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Rubber Rails/Seals on Sunroof


cckeeler

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I recently purchased a used 2011 Ford Edge. The other day my wife had the sunroof open and noticed the rubber rail or seal on one side of the sunroof was flapping around. The more I look at it both sides are acting funny. From what I can tell there is a plastic slot that these rails slide into at the front of the sunroof. What I can't figure out is how they are actually supposed to work. I have tried looking for pictures and videos but I can't seem to tell.

 

So, the rubber rains on each side of the sunroof, are they supposed to slide back and forth with the roof, or are they supposed to stay connected to the from by the netted shade? I am hoping to be able to fix this myself if I can just figure out how it supposed to work.

 

Thanks

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I don't think they're supposed to slide with the roof. The right side one on my '11 Edge started doing that recently, but the left side remains intact. There doesn't appear to be any kind of adhesive holding it in place. I think the rubber might just be dry and sticking to the glass. I'm going to coat it well with some 303 Aerospace Protectant and then rub a little baby powder across the surface of the seal that touched the glass to help prevent the rubber from sticking to the glass and getting pulled back with it when the BAMR opens.

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I keep messing with it but I can't get it to stay put. It appears as though it is supposed to go along the metal reail and then slide into a little plastic clip near the front. Oringally it started pulling the one side back and now it is pulling both sides. I too can not see where there was ever any adhesive or anything applied to the rubber. Has anyone just tried gluing it? I'm afraid to do it and then mess the whole roof up.

 

Thanks

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  • 3 weeks later...

Bought my 2011 Edge one year ago and I had the SAME issue. Eventually from getting closed on all of the time without being properly installed they got warped so I removed them, but then the plastic railing that holds them in place would constantly rattle and I was tempted to just break them off! haha.

 

Luckily it was still under factory warranty, one of cables which pulled the roof broke, so I had them fix the rubber siding along with the roof.

 

YES, they are supposed to fit into those black plastic slots and the they are NOT supposed to move with the sunroof, they stay in place.

 

They replaced mine with new ones and I watched the guy pretty much just slide the new ones on those plastic railings and push them into the plastic slots. DONE! IT shouldn't be an expensive task and if it is, you can perhaps find the part online and install it yourself.

 

They don't seem to have much functionality other than to perhaps direct the air better out through the back when the roof is open in vent mode, and if you're like me, if they are supposed to be there and functioning, then I WANT them there and functioning! :)

 

I can take some pics if you want..

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  • 3 months later...

I have this same issue and have re-inserted the side rails into the slots. They are held in place at the front and appear to have some sort of "glue" helping hold at the very front, but none along the length of the rail. And that seems to be the problem. I can get the rail into the slots, but every time I open, it pops out. I've even left it closed for weeks hoping it would get it's "memory" back, but to no avail. It's according pleated, so it appears it should be glued into place. Will wait for a possible resolution before taking to dealership. Thanks for any assistance.

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I have this same issue and have re-inserted the side rails into the slots. They are held in place at the front and appear to have some sort of "glue" helping hold at the very front, but none along the length of the rail. And that seems to be the problem. I can get the rail into the slots, but every time I open, it pops out. I've even left it closed for weeks hoping it would get it's "memory" back, but to no avail. It's according pleated, so it appears it should be glued into place. Will wait for a possible resolution before taking to dealership. Thanks for any assistance.

Weird because I watched the guy do it when they repaired my roof.he just squeezed the rubber together, stuck it into that black slot and it stayed since...You can just take it to the dealer but if it's anything like my situation, they use a third party for sunroof repairs..

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  • 6 months later...

I know this may not help but, No. I was cleaning the railings the other day and they are still in place after about a year of opening a closing. (I'm in San Diego so they are open a lot).

 

Again, are you pinching them at the top and bottom and then pushing them into the black slot? They should fit but extremely tight.

 

If that is not working then you either need new ones, which to may knowledge may only be available through the dealer or their outsourced mechanic OR just don't use them, I don't believe they even have a real function that I can think of..

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I know this may not help but, No. I was cleaning the railings the other day and they are still in place after about a year of opening a closing. (I'm in San Diego so they are open a lot).

 

Again, are you pinching them at the top and bottom and then pushing them into the black slot? They should fit but extremely tight.

 

If that is not working then you either need new ones, which to may knowledge may only be available through the dealer or their outsourced mechanic OR just don't use them, I don't believe they even have a real function that I can think of..

 

Yes, I do "pinch" it to put it back in place every time it slides. It's only happening on the passenger side. And I can't tell what keeps it firmly in place on the driver's side. It doesn't appear to have any sort of adhesive on it.

