How to Fix a Common Interior Roof Leak in a 2003-2007 Honda Accord

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In this video I show how to permanently fix the issue of water leaking into the headliner from the corner of the roof. Some people claim this issue is due to clogged sunroof drains, but I confirmed that it is a defect in application of the autobody sealant in the roof channel (I poured water into the roof channel, not allowing any to reach the sunroof drains, and the headliner quickly became wet.) This defect can easily be repaired with 3M autobody sealant.

[@lxfiveoh]

Just picked up a 2011 Honda Accord with an identical headliner stain (but on the driver side) and am going to try this! Nice work.

[@gaskinshomestead22]

Mine has been leaking for years. Looks like I have a new project. Thanks for the thorough content.

[@gregsv64]

Hello, I have a 05 Honda Accord and I have the same exact problem. Thank you for making this video. Can't wait to fix it on my car. Have a good day. Thank you again

[@wormwood6424]

Thank you soooo much for showing the inside of the channel!! Just what I needed to see.

[@AJSWoodworks]

You’re welcome!

[@robertbinder106]

Fantastic how-to video! With the help of this video I was able to repair a family member's 2009 Accord that had this leak on both driver and passenger sides. I don't agree with the assertion that regular silicone sealant traps water. It doesn't shrink nor is not porous when it cures so I don't understand that statement. Auto manufacturers specify auto body sealant for their production lines and repairs because it cures (dries) relatively fast where silicone sealant can take up to 24 hours to cure and test.

[@jimmygoodwin1353]

Thanks for the awesome video. I have the same car with the same problem. From what you have shown, it all makes sense now. Thanks again I appreciate it 👍🏻

[@Jez2008UK]

Mega, mega, mega, mega, mega helpful !!!! Thank you sooooooooo much! I'm in the UK, I have a 2006 Honda Accord and my Rails have a gap between them, a slight lift/bulge at the middle of the roof (say at the middle door pillar) and also they are lifted along the side of the windscreen. Honda, to replace both of my strips, want...... £650 (that's over $700). There aren't any leaks that I can see, but we're having a lot of rain and so I'm going to give your solution a try, hopefully they'll be more sealed along that roofline I mentioned. Many thanks from the UK!

[@cliftonixs]

Thanks man. Easy 15 minute job for both sides.

[@RestorationRanchHealing]

Thank you for such a great video ! I have leaks on both sides of my roof and recently the top right side where the stripping goes down my windshield. I am going to do this to try and fix my leak. I used silicone prior on part of the top hopefully I can remove it and redo the repair.

[@jonallum4336]

Great video thank you. Very informative.

[@davidevans8242]

I’ve got a 1997 Honda CRV that has been leaking around the top of windshield above the passenger side A pillar, and I, too, had the windshield replaced with continued leak afterward; I just finished disassembly of the entire trim around the A pillar and removed the roof molding; found the leak along a little crack at the body panel seam in the channel for the roof molding just like you did; went looking for what kind of sealer to fix it with and found your video! Brilliant! Just what I needed. Hopefully will work like a charm. Thanks for posting this!

[@AJSWoodworks]

No problem! I’m glad I could help. Unfortunately mine is leaking again, so I may need to reapply. I don’t think I put on enough the first time for it to last long.

[@garyweber195]

Thanks for the update

[@Hazen_Muhammad]

So your crv have another leak after you install the sealant??

[@davidevans8242]

@@Hazen_Muhammad Nope. Bone dry.👍😎

[@lazysmurf7168]

Your video helped a lot. Kept thinking it was sunroof, dealership was clueless. Overlooked your video before until I finally saw water coming inside during a heavy rain while driving. I used Eastwood brushable Seam Sealer gray instead. Used a acid brush and finger/latex glove. You forgot to mention that it’s murder on your fingertips trying take the channel off.

[@Waviaerith]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@AJSWoodworks]

You’re welcome!

[@cuttabutter5050]

Thanks a lot!! My pillar has gotten worse it now leak drops of water in my passenger seat

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thank you so much

[@WeCanBpals]

Thanks for the video! I think my car is leaking from the same spot.

