Leak!

Author
Discussion

squirrelz

Original Poster:

1,186 posts

276 months

Friday 18th January 2002
quotequote all
Finally picked up my Chim this afternoon, but unfortunately, twas p1551ng it down on the way back and I appear to have a couple of leaks.

#1: Passenger side just below where the roof frame joins the side of the car (about 3" back from the door edge)

#2: Somewhere in the boot! Not entirely sure where as it was dark when I got back. Will investigate further tomorrow.

Anyone got a suggestion for #1 at this point? Is it worth getting some fabsil on the roof around the stitching for the velcro - not sure if this is what is causing it or a bad fit somewhere.

Other than that, was rather pleased with the sound, although I was driving like a granny most of the way.

ATG

21,116 posts

277 months

Friday 18th January 2002
quotequote all
#1 sounds exactly like mine before I had the fabric fabsilled during a service. There are several flaps of carpet just below the velcro and the water seems to run down an inner layer so it magically appears a few inches down. From there it often runs down the back of the seatbelt to the rolling mechansim and thence to the floor. You might want to move the seat forward and see if it is damp underneath. If so, the carpet can be lifted and newspaper shoved underneath to mop it up. The good news is, if you treat the roof properly it will be fine. technique seems to involve a good cleaning, a very thorough removal of all detergent residue and then the fabsil, paying especial attention to the stiching.

angusfaldo

2,797 posts

279 months

Saturday 19th January 2002
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On #2 try checking the hing/piston mountings for the boot lid. I saw one where they hade loosened and water dripped in.

I'm guessing as you only just picked it up you don't need to worry about the other possibility - like when I left a 5 litre bottle of water in the boot in case of cooling emergencies and the lid came off...

BTW, fabsil is magic stuff - always keep some handy!

Best wishes

AF

marlboro

637 posts

276 months

Saturday 19th January 2002
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I have not used the products mentioned, but used AutoGlym Cabriolet Frabric Kit on my Chim before the winter. It appears to have worked.

squirrelz

Original Poster:

1,186 posts

276 months

Friday 15th February 2002
quotequote all
Right, back onto this one now....

The two leaks mentioned are sorted.
The boot was almost certainly from pressure washing - it's dried out and not happened since.
The passenger side was the little rubber tab at the edge of the hood poking inside the car and directing the water in instead of out.

However, I'm having a few problems with wet carpets

I've had a look at the usual stuff (apart from the battery box bolts - not got round to checking them yet), but I think I may have found the problem.

On both sides where the carpet join is in the bottom corner of the door jamb (sp?), the edging strip of the carpet was glued over the edge of the fibreglass. ie the rubber sealing strip had a piece of carpet edging underneath and poking out into the outside.

Could this have been allowing water ingress from either road spray or channelled rain?

squirrelz

Original Poster:

1,186 posts

276 months

Friday 15th February 2002
quotequote all
Oh, another thing, I just chucked some water over the roof to rinse, and some of it seemed to run off, but a lot seemed to settle and soak in.
I take it that shouldn't happen if it's properly waterproofed?

ATG

21,116 posts

277 months

Friday 15th February 2002
quotequote all
AFter a dose of fabsil the water beads on mine and rolls of.

squirrelz

Original Poster:

1,186 posts

276 months

Friday 15th February 2002
quotequote all
Think I might be doing some waterproofing tomorrow then

Jason F

1,183 posts

289 months

Friday 15th February 2002
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quote:

Think I might be doing some waterproofing tomorrow then



Don't do it (yet).. The sun will be shining all W/e Long..... make the most of it

squirrelz

Original Poster:

1,186 posts

276 months

Friday 15th February 2002
quotequote all
Yeah, but at least the hood will be dry.

I spent an hour or so driving with the top full down today, going the long way round everywhere, soaking in the rays etc. Marvellous!
Hit jackpot by having booked today off as leave, and getting glorious sunshine for most of the day.