 

Anyone know the actual name of this item in the shop manual or Ford parts catalog, or have the actual part numbers for this part on both sides? I thought it was "side curtain", but every time I search for that I get stuff related to the air bag systems.

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I wasn't able to find anything either. Sounds like there must be something defective on either the rubber piece or that little black bracket and it's not holding properly.

 

Sounds like you have two options, take the car in or just don't use them. It's up to you if you want to also break off the plastic guide rails also, if nothing is connected to them they will rattle with every bump.

 

Before I got mine fixed the rubber sidings were warped from the roof constantly closing on them improperly, they were not re-usable at all.

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  • 3 weeks later...

same issue here - my wife closed the roof on one of the side pieces and now it's buggered up - i am trying to find replacement pieces online but can't seem to figure out what they're called. Anyone know? Dealers will charge too much for this, I fear, but i may have to do that as a last resort.

 

Ed - Chattanooga, TN

edrusk@bellsouth.net

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About two years ago the passenger side came loose and actually came apart-the rubber wore through. Mine is an 09 Limited. When I took it to my dealer to get it replaced, the shop manager said they weren't really needed. After some discussion, they replaced both-I figured if one went bad the other was sure to follow. About two months ago, the passenger side came loose from the front. I ended up using just a dab of super glue on the front, between the accordion looking thing and the bracket it fits in. No problems since.

However, if Ford is still using these, they must have some purpose.

 

TW

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same issue here - my wife closed the roof on one of the side pieces and now it's buggered up - i am trying to find replacement pieces online but can't seem to figure out what they're called. Anyone know? Dealers will charge too much for this, I fear, but i may have to do that as a last resort.

 

Ed - Chattanooga, TN

edrusk@bellsouth.net

 

I believe they're called "side curtains".

 

 

About two years ago the passenger side came loose and actually came apart-the rubber wore through. Mine is an 09 Limited. When I took it to my dealer to get it replaced, the shop manager said they weren't really needed. After some discussion, they replaced both-I figured if one went bad the other was sure to follow. About two months ago, the passenger side came loose from the front. I ended up using just a dab of super glue on the front, between the accordion looking thing and the bracket it fits in. No problems since.

However, if Ford is still using these, they must have some purpose.

 

TW

 

My passenger side one is acting up-It pulls out from the front position as the roof opens, and the glass seems to stick to it, causing it to close abnormally slow. I'm going to try super-gluing the piece into the front metal piece and see if that helps. If not, then I may just remove it.

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  • 3 months later...

As with the rest of your 2010 Edge has the same issue. Mine has actually ripped. I went to Ford to by just the passenger side rubber stripping and they wanted $130. I almost fell on the floor. I still have a couple weeks left on my Certified Pre-Owned warranty so I'm taking it back to the dealer and let them deal with it.

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  • 2 months later...

I have a 2012 Edge and had the same issue. The passenger accordion rubber piece would flap and make noise when I had the roof popped open. Also, the rubber piece would actually slide in the rails when the roof was retracting I dealt with it for a while. Next time I had the oil changed, I had the dealer take a look. He did something to adjust it, but it was really the same issue, no change.

 

Several months later, I retracted the roof and the rubber went back with it. Then I closed it, and the rubber was all wadded up in the front part of the rail. Basically, I ended up having the dealer replace the seals. It was pretty expensive, but for as much as I paid for this car (like others), the last thing I want is the roof to start leaking and ruin the headliner.

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  • 1 year later...
  • 7 years later...

Hello everyone. I have just purchased a used 2014 MKX with 27k on the odometer 🙂. The previous owner handed me two (2) pieces of accordion rubber and said, "these go along the sunroof but keep falling off". That is how I found this forum. Someone asked the description of the part awhile back. The part is called "SIDE SHIELD" and the part number is FT4Z-78500A66-A. This is for the RIGHT side. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

  It seems like this is a common enough problem for Ford, and in particular the Edge model, and specifically those made in the 2011-2013 range, that Ford should be addressing this problem. Like the previous entries here, the rubber gasket seal around my sunroof also came loose from its place, would follow the window as it was opened, then get bunched up when trying to close it. Took it to the Ford dealer I bought the used car from and they wanted what i felt was too much for replacement and installation. I solved that problem by having my son help me hold it in place, then close the glass window… FOREVER. I don’t really need to see the sun or moon as much as I don’t want leaks! 

  Now, a few years later, the problem has progressed to ALL the rubber seals on the roof, including between the hatchback and roof. The rubber has deteriorated to “a sticky, black gooey mess”. It looks like it’s just cracked, but touching it turns it to liquid that will get all over your hands and leave an indentation. I’m afraid how much this will cost to fix.

  Any suggestions out there?

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