[@d_purp8960]

It just be an accord issue. I have a 2015 accord and is having the same issue, same spot but on the drivers side. Good video 👍🏽

[@PentaCTR]

Same here, Accord '14 CU, both sides unfortunately.

[@m.b.5349]

2006 accord coupe and mine leaks above the door on the driver side. This video is exactly what I was looking for.

[@slipknotjake]

05 civic ex sedan. New windshield, all rust spots fixed and sealed, still have a leak. Haven't had a chance to look, but its probably the same thing. Seam.

[@dauntlessdom5926]

09 Civic EX same spot on passenger side too. Guess I’m going to try this

[@NuyoricanJoseph]

​@@dauntlessdom5926'10 Civic EX. Mainly drivers side, but sometimes passenger 😮‍💨

[@joebaucom4537]

Great !

[@yadan1998]

Exelente

[@Zerobrakes]

Thanks for the video! I have a leak towards the back that's ruined the whole headliner. Where did you go to get your headliner replaced?

[@AJSWoodworks]

I went to a local upholstery shop. It cost about $100 and looked good as new!

[@sheilasylvia2971]

water stains u can use spot shot it is a cleaner it work

[@MrRockfish01]

Same here, my driver side seems to be the problem, going to try to get that 3m sealant 👍🏽 By the way, did you figure out how to get rid of the water stains???

[@AJSWoodworks]

Still haven’t tried… plan to use oxiclean though

[@CarlosAguilar-em1tm]

Have you had any water after you did all this? I know the first time with the silicone wasn’t worked that well and wondering if this time was better, thanks you so much for your answer

[@AJSWoodworks]

Yes, I don’t think I coated it well enough. I’m actually about to do it again.

[@CarlosAguilar-em1tm]

@@AJSWoodworks I just did my yesterday and I used foaming soap on top and air pressure in side and I was able to see the exact area where the air came out and used jb weld, looks great but have not see with a heavy rain if it work, hopefully you post the video when you do it again. Thanks for your video encourage me to do my.

[@AJSWoodworks]

@@CarlosAguilar-em1tm I’m glad it helped!

[@joshualwc]

@@CarlosAguilar-em1tm did you take off your headliner for that?

[@CarlosAguilar-em1tm]

@@joshualwc yes I did and I ready had some heavy rain and no problem at all.

[@ricardopino2220]

where can i buy the end clip ? my broke off and i am trying to find a place to buy it but can't find it.

[@Jez2008UK]

Try getting in touch with Honda!

[@williameplin9661]

Do you need to take the windshield wipers off to get the roof channels off

[@AJSWoodworks]

No sir, there is no need to touch the wipers.

[@Theferg1]

Great video!! how did the stain turn out? Was you able to get it off? And what did you use? Thank you.

[@AJSWoodworks]

Thank you! I haven’t gotten the stain out yet, because the leak sprang open again after a few months. I have yet to get back in there and apply more sealant, which I think is the issue. I should’ve applied a lot more the first time around.

[@WheresmyAnima]

@@AJSWoodworkshave you checked on the top of the sunroof drain? I accidentally pulled it from the top when repairing the bottom where it feeds into the drain tube.

[@AJSWoodworks]

@@WheresmyAnima Yep, it’s not leaking there unfortunately

[@nick_sometin7791]

This is my issue with my 2010 accord

[@tylerzeigler4329]

Did you ever get that water stain out? And did the bleach work I’m going through the same thing

[@AJSWoodworks]

I haven’t tried yet, but I will try oxyclean before bleach.

[@ticesine6589]

Just did this on my 2008 civic about a week ago, took my time. The leak is still there ....

[@markpereira6250]

Any update on this? Did it fix the issue?

[@AJSWoodworks]

Yes, I’ve had plenty of heavy rain since then with no leak.

[@redfoottortoisepr]

Nice vid! Thanks. Any update?

[@AJSWoodworks]

It worked for a few months and then started to leak again. I would go heavier next time with the sealant.

[@shynous]

Can you make a new video after the third fix? I’m invested in your update now.

