Leaking Griff

[danwarner]

My Griff seems to collect puddles of water in the footwells. I've sealed all the cables/pipes etc going through the bulkhead, so the water is definitely not entering the cabin via that route. It appears to flow over the door seal at the bottom, although I can't trace how it's getting there. I've fitted a complete new seal, but it's still happening. Has anyone experienced this before, and more importantly, does anyone know how to cure it, because I have to mop out the footwells everytime I wash the car, or when it rains. I want to get it sorted before Le Mans this year, because if the weather is as bad as it was last year, I'll have to spend the rest of the summer drying the interior out.

Thanks,

Dan.

[simpo one]

Seems silly but try sitting in the car with everything closed while a friend plays a hose on it. (Put wellies on first of course). You might then be able to see drips coming in somewhere and trace them back to source. Drips are very good at travelling along cables and edges so where you see them may be some way from where they ar getting in.

My 500 had this kind of problem (though mercifully with first owner) and he got it fixed - every single cable hole, grommet, nut, washer and rivet in the engine bay has sealant round it. Check all round the window too - the glass should go under the roof seal.

Hope this helps,

John

[MikeyT]

And don't train the hose on the car at full pelt, turn it down a bit (even take the end off if it has one) and just let it flow over the car from all angles.

Better still, get the missus to sit inside

[danwarner]

Did some investigation, using some talcum powder at the weekend to trace the path of the water. It's definitely passing between the door and the door seal. I've checked the cables, rivets etc, and they are definitely all waterproof. Simpo one, I don't suppose you know what the previous owner did to fix the leaking door seal?

Thanks,

Dan.

[craigalsop]

quote:My Griff seems to collect puddles of water in the footwells. It appears to flow over the door seal at the bottom, although I can't trace how it's getting there. I've fitted a complete new seal, but it's still happening.
Thanks,

Dan.

Hi Dan, a mod that some dealers do is to pinch the bottom rubber & glue it with superglue, which stops the water accumulating at the bottom (a single pinch, at the place it accumulates most) As to how it gets there, it probably runs off the end of the aluminium window support/rubber seal & onto the top of the door & then onto the top rubber seal. This seal is never going to be 100% waterproof, and a heavy stream of water is going to allow some water past.
cheers
Craig

[robperrie]

Mine does the exact same thing, at the bottom where the seal is compressed,,,,,if anyone knows how to sort this,,,i can stop wearing my wellys

[danwarner]

Craig,

I wouldn't mind a little bit of water, but the way it's coming through, I may as well have my door open. Please can you tell me a bit more about the door seal 'pinching effort? Do you put the glue inside the seal and pinch it, or apply the glue to the outside and then squeeze it?

Thanks,

Dan.

[craigalsop]

quote:
Craig,

I wouldn't mind a little bit of water, but the way it's coming through, I may as well have my door open. Please can you tell me a bit more about the door seal 'pinching effort? Do you put the glue inside the seal and pinch it, or apply the glue to the outside and then squeeze it?

Thanks,

Dan.

A dab of superglue inside the seal & then pinch it - it doesn't need much, as you are just trying to give an exit for the water.
Another thing worth looking at is how well the door is aligned - there are some shims at the front of the door which are used to control how "proud" the door is from the body of the car.
If your shutline looks good, then don't bother with this, as it can be a pain (easier with 2 people - one to hold & one to tighten)
If you use a watering-can, can you see the flow of the water?
From what you say, this is more than just a minor leak - sounds like a part of your seal isn't touching somewhere....

cheers,
Craig

[Humsing]

Dan,

I had much the same problem with my Griff and it dragged on for absolutely ages. All credit to my dealer though who was determined not to be beaten. The dealer tried all sorts including sealing the cables, the brake master reservoir, windscreen etc. etc They also skimmed the shims as well and re-hung the door.

As far as the door seal is concerned they did as you have suggested, as I recall they seperated the seal round about the level of the dash and then whacked in some of that black gunk they use for sealing the brake reservoir. Sadly that didn't work either.

To be honest like you I was absolutely convinced that the water was coming in courtesy of the door seal. Everything pointed to it. However, we eventually traced the source of the leak to the bolt hole for the seat belt reel which passes through to the rear wheel arch. Although it is plated and sealed, re-sealing the plate cured the problem.

Good luck 'cos there's nothing worse than the smell of damp carpets.

[danwarner]

Well, I seem to have cured the water coming in through the doors, only to find that the car 'is' leaking through the bulkhead, but as because so much water was coming through the door seal, I didn't notice there was some coming through the bulkhead. Anyway, I tried the door seal 'pinch' method, but it wasn't quite enough to let the water escape (my door must close really tight to the body!) so I ended up cuting a 5mm gap in the door seal where the water was accumilating. Seems to have done the trick. Must get under the bonnet with the silicone sealer at the weekend though!!

Thanks for all the advice,

Dan.