Leaks, leaks and leaks

[Viper Craig]

Hi one and all,

I've got one or two bits of water getting into my '97 GTS. The worst of it is possibly in the passenger foot-well, as yesterday it was 2 inches deep! I got the aquavac on the case but it needs to be stopped obviously. I'm torn thinking that its coming from behind the dash or the windscreen. The windscreen has been out, rebonded and put back in so I can't see it being that, but you never know.

Water is also getting into the boot, seem to be coming in where the drain holes are situated so i'm guessing that one is possibly the channels that need re-routing (again).

Finally the roof is leaking on the drivers side. Each time I go round a right hand corner, my left shoulder gets wet. This one is a bit of a mystery to me, because like I say, its a GTS!

Any thoughts, advice or anything would be great as i'm really struggling with it.

Cheers,
Craig

P.S. To top it off, to indicate left i use the stalk, but to indicate right the stalk doesn't work, however my hazard lights button seems to have taken over the duties, although that means no hazard lights. Confused? If not, answers posted please, if you are, welcome to my world!

[vipernut2270]

Hi Craig,
ive had damp carpets too lately,both driver and passenger side,seems to be coming through the front lower corner of the door seal but not 100% certain,its a pain in the ass i know especially when the cars warmed up and all the windows get misted over,i had the electric fan heater in there the other day drying the carpet out but yours sounds like you could keep fish in there!,
i had water going into the boot of mine too a while back,i cleared the drainage channels and it seems to have stopped it,
you could try getting someone to hose the car and try and see where its coming in,
i havnt had my gts long so maybe the other guys will be able to help more

[Ginja]

I think most of the GTS's on here get to stay dry so there may not be a whole load of experience of that here, sorry. I would suggest a quick search on the VCA site might be helpful though?

[neilsfishing]

keep it in a garage and dont drive in the wet

[N GTS]

For passenger side, check the air box drains for the heater / ac intake box are clear, this is the most common cause, if not the windscreen. A little rubber boot about 2" long, you can see it under the black plastic air box. Also take the 2 screws out that hold that heater box on the bulkhead and refit with a dab of silcone sealent. Its not uncommon either for the heater exchanger to leak in the passenger foot well, they suffer from corrosion with time. As to electrical gremlins, case of checking connections and earth points, likely damp/corrosion causing bad contact, given the water leaks! I'd be wanting to get the carpets and sound / heat insulation under carpet out too, they can hold a lot of water, and due to the foil backing the only way you'll really dry things out is to remove. Drivers door leak possibly the rubber / stantion seal got hardened, will sometimes soften a little if you work vaseline into the rubber (no rude jokes please!) but usually new seal is needed.

[MADMAX-UK]

I was getting rain-water into the boot caused by the rear glass rubber sealing strip lifting away from the car body at the inside bends next to the drain ports you mention - the fitting looked fine, but wasn't.
I took the whole strip off, streched it a couple of inches and glued it back on.
NO MORE WET BOOT.

Edited by MADMAX-UK on Thursday 18th February 21:11

[viper paul]

You can also take the rubber off and use sealer in the corners the water tends to run down inside the rubbers and then enter the boot at the lowest point.

[V10 BAT]

Bare with me.
I went out in my f150 truck sunday,been parked for weeks.
As i reversed off the drive i had water pouring out the overhead
consul and interior light,it was coming out the grab handles halfway
down the a pillars,cock.
There is no area up that high that can leak.
So later i ripped the headlining off,the inside surface of the roof
was soaking wet.
The only thing i can think of is its just a combination of damp cold
weather,and condensation.
Sounds like you have a few seal probs,but some of your problems
may just be condensation.I think.
Just dont want you to do the headlining thing if you dont
have to . cheers

[fatboy18]

Any updates?

[Viper Craig]

Hi all,

Just to update on whats going on. Found that the passenger door seal wasn't quite snug near the wing mirror so adjusted that, stuck it down and held it in place. Also, behind the side panel where the door hinge is, there was a rubber grommit missing, so sorted that too, fingers crossed no leaks inside the passenger footwell now.

Had my friend locked in the boot while I sprayed water on the car and it seems that the seal on the rear panel of the car (with the light clusters in it) is shot to bit as water was coming in and cascading down the speakers, so that'll be a fun one to fix with more sealer. Apart from that (and the slight wiring with the indicators) things are going well, the car is dry in the cabin now, cleaned and all fresh again, so slowly but surely we're getting there.

Thanks for all your help so far guys!