I gave searched and cannot find much information on the sunroof parts breakdown on my car, I have a fairly low mileage '97 and the sunroof has been leaking this year soaking my headlinder, at first I thought it was the seal but then learned it isn't intended to keep water out, then I saw an OEM part number for a drip tray that is apparently part of the sunroof system, thing is I have no idea how it works and if I even have one, with my sunroof in the up tilted position between the roof and the headliner I see what looks like a crossmember on tracks sitting towards the rear of the roof, I can barely reach it with my arms, but it does move on one side and has some kind of seal on the front of it, looks like it was intended to ride along with the sunroof but became disconnected, is this the drip tray and if so does it have it's own tubes connected to it? my car has less than 70k miles and I don't think the sunroof was used much, it seems to function fine. I am just confused about the drain system. thanks for any help, and sorry for the lack of sunroof mechanical knowledge!

 

Most likely your drain lines are pugged. There's one in each corner, blow a little compressed air or water into the lines to clear them. Worst case, drop the headliner a little to get access to each nipple and house on the drip pan corners.

 

Correct.

Small debri and dirt over time will cause the 2 rubber drain lines to clogged allowing the water to backup.

to test it take a small glass of water and pour it slowly into the water tray by the drain hole if it doesnt go down or go slowly then it needs to be clean.

Compressed air is the safiest way since anything ridged like a coat hanage or what not going in there might puncture the tube.

 

Thanks for the help, all four drain hoses are working correctly, If somebody with a sunroof in the closed position tell me if there is a tray that ends up under the the rear seal under the sunroof that is supposed to drain water out and down through the drain channels, this only applies to the REAR of the sunroof, as the front and side seals are always in position to drain . As I previously mentioned with the roof in the tilt position looking between the headliner and roof, there is some kind of long tray on tracks that maybe used to end up under the rear of the sunroof seal when closed, it is NOT a fixed position tray/gutter. I hope I am explaining this semi clear, thanks again.

 

The frame or drip pan as you call it doesn't move with the roof.
The drain lines remain fixed as well in each corner of the frame.
Search for the sunroof rebuild thread, there are detailed pictures there that might help you understand the sunroof assembly better.

 

I know exactly what your talking about. I had the same issue.

There IS a tray that drains on the rear of the sunroof that drains water that seeps through the rear seal of the sunroof. This tray is held up on both sides by a part which might be broken (which it was in my case). The tray moves when the sunroof opens and closes.

If the tray is disconnected, look up the side part on courtesynissan and replace it.

 

I didn't explain very clearly since my last post, I just 15 min ago finally got that piece out of the roof, now it makes almost perfect sense, I guess I would call it more of a gutter that is SUPOSSED to ride along with the moonroof, or as I am suspecting , the sunshade. its sole purpose is to drain water from the rear of the seal only when closed, it takes that water and channels it to the sides of the rail and then down the tubes, which there are 4 of. all mine are clear, so I am guessing I had the moonroof open last fall? and that gutter came of track and jammed in the rear of the roof, hence the soaked headliner especially in the corners. as I was forcing it out something broke and that's the only was I was able to remove the gutter. it is a very light piece of aluminum, that is why I suspect it actually somehow attaches to the sunshade, I can position the gutter where it should be, but haven't figured a way to keep it in place, the moonroof will slide back with it, but no way to retrieve it again! thanks for the help, Ill let you know what I rig, the moonroof operates so fast and smooth, Id hate to limit the slide function.

 

Thanks, I didn't explain it very well, but there is some kind of what I would describe as a gutter that does in fact move with the sunroof and/or sunshade, but only in the slide position, as it doesn't need to move in the up tilt position. my gutter must have somehow jammed in the rear of the roof sometime in the last year and became disconnected. thanks for the rebuild info, it's freakin hard to explain these parts when you can barely see between the headliner and assorted tracks.