Recently the V6 began to leak along the headlining by the passenger door. Every time it rained, the corner of the headlining and footwell carpet were soaked. Hughie suggested I must have pulled off the rubber sunroof drain tube, which runs down the A-pillar. So: water in the sunroof gutter was draining into the sunroof drain pipe (as it should) but then, instead of draining away through the rubber tube that should be attached to it, the water was draining into the roof of the car.
Soggy headlining:
[img]https://i.imgur.com/06TmUnX.jpg[/img]
Below: the sunroof gutter and drain: there are 4 drains, one on each corner of the sunroof. The white stuff is from the gaffa tape I used, to try to block the tube
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Q3gwUUP.jpg[/img]
I know how this happened: when I fitted a digital radio unit recently, I had to tuck the aerial cable under the headlining at the top of the windscreen, and down the A-pillar to the dashboard. I had to remove the A-pillar trim, so presumably I pulled the tube underneath, without realising, and disconnected it. So take care, if you're messing with the A-pillar trim!
Then, unfortunately, I had to wait for the rain to stop this week before I could fix it
The headlining is very thick, like moulded board; it doesn't bend. So you can't just fold back a corner, you have to loosen the whole of the headlining in that corner of the car.
So, first I had to remove the A-pillar trim again. Behind it you can see the rubber drain tube, which runs up under the headlining, to the sunroof. The end should connect to the sunroof drain pipe.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/1GozvOJ.jpg[/img]
Below: then I removed the passenger grab handle, and the passenger visor (easy: just undo the two crosshead screws on each)
[img]https://i.imgur.com/rIqqzb6.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/eJbiGmr.jpg[/img]
Then I had to push back the rubber door seal, all the way along the top of the door frame, to pull down the headlining from the roof. Push back the seal and tuck the edge behind the headlining, so the headlining drops. Do this slowly and gently so you don't break the edge of the headlining.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/1cK0yc9.jpg[/img]
Then, stand outside the car (because you need to see into the gap, and you can only do that from the outside). Slide both hands between the headlining and the roof. There's not much space, so if you have very large hands, you might need to get someone else to do this.
You'll need to find the sunroof drain pipe with your right hand (the pipe is rigid, maybe 3cm long), and the loose end of the rubber drain tube with your left hand, and then connect the two.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO BEND THE HEADLINING WHEN YOU DO THIS! It's just like a thick piece of cardboard. If you push it down too much when your hand is inside the roof, you'll get a nasty crease in it. I did this by accident, but fortunately the crease was tiny and I was able to smooth it out, so it's not visible.
The rubber tube only just fits the drain pipe, it's very tight, you'll need to push it very firmly, as far as you can, so it doesn't come off again.
When the tube is definitely secure again, you can replace the headlining and everything else. Although, I've left off the grab gandle etc. for now, so I can check that the problem is solved. If there's no more water next time it rains, then I know it's definitely fixed and I'll replace everything properly.
I'll also have to clean the headlining, to get rid of the water marks. Hopefully a good car shampoo should do it.
S