Sunroof folks, could you please check something for me?
 

My car has developed a leak by the driver pillar but only during extended torrential downpours. I've made sure the drains are clear but while I was trying to find the leak I found a rectangle hole in the sunroof track that leads right onto the headliner, which of course sends water to the pillar area. Is my car missing some type of seal? You can see it where the light is, do other factory sunroof RX-8s have this hole too?
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...6456befbb2.jpg

There is no seal there.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...4551558b4b.jpg

I would suspect you need to check the seal around the glass. Water isn't really supposed to get there to begin with, the drains are a way for it to leave if it does.

I don't suppose you've had a windshield replacement recently? I had that happen with a previous car, they didn't seal it well and I got a leak that showed itself by the A-pillar.

Also, I had a frustrating leak that took a year to fix. Turned out to be front door speaker enclosures redirecting water into the footwell and away from the door drain holes. A plastic bag curtain draped behind and past the speaker enclosure fixed it. Run a garden hose on the door window and see if the footwell fills up.

Thank you for checking! I took a notecard, pinched it between the sunroof and body, and found ~12" gap where the notepad had zero resistance. I tried adjusting the glass but then I had gaps in other areas. I put a brand new seal on and now the notecard gets pinched properly but I haven't had it in the rain since. While replacing the seal I saw that rectangle hole and thought maybe I was missing something.

I will watch for that, thank you for the suggestion! When I swapped speakers I kept the foam shield on the inside of the door but maybe I don't have it clocked correctly. I'll be hosing down the car tomorrow and see if I can find anything.

Good news and bad news; good news is no more leak in the headliner. Bad news is I have a leak by the speaker. I double-checked the speaker cone and no water in there. Found a wet line going up towards the fuse box cover and found the wire loom going into the door wasn't flush with the door. I repositioned the rubber seal flush on the door so now wait and see what happens.The body weather stripping in that area seems flat (but supple) so I might need to order new stripping anyways.

Mazdamaniac (I think that's the name) made a thread years about the door leak. Take the door cover off the drape a sheet of plastic above and behind the speaker enclosure so water goes past the enclosure. It needs to be long enough to go below the speaker. I will try to link the thread later tonight

Try reading this thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...9/#post4975100

The presence of a rectangular hole in the sunroof track could indeed be a source of the leak during heavy rain. It's possible that there should be a seal or cover in that area to prevent water from entering.

I saw that and tried it but it didn't resolve it. I found the leak was coming around the tweeter speaker and running down between the door panel and skin. I replaced the door weather stripping and it appears to be holding good now...

FYI anyone looking to purchase the body mounted weather stripping will be waiting until February 2024.

That's what I thought but like was mentioned before, water shouldn't really be in that area. The new sunroof weather strip seals much better than the 20-year-old one did.

Thanks for the link, you made my day.