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My 2022 ES 350 UL (6300 miles on odo) is showing what looks like either water or grease stains on the four corners of the panoramic glass roof sunshade. No stains are visible on the actual headliner and there's no indication of water intrusion into the cabin from the pano roof. I suspect excess grease from the sunshade track during manufacturing/assembly... Anyone seen this before?
Maybe water leakage from a commercial car wash or pressure washer?
Never has been through a commercial wash, but I do use a light duty pressure washer at times to wash, but never closer than 2-3 ft. The car is garaged and out of the rain mostly too.🤷♂️
All cars have a gutter system that drains water that runs past the moonroof seal. The seal itself isn’t the only thing keeping water out.
This gutter system can become blocked for any number of reasons, but staining of this kind is generally cause by some sort of water backup in the gutter. The gutter is not a huge channel, so a tiny bit of leaf or dust can affect it.
All cars have a gutter system that drains water that runs past the moonroof seal. The seal itself isn’t the only thing keeping water out.
This gutter system can become blocked for any number of reasons, but staining of this kind is generally cause by some sort of water backup in the gutter. The gutter is not a huge channel, so a tiny bit of leaf or dust can affect it.
Yep I had that years ago on a new car believe it or not - the drains were clogged with a screw probably from the assembly line. It took several visits for the dealer to figure it out.
if wet, let dry. it could be from a recent rain, revealing a problem with the drain or something. open the panel and have a look around. is the area wet around it?
if dry, perhaps try mixing a gentle detergent (think woolite or something) solution in a spray bottle, lightly mist and let dwell, then blot dry. rinse and repeat until the stain is minimized or gone. Light colored headliners are ultra sensitive and will show anything and everything and it's very hard to clean, if not outright impossible. way too porous.
if wet, let dry. it could be from a recent rain, revealing a problem with the drain or something. open the panel and have a look around. is the area wet around it?
if dry, perhaps try mixing a gentle detergent (think woolite or something) solution in a spray bottle, lightly mist and let dwell, then blot dry. rinse and repeat until the stain is minimized or gone. Light colored headliners are ultra sensitive and will show anything and everything and it's very hard to clean, if not outright impossible. way too porous.
I might try this. You're correct that light colors aren't very forgiving when any cleaning is tried. Will try a small area and see what happens...
I might try this. You're correct that light colors aren't very forgiving when any cleaning is tried. Will try a small area and see what happens...
***UPDATE*** I've had great results with a cleaning product: Lithium Slather Leather Cleaner All In One Leather Cleaner & Conditioner: Slather (lithiumautocare.com)
Although its technically a "leather" cleaner, after trying on a small area and then on the stained portions of the sunshade, it has removed 100% of the water or "whatever" stains. I can't say enough good things about the Lithium cleaner and their other products, which I use as well. There is absolutely no residue staining from this cleaner on my fabric sunshade. Looks like new again!
Now, as to the cause of the stains, I'll be carefully checking if water is draining as designed from the pano glass roof track areas.
***UPDATE*** I've had great results with a cleaning product: Lithium Slather Leather Cleaner All In One Leather Cleaner & Conditioner: Slather (lithiumautocare.com)
Although its technically a "leather" cleaner, after trying on a small area and then on the stained portions of the sunshade, it has removed 100% of the water or "whatever" stains. I can't say enough good things about the Lithium cleaner and their other products, which I use as well. There is absolutely no residue staining from this cleaner on my fabric sunshade. Looks like new again!
Now, as to the cause of the stains, I'll be carefully checking if water is draining as designed from the pano glass roof track areas.
A happy ending after all... I wouldn't want to be looking at those stains for years whenever I got into the car... GOOD LUCK finding the cause...
09-03-23, 02:45 PM
Water or grease staining on pano sun shade
