Water ingress... finding the spot

[andre372]

Hi.

Does anyone have a car with front wing and dash (plus soundproofing) removed and can take some pictures?

I've been struggling with the leak from driver's side for ages now. I have the carpet out and have had the car in bits & pieces but still no joy. It feels like I'm driving a scrap car and I would like to put it all back together. But only when the issue has been dealt with.

Some of the efforts are described in this thread: http://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/sh...d.php?t=182686
The thread title suggests that it has to do with the plenum but that has been ruled out a long time ago.

In another thread (here) there are some more suggestions.
Specifically, member Michael (Saga Lout) is talking about a spot between the front wing and door pillar. He even added a picture but I still can't really understand what he is talking about. And I can't seem to contact him.

Originally Posted by Saga Lout

The leak is hard to find, It gets in on both sides from the same place. You have to unclip the side trims from the screen, then look with a torch down the gap behind the wing top where it meets the door pillar. If you look, you will see a little ledge with a hole where the panels meet, water gets in there and runs along and down the bulkhead. I found it through hours of work and a hose. You need real body sealer, and a small enough brush to go in the gap, block the hole and you will stop the leaks. Mine's been dry since. The picture shows the spot, I'm pointing at it with a welding rod. that's how hard it is to see...even the picture is hard to fathom..but it's in the gap between screen edge and wing top.

Additionally, I'm looking to find where this joint leads (along the red line to the front):



If anyone has the opportunity to take pictures of these mentioned places, it would be greatly appreciated!

[andre372]

Some more pictures to show what's the big deal:

[andre372]

Anyone?

[suffolk boy]

plenum scuttle clips?

[andre372]

Originally Posted by suffolk boy

plenum scuttle clips?

No, I've sealed them.

I'd really appreciate if anyone explained what Saga Lout was talking about.

[SirRustalot]

Just to be clear, is this a non-sunroof model????

[andre372]

Originally Posted by SirRustalot

Just to be clear, is this a non-sunroof model????

Correct, no sunroof.

[Saga Lout]

I saw the post...I'm missing some messages it seems. The leak is a pig to see and you have to unclip the screen trim. Once you unclip the trim it gives you a view down behind the wing, there you will see where the panels come together, there's a gap there and you clean it first, then you stick some real body sealer into the gap. I found lots of leaks but this was the hardest to find, it was easy to seal though.
I've pointed out where you should look by using a welding rod but, you have to unclip the screen trim carefully to see down there.

[klarzy]

Originally Posted by Saga Lout

I saw the post...I'm missing some messages it seems. The leak is a pig to see and you have to unclip the screen trim. Once you unclip the trim it gives you a view down behind the wing, there you will see where the panels come together, there's a gap there and you clean it first, then you stick some real body sealer into the gap. I found lots of leaks but this was the hardest to find, it was easy to seal though.
I've pointed out where you should look by using a welding rod but, you have to unclip the screen trim carefully to see down there.

I use a little food dye in water and an atomiser bottle to trace small leaks on equipment, it may make finding your gap easier...

[andre372]

Originally Posted by Saga Lout

I saw the post...I'm missing some messages it seems. The leak is a pig to see and you have to unclip the screen trim. Once you unclip the trim it gives you a view down behind the wing, there you will see where the panels come together, there's a gap there and you clean it first, then you stick some real body sealer into the gap. I found lots of leaks but this was the hardest to find, it was easy to seal though.
I've pointed out where you should look by using a welding rod but, you have to unclip the screen trim carefully to see down there.

Thank goodness you saw the post and thank you for answering It seems quite a few of my sent PMs have gone missing.
Just went and took a few quick pictures of the car and the spot. This must be what you mean.
Do you remember where the location was in the interior that water from that leak entered? I found that it enters from the connection between the under windscreen construction and the bulkhead (don't know if the terms are correct but I've shown them in the first posts of this thread, the drawn red line)? I then sealed the gap in the corner but the leak is moving along the connection towards the centre of the car. Access to that was difficult even with the dashboard removed because of the soundproofing and wiring and steering column etc.
I suppose access to the gap you found would be better with the wing removed, but as I understand you didn't remove that and have it perfectly sealed?

(pictures taken from LHD driver's side)

Originally Posted by klarzy

I use a little food dye in water and an atomiser bottle to trace small leaks on equipment, it may make finding your gap easier...

The problem with this leak is that sometimes it takes lots and lots of water to start ingress. Sometimes it's starting to pour over on just half-way washing the car. And in yesterday's driving rain when I discovered my rear side window (Tourer boot side) is leaking, the driver's footwell stayed perfectly dry.