket that holds the line, all carpet and headliner. Also replaced the outside seal around sunroof. I never noticed a leak or mildew and didn’t mention it when I dropped it off.

Surprisingly excellent customer service. Also provided a loaner since drop off.

 

[hturnerfamily]

my sister found out the hard way about 'drain lines' from the moon roof down thru the pillar to the front wheel well... they had clogged with years of dust, dirt, debris ... even though she hardly ever actually OPENS the moonroof. It was my parents car, and she has driven it for the last several years - THEY had it in a garage - SHE has it outside 24/7.... uh oh.
One day she entered the car to find water falling out of the floor boards and over the door frame... water had soaked the driver seatbelt... had dripped onto the center screen... and was also dripping down from the headliner - which was FULL of water.
She found out the hard way that clogged drain lines equals a full water-logged headliner, which is made of a plastic base, and acts just like a boat - holding all the water, at least until it is more than it can handle, and finds it's way down wherever it then can... sad.

these 'seals' are for basic assistance against dramatic water intrusion, yes, but NO moonroofs are totally water proof - none. All manufacturers know this... drains are there for a good reason. But, nobody thinks to 'maintain' the drains and make sure they are open... a straw and a good several hard blows are good once a year.

 

[Mike G]

I had this rattle on my second Raptor (the first was ordered without a moonroof by me, the second was off the lot).

After doing research and doing a bit of adjustment to get the rear pane flush I still had the rattle, and then I saw a YouTube video about spraying RV silicone spray around the seal and working it in with a small plastic trim tool or a dull knife blade (I use the small orange HF plastic trim tool personally).

I still use this stuff once a year on my never-opened-on-purpose moonroof that I got stuck with due to selecting the Lariat trim.

 

[FreshDaddyE]

I had this rattle on my second Raptor (the first was ordered without a moonroof by me, the second was off the lot).

After doing research and doing a bit of adjustment to get the rear pane flush I still had the rattle, and then I saw a YouTube video about spraying RV silicone spray around the seal and working it in with a small plastic trim tool or a dull knife blade (I use the small orange HF plastic trim tool personally).

I still use this stuff once a year on my never-opened-on-purpose moonroof that I got stuck with due to selecting the Lariat trim.

Came here to say that my moonroof started 'chattering' at me on the cold morning drives to get the kids to school. It was right above my head and was driving me insane.

The YouTube video linked here fixed me right up. Took less than 10 minutes to spray some B'laster silicone lubricant on the seals, run around behind it with a dull trim tool, and wipe off the excess runs.

Also flushed the drains for good measure.

Thank you for the callout and restoring my sanity!

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