[@cookwithcel1455]

Good video but I don't think that will help with mine. I have a 2007 civic and I saw mine was leaking sent it to a body shop, resealed the window and bought new moldings etc, maybe that would help in the sealing. Nope unfortunately no. It didn't not help. It helped for a little but recently we been getting heavy rains and now the problem is worse than before it got fixed. So I'm at a lost. It's frustrating. Mostly it's on the driver's side and few occasions it seeps through the passenger's . I'm from s hot country so idk if the molding hardens and dries up so it won't last so. I'm surfing KZbin to find an answer. Sorry about the long rant.

[@omarhouri5435]

Did you solve the issue? Your response is highly appreciated as I'm facing the same problem

[@AJSWoodworks]

It initially fixed the issue, but now it seems to be leaking again. I’m thinking I didn’t coat it thick enough.

[@omarhouri5435]

@@AJSWoodworks bro I'm facing the same issue again after putting some coat. Did you fix it? And how please?

[@AJSWoodworks]

@@omarhouri5435 It worked for a while, but recently it started leaking again. I probably skimped too much on the sealant.

[@TakeNoShift]

I have a leak that runs from up by the top of my rear windshield on the passenger side down through the C pillar into the trunk behind the liner.

[@AJSWoodworks]

I’m not familiar with that leak, but it could certainly stem from the same issue.

[@jonjensen4514]

So I’m watching this video for a complete different reason for why you posted it but just looking to confirm, there was no threaded holes to install a roof rack under the molding correct?

[@AJSWoodworks]

Correct

[@jonjensen4514]

@@AJSWoodworks thank you!

[@syloluon4969]

Since it has been 2 years now, I take its successful? Didn't see an update video.

[@AJSWoodworks]

It was successful for about 6 months, but I didn’t use enough sealant and it eventually came off and started leaking again.

[@syloluon4969]

@@AJSWoodworks what are some tips if you had to do it again ?

[@AJSWoodworks]

@@syloluon4969 clean the surface thoroughly with alcohol, and use more sealant than I did.

[@user-mf6hu8tj9f]

How is it still holding?

[@AJSWoodworks]

It lasted for a few months, but I don’t think I applied enough.

[@bobanmilisavljevic7857]

How is it holding up?

[@AJSWoodworks]

It’s held up okay. I noticed some less extreme leaking a few weeks after the repair, so I think I may not have covered it well enough.

[@BMHolbert]

@@AJSWoodworks I am using Flex Seal based on a friends recommendation with the same issue. I will keep you posted.

[@hilarycastillo5713]

do you have to wait 24hours to dry?!

[@AJSWoodworks]

It would be best to.

[@EngelsPeralta]

I'm having the same problem with the left side and still leaking because I used silicone on it 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@AJSWoodworks]

Yeah, I wish I would have used auto body sealant earlier. I did the same with my car a while ago.

[@jeffbeck9066]

@@AJSWoodworks Hi! How long does sealant dry?

[@daviderhahon]

Wait, I thought silicone was water resistant?

[@AJSWoodworks]

@@daviderhahon It is, but unfortunately it traps water and can rust your cars metal. It’s better to use auto body sealant which is made for that purpose.

[@daviderhahon]

@@AJSWoodworks OK. Noted. I just researched it though. It occurs mainly to low quality silicone sealants. It also occurs if the silicone is not applied properly or evenly.

[@longsleevethong1457]

I bet it’s your sunroof drain and not the windshield

[@kingkoopur9212]

Update please

[@AJSWoodworks]

It worked for a couple months, but then started leaking again. I think I should’ve cleaned the surface more thoroughly with a solvent, and then used more of the sealant.

[@kingkoopur9212]

@@AJSWoodworks okay I've seen your video a while ago but never brought the sealant I was thinking polyurethane adhesive since Honda uses it the connect the 07 accords fender to this small metal part that fits under the hood.it gets hard .keeps raining in NY so imma wait until I have a few nice days to use the sealant.thank you for this video and your fast response

[@jinsestephen]

Actually my car got the same issue .

[@miguelrivera8532]

Why not use a toothbrush

[@mungimichael3131]

Why do engineers still put those fake designs on cars?

[@AJSWoodworks]

What fake designs are you referencing?

[@pogi09282805724]

Thank you so much!