Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

[kaptain_zero]

Unfortunately, I seem to be inadequate in designing search strings and have not found any previous posts that answers the following question.

I have a 2009 Hyundai Sonata with a sunroof. The sunroof has begun to make a noise due to body flex... the noise is from the rubber seal rubbing against the painted edge of the roof. I opened the sunroof and gave the painted edges a quick waxing with A16 cleaner wax and wiped the seal clean with some ONR in detailer strength. The roof was once again silent but it only lasted a couple of weeks and now the noise has returned. This noise has been mentioned on the Hyundai forum I hang out on so it is fairly common. The noise is faint.... closing the headliner panel blocks most of this noise out but I have a keen ear for such things and the faint noise just grates on my nerves.....

I have found in my travels suggestions for silicone greases (don't like that idea... dust and grit is common in the air here and that would just turn into an abrasive paste), Zymol Seal (a collection of organic oils that again would probably attract grit and considering all seals are now made from pure synthetic materials, why would I use vegetable oils to condition it?!?!) and lastly I see a recommendation for 303 protectant (which seems to make the most sense but I don't have any to try).

I do have M40 but I'm not sure this is the right product for this particular job. I don't want the seal to stick at all but rather slide effortlessly against the painted edges without attracting grit/dust. Any suggestions?

Almost forgot, I've also considered Door-Ease (a stick lubricant for door seals) but again.... this is a sliding rubber seal...... I need it to slide and not attract dust/dirt and yet stand up to car washes.


Regards

Christian

[Murr1525]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Well, Subrau says to use their can of silicone spray, so I do that once a year or so. In between, I use a regular rubber dressing, like M40, All Season Dressing, or the Trim Detailer.

I do it more for maintenance though, not sure if they will solve squeaking.

[meuge]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Unfortunately, I seem to be inadequate in designing search strings and have not found any previous posts that answers the following question.

I have a 2009 Hyundai Sonata with a sunroof. The sunroof has begun to make a noise due to body flex... the noise is from the rubber seal rubbing against the painted edge of the roof. I opened the sunroof and gave the painted edges a quick waxing with A16 cleaner wax and wiped the seal clean with some ONR in detailer strength. The roof was once again silent but it only lasted a couple of weeks and now the noise has returned. This noise has been mentioned on the Hyundai forum I hang out on so it is fairly common. The noise is faint.... closing the headliner panel blocks most of this noise out but I have a keen ear for such things and the faint noise just grates on my nerves.....

I have found in my travels suggestions for silicone greases (don't like that idea... dust and grit is common in the air here and that would just turn into an abrasive paste), Zymol Seal (a collection of organic oils that again would probably attract grit and considering all seals are now made from pure synthetic materials, why would I use vegetable oils to condition it?!?!) and lastly I see a recommendation for 303 protectant (which seems to make the most sense but I don't have any to try).

I do have M40 but I'm not sure this is the right product for this particular job. I don't want the seal to stick at all but rather slide effortlessly against the painted edges without attracting grit/dust. Any suggestions?

Almost forgot, I've also considered Door-Ease (a stick lubricant for door seals) but again.... this is a sliding rubber seal...... I need it to slide and not attract dust/dirt and yet stand up to car washes.


Regards

Christian

I used the Gold Class Rubber/Vinyl protectant on all the interior AND exterior plastics/rubber/trim of my Acura. I had some noise from the trim around the sunroof and a thorough wash of the open/closed sunroof and the associated compartment followed by two applications of the protectant fixed the issue... at least for now.

[Jossy92]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Well, Subrau says to use their can of silicone spray,

Curious if that is a "dry" silicone.

The installer of my sliding patio door suggested that I use that in order to avoid the dust/paste problem on bottom rollers, etc.

[kaptain_zero]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Well, I ended up using a Quick Interior Detailer wipe and cleaned the edge and then wiped it dry with a micro fiber towel. So far the noise is staying away and it's not attracting any dust.

I've considered lots of options but first and foremost I want it *dry* so that it does not attract dust that then gets embedded into the surface of the seal and ends up wearing away at the painted edge as it opens and closes.

We'll see how things go..... I've already prepared myself for the eventual replacement of this seal..... it's bound to go bad considering how it rubs when it opens and closes, then there's the fact that it always has sunlight beating down on it.... I'm hoping there is some UV protection in QID as it states on the package.

Regards

Christian

[Eddie6th]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Normal trim dressing for rubber should be fine. Can the roof not be adjusted?
I would have thought the alignment is out due to wear and tear.

[akimel]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Have you spoken to the Hyundai dealer. I would think that the sun roof noise should be covered under warranty. I would imagine this is a common complaint.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

You should be just fine with a light application of M40 - it should dry back to the point of not attracting dust in any annoying quantity.

Having said that, if you're getting good results using QID, then stick with it. There most definitely is a very good level of UV protectant in it, and with regular use you'll be fine.

[kaptain_zero]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Thanks guys,

Yeah, it's a common complaint amongst Sonata owners, but so far there isn't a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) from Hyundai on this issue. In all honesty, it's a very faint noise if one keeps the headliner panel closed, but like I said, I have a keen ear for unusual noises and well....... it bugs me!

Michael, I do have M40 here and it is in the queue of products to try. I'm simply doing a modified sort of a test spot if you will, using the least likely to permanently change anything product first, and then escalating as needed until I make the problem go away. So far, QID is doing better than just cleaning the seal and drying it.

There are times when I find that Megs has a bewildering range of similar products, but then again, there are times when I'm really glad Megs offers such a large range of similar products with *slight* differences between them. It may not be cheap to check them all out, but at least I have a good selection to try and they all have their uses so nothing goes to waste.

Regards

Christian

[akimel]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

FWIW, Honda recommends the use of Shin-Etsu silicone grease to quiet moonroof noise. I use it twice a year on the seals of my convertible to keep the seals supple and ensure that they do not stick. Between applications I use M40 to keep the seals clean. Regular maintenance should take care of any problems with dust buildup.

[the_invisible]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Although Meguiar's own trim detailers and interior quik detailers are often recommended to use on rubber seals, I have seen reports of these products prematurely drying out the seals. It is for that reason I use only M40 on seals.

A product that may improve UV Protection on vinyl surfaces (such as the dash) may not necessairly be suitable for rubber seals.

[Murr1525]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Although Meguiar's own trim detailers and interior quik detailers are often recommended to use on rubber seals, I have seen reports of these products prematurely drying out the seals. It is for that reason I use only M40 on seals.

What?

[the_invisible]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

I cannot confirm those reports, but a few users on the DSM forums claim that using trim detailers (Meguiar's included) caused their door seals to crack after continuous use. Again, whether that is true or not I do not know. The fact is that I have been using M40 on seals and have not had any problems. Though that information was from a while ago, I still believe M40 is one of the better products for use on seals compared to a detailer that emphasizes shine and appearance.

[Murr1525]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

I was just thrown by the "dont recomend trim detailers", but "use M40"....

I kind of chose Gold Class Trim Detailer today over All Season Dressing for some rubber seals, since Gold Class sounds more moisturizing.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Sun roof rubber seal maintenance?

Although Meguiar's own trim detailers and interior quik detailers are often recommended to use on rubber seals, I have seen reports of these products prematurely drying out the seals. It is for that reason I use only M40 on seals.

A product that may improve UV Protection on vinyl surfaces (such as the dash) may not necessairly be suitable for rubber seals.

What utter nonsense! If a product is designed for rubber and vinyl, then it can be used on it. Meguiar's chemists know what they are doing and sometimes you have to place your trust in a company's good name and not some fear mongering hearsay!

Tim