Hey,
Back in a 3rd gen after a while and the one I picked up had some rust showing on the pass rocker up front right where it breaks in for the front of the door. Finally got around to cutting out that section and patching it up and I noticed that the sunroof drain seems to end right there. Is this normal or was my tube cut short? If it is normal is this a common place for body rot to start? Is it common or does anyone reroute the drain to dump in the wheel well?
I traded my first 3rd gen for a 72 bmw 2002 and the sunroof drains ended in the rockers just like the 4runner. This was one of the first places that would rust through in the bmw and I have repaired a few. It is a common thing in the 2002 crowd to reroute the drains to avoid the rockers....
Matthew

 

If intentional, that seems very short sighted on the part of Toyota. And BMW.




Andreas

 

The front does drain out gaps in the pinch welds on the rocker. Huh. That does seem wrong. I'll have to get the chance to study that more at some point. I have a bigger issue with stuff coming up from underneath with no real good way to wash it out. Stupid rust belt.

The rear one goes all the way back to the air vent...

 

What you described about the drain tube ending inside the rocker is correct and how the factory did it. Did you know that any water than hits the door glass also drains to the inside of the door skin and then out a couple drain holes at the bottom of the door? It's how it is on our trucks and many other vehicles.

 

Agreed, but much easier to remove a door panel to clean out the bottom of the doors. If some organic material gets washed down the sunroof drain and into the rockers it isn't coming out 'till they rust through...

 

Quite simple to extend the drain through the rocker so it runs out and hits the ground

Then I have no idea what this Sun Roof thing is

 

I'm going to go this way.