I've looked everywhere and after a rain theres water on the front and rear passenger floor. none under the seat. there must be 2 leaks. I've checked under the rear seat and under the rear window and front window and cannot find anyplace wet.
I've checked immediately after a rain and there is a significant amount of water. up till the last rain I had no leaks, especially while parked.
to test possible leak sources I taped up my front hood vent and trunk lid. I vacuumed out the water, it rained again and the carpet got sopping wet. I need engine deck lid seals but the vent under the rear window would still take in rain.
I'm puzzled because I cannot find the source of the leaks. I changed all window seals and replaced the windshield a few years back, so, seals are about 5 years old. I had a windshield guy do all the seals so thought it was done professionally. I can't believe both front and rear seal would fail the same week.
I put in new door seals but need window scrapers so it rains down into the windows, but I replaced the door panels and cleaned and greased the winders, etc. the door insides are clean and do not hold water but drain.
I feel I've eliminated the front hood so the only place it could leak is the windshield. as far as rear passenger side it has to be rear window, rear passenger window or rear lid vent above deck lid. I do hang a cover over the rear deck lid vent when it rains, which leaves the deck lid seals as a way for water to enter there and possibly the rear small side body vents which I can tape shut for the next test.
besides any ideas, if the vent above the rear deck lid is the source, how could I access that to seal it in there & what kind of body seal caulk or material is used by car manufacturers nowadays?
the other thing possible I thought is the fender beads, but not sure if they even would leak to the inside since removing the fenders wouldn't leak to the inside-or is this wrong?
I plan to use silicone caulk in places other than the window seals. on the window seals ill use windshield sealer, but if I do all this and still have leak(s) I'd really be at a loss. It looks like window seals hug the body ok but if I seal these I plan on running a bead under each seal.
I still plan to paint the car so I can isolate externally on the body with some decent silicone caulk to see where the source of the leaks are.
still seems odd to me the front & rear leaks would start simultaneously and while the vehicle is parked, not moving.
Finding Standing Water on Passenger Side
- rrb6699
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- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:49 pm
Finding Standing Water on Passenger Side
RR
1972 Restoration Project.
1972 Restoration Project.
- SCOTTRODS
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 7:15 am
Re: Finding Standing Water on Passenger Side
You see those little half moon crescent thingies on the sides next to the back glass? Yeah... those things. They're known to be a source of water if they're cracked and dry... The issue I see is that you have multiple leaks, and there's no true way to find them other than start taking stuff apart. Especially take the carpet out to see if you can trace a leak to a starting point. I've had so many VW's they all had their own leak issues or in some cases... no major issues. Door seals etc... but man, If you have holes under the windshield seal or rear window seal... or on the the "C pillars"... those aren't going to be fun to fix. There will be a very big need for someone to go in and remove the rotten and replace with (likely hand made) new metal. You may be able to source some donor car pieces that will save a lot of time, but removal and replacement are stilll very specialized and time consuming.
I have found them completely missing more than once. - PILEDRIVER
Some pics of My Powder Coating work
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Some pics of My Powder Coating work
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My Facebook Page for Powder Coating
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- rrb6699
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:49 pm
Re: Finding Standing Water on Passenger Side
I have the half moon vents on my list. thanks for that bit. I haven't been able to trace back so im going to start by blocking the obvious things like vents and seals one at a time. im assuming both the body and glass sides of each window seal could leak although since they are only 5 years old I dont see why.
plus the driver side floors stay completely dry. since I cant find the leak source I must have a leak running along the outside of the bug's cabin then entering.
I'll keep you posted when I at least isolate the external cause. I may wait for rain since hosing individual parts might force water where the rain doesnt.
oh, what are the "C Pillars"?
plus the driver side floors stay completely dry. since I cant find the leak source I must have a leak running along the outside of the bug's cabin then entering.
I'll keep you posted when I at least isolate the external cause. I may wait for rain since hosing individual parts might force water where the rain doesnt.
oh, what are the "C Pillars"?
Last edited by rrb6699 on Sun Sep 04, 2016 12:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
RR
1972 Restoration Project.
1972 Restoration Project.
- SCOTTRODS
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 7:15 am
Re: Finding Standing Water on Passenger Side
I can honestly say, I have had TERRIBLE durability with rubbers over the last 15 years or so of my Volkswagen days... They just don't last like they used to. Years ago I installed new front and rear glass rubbers and the leaks started within a year...
The front and rear glass are definitely suspect, simply because the ends of the glass are lower than the centers... The fender mounting bolt holes are a possible issue, but due to location I'd start higher up for water intrusion. I had one old Bug that had 3 pinholes in the ran guttering/pinch roll area, that were pretty small and just looked like little surface rust spots until I probed them a little... That one got some sealer and eventually the roof cut off and the car dismantled for parts.... It was an orange car, so the rust didn't show as bad. Yellow may not hide them as well as orange did. The running gear was good so it was transplanted to another recipient. That was a time when I had so many Volkswagen, I could just swap them around at a moment's notice though... I think we had almost 30 bugs at the time.
