Sunroof drain tube is clogged

Caveat. I don't have a 3rd gen. But I've had several sunroofs/T-top/soft top vehicles. They are all about the same, nothing special on the Tacoma is my guess.

Open the sunroof. Pour a small amount of water, slowly, in the recess around the opening.

Watch where the water goes when it runs out, and look for where that water runs out below. You've just located the beginning and end of a drain.

Hopefully there is more than one. There may be 4, one in each corner, to compensate for the angle of how the vehicle is parked.

Low pressure shop air with a small tip nozzle in the entry point will often clear the tubing. Too high a pressure and you risk blowing the tube off it's fitting.

If you think the tube has a buildup of mold/mildew, treat it like you should be treating your AC condensate line for your home. Add a small amount of vinegar and let it do it's job.

 

I haven’t had to touch the drain on my wife’s car in the 3 years we’ve owned it. And it’s parked under water oaks in the driveway.

 

Don't blow in the tubes from the bottom, there may be a one way check valve in the tube. Blow in them from the top. Then stop parking under trees.

 

I had my drain tubes freeze up once. Man what a pain in the ass that was. I'm glad my taco doesn't have a sunroof.

 

You can get a clog in one hour on a sunroof less 5 months. All it takes is an acorn or any debris. It's the joy of living with a sunroof.
Been there done that for many years.
Learn how to clean and live with it.
Compressor, long wire, etc.

 

I've been clearing out sunroof drain tubes in VWs and Audis for a long time now. Do not use compressed air if at all possible. German cars use a silicone tube that comes off with low psi compressed air. I do not on W what Toyota uses, and if that tube comes off, probable never going to get it attached.
Best is to use an long speedometer cable with the gauge side threaded head and short section of housing, put it on a drill, low speed and go from the bottom to top and top to bottom.

 

My 2017 Tacoma has drain holes in the forward corners. These probably drain through the A-pillar and out the bottom of the truck.

Parking under trees allows debris to collect over time and clog these holes. My driver side is clogged. Carpet is wet, and heavy rain makes it worse. Right now, there is a pool of water in the driver side forward corner of the sunroof gutter.

I will try to unclog it with a coat hanger or such.

I've had this problem on a Saab 900, and if you let it go long enough it will spill over into the car's interior.

Also try compressed air to blow out the tubes.

Good luck.

 

Follow up: clog cleared using weed eater trimmer line. About 4-5 inches in and water drained quickly.

I then inserted a plastic straw to blow it out. See photos for driver side drain hole location. Passenger side has similar drain.

I poured a large cup of water into sunroof gutter, and water quickly drained behind left front wheel right under the edge of the truck.

 

Be Very careful using compressed air to "unclog". If the drains have any rubber hoses, you can blow them off and may never get them back on.

Smart tip for the weed trimmer line @PigeonF16 You WIN Tacoma World today!

 

Weedcwacker string works good. Be patient. Anyone have winter freeze up issues?

 

Had to clean out the ones on my BMW all the time so add cleaning them to your maintenance routine. And I never had a sunroof that was not problematic in some form or fashion. I swore them off years ago.

 

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$9 JSONO Refrigerator car sunroof Drainage Internal Long Hose Nylon Spring Fridge Drain Hole Dredging Tool Bendable Frozen Water Clog Remover Cleaning Brush for Kitchen Drain Pipe(155+6cm)

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this will help with that problem

 

Tried this out. The best tool for the job is weed-wacker line. It able to reach the bottom compared to the wired brush. Happy unclogging!