Anyway... The hardest thing about hunting water leaks is how serious you want to get. I removed seats and all interior coverings to find my problems. ALL interior. well... except headliner due to the wrap over the front and rear glass frames... but I did pull the headliner out at the sides to chase issues... didn't help on any of my searches, the issues always ended up being something I could see once the glass was removed... So a lot of my old bugs got roof removal and many scrapped.
The front and rear glass are definitely suspect, simply because the ends of the glass are lower than the centers... The fender mounting bolt holes are a possible issue, but due to location I'd start higher up for water intrusion. I had one old Bug that had 3 pinholes in the ran guttering/pinch roll area, that were pretty small and just looked like little surface rust spots until I probed them a little... That one got some sealer and eventually the roof cut off and the car dismantled for parts.... It was an orange car, so the rust didn't show as bad. Yellow may not hide them as well as orange did. The running gear was good so it was transplanted to another recipient. That was a time when I had so many Volkswagen, I could just swap them around at a moment's notice though... I think we had almost 30 bugs at the time.
Anyway... The hardest thing about hunting water leaks is how serious you want to get. I removed seats and all interior coverings to find my problems. ALL interior. well... except headliner due to the wrap over the front and rear glass frames... but I did pull the headliner out at the sides to chase issues... didn't help on any of my searches, the issues always ended up being something I could see once the glass was removed... So a lot of my old bugs got roof removal and many scrapped.
I have found them completely missing more than once. - PILEDRIVER
Some pics of My Powder Coating work
http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg6/terrellster/
My Facebook Page for Powder Coating
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001788886297
Some pics of My Powder Coating work
http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg6/terrellster/
My Facebook Page for Powder Coating
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001788886297
- rrb6699
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:49 pm
Re: Finding Standing Water on Passenger Side
I caught it leaking in the rain this morning. rain was running down the door seals but when it hit the hinges it diverted to the channel . I fiberglassed the channel and this leak was getting into it from below the door hinge and thru each drain hole vw put under the doors. one front and one rear. just about the spots that were leaking thru. I took a grinder and once I cut out the sections (not bad really) I re-fiberglassed these spots including the drain holes since my previous work on the heater channels rendered their purpose counter to their design making them holes to feed water into the channel areas and flow it along the cabin side till it found its way in.
I removed the tape along my window seals because these leaks bot originated at the rear base of the front fender where the bead ends and at the front bottom of the rear fender.
these have been sealed. I just hope I can get a primer coat on the fiberglass before it rains after it fries good.
I was thinking it may be useful to start a "Leaks of All Types" thread. it could be a useful storehouse of information on how any type of leak issues were solved or get solved. perhaps solutions could be added to a "Wiki-Type" reference with sections for water leaks like this, engine oil leaks, coolant leaks, steering, etc...
my apologies if this has been done. I didnt check before writing this.
I removed the tape along my window seals because these leaks bot originated at the rear base of the front fender where the bead ends and at the front bottom of the rear fender.
these have been sealed. I just hope I can get a primer coat on the fiberglass before it rains after it fries good.
I was thinking it may be useful to start a "Leaks of All Types" thread. it could be a useful storehouse of information on how any type of leak issues were solved or get solved. perhaps solutions could be added to a "Wiki-Type" reference with sections for water leaks like this, engine oil leaks, coolant leaks, steering, etc...
my apologies if this has been done. I didnt check before writing this.
RR
1972 Restoration Project.
1972 Restoration Project.
- rrb6699
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:49 pm
Re: Finding Standing Water on Passenger Side
I caught it leaking in the rain this morning. rain was running down the door seals but when it hit the hinges it diverted to the channel . I fiberglassed the channel and this leak was getting into it from below the door hinge and thru each drain hole vw put under the doors. one front and one rear. just about the spots that were leaking thru. I took a grinder and once I cut out the sections (not bad really) I re-fiberglassed these spots including the drain holes since my previous work on the heater channels rendered their purpose counter to their design making them holes to feed water into the channel areas and flow it along the cabin side till it found its way in.
I removed the tape along my window seals because these leaks bot originated at the rear base of the front fender where the bead ends and at the front bottom of the rear fender.
these have been sealed. I just hope I can get a primer coat on the fiberglass before it rains after it fries good.
I was thinking it may be useful to start a "Leaks of All Types" thread. it could be a useful storehouse of information on how any type of leak issues were solved or get solved. perhaps solutions could be added to a "Wiki-Type" reference with sections for water leaks like this, engine oil leaks, coolant leaks, steering, etc...
my apologies if this has been done. I didnt check before writing this.
thats how I spent my Labor Day.
I removed the tape along my window seals because these leaks bot originated at the rear base of the front fender where the bead ends and at the front bottom of the rear fender.
these have been sealed. I just hope I can get a primer coat on the fiberglass before it rains after it fries good.
I was thinking it may be useful to start a "Leaks of All Types" thread. it could be a useful storehouse of information on how any type of leak issues were solved or get solved. perhaps solutions could be added to a "Wiki-Type" reference with sections for water leaks like this, engine oil leaks, coolant leaks, steering, etc...
my apologies if this has been done. I didnt check before writing this.
thats how I spent my Labor Day.
RR
1972 Restoration Project.
1972 Restoration Project.