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Water Leaks -- How to Find and Fix

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Comments

  • rainchaserrainchaser Member Posts: 5
    Water is entering thru your r/s cowl rain shield. Most likely a broken part. cost around 15.00.
    hope this helps.
    23 year water leak repair expert
  • rainchaserrainchaser Member Posts: 5
    Leak will come from the bulk head , cowl section seams and wire junction box gaskets on both sides of bulk head.
    hope this helps.
    23 year water leak repair expert
  • rainchaserrainchaser Member Posts: 5
    Water is entering thru the r/s cowl screen air vent deflector.
    could be broken,most are. cost around 15.00.
    hope this helps.
  • rainchaserrainchaser Member Posts: 5
    TSB's are not for the home backyard handyman.It says it right on them.
    That is right from a 23 year, 60,000 + car expert.
    Thank you.
  • hondaushatesuhondaushatesu Member Posts: 1
    Rainchaser, I "had" an invisible leak in the driver's floorboard of my 2001 Civic EX. Your advice to others gave me the courage to rip the wipers and cowling off the car and find the leak that created a carpet rotting problem. My drains were clean but some insight into the drain path sent me under the plastic wheel well guard where my son was able to trace the leak to the air conditioning drain and hood release rubber boots that are meant to be "waterproof" dividers between the wheel well and the passenger compartment. The water from the drain dumps above these two rubber boots and runs down behind the rubber and into the passenger compartment behind the carpet pad until it soaks into the carpet. I got a good deal on this car one year ago: 23,000 miles, non-smoker, and half an inch of water in the driver's floorboard. Honda Motors in not concerned with the leaks, I spoke to them this morning, and since they have their money they are willing to let their customers fend for themselves. Thanks again for giving me a good start.
  • orjettadrvrorjettadrvr Member Posts: 1
    I bought a 2003 Jetta GL wagon (no sun roof)in July, and loved it until it started raining here in Portland, Oregon. When it's parked uphill in the driveway, water leaks in under the dash and drips from the steering column. There have been a couple of mornings where there is a gallon of water that's collected on the floor behind the driver seat. I've made 4 visits to the dealer, since it's still under warranty; and they replaced the door seals, cleaned the drains, and caulked, BUT it still leaks. :cry::cry::cry: I'm going to try another dealer, but what should they be looking for? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
  • akitas3akitas3 Member Posts: 1
    Need help finding leak, first noticed on floor by bottom of door. I believe water is running down from further up the floor board. Carpet is only wet on the side closest to to the door, it then pools in the center of the floor board. This happened when it rains or when washing veh. Many thanks for any suggestions.
  • georgetoogeorgetoo Member Posts: 10
    Anyone know how to remove the coin holder/drink holder in a Odyssey (Mine 2003 but I suspect they are all similar). I had a very important paper sitting on the tray and it was pushed in. Lost the paper and can't find a way to get behind the dash.....tia george
  • cormyeecormyee Member Posts: 1
    have water leak on passenger side...after rain can hear swish around...drips down from underneath dash...seems to come out of core/fan encloser...removed cowl and drain holes were plugged with lots and lots of pine needles...fixed...still getting water...removed glove box and removed small access to heater core...full of pine needles...cleaned...removed bottom cover of encloser and removed fan and cant see anything except rusty screws...under hood pass. side near strut removed small drain hose that seem to come from encloser(cause of the shape of the firewall) and not clogged...stuck my finger in hole in firewall and finger got wet...inside behind encloser there is a small hose going out thru the firewall and im not sure where it goes or if its related to the hose i pulled off from the firewall...all i know is that it goes toward the top of the encloser where i cant fit my hand to follow...what is this hose???...i dont know for sure if vechile has been in an accident but i suspect maybe...have i missed anything...please help...thank you
  • mytaurus02mytaurus02 Member Posts: 1
    I have a taurus02 with water showing up in the spare tire area in the trunk. The trunk mat is also wet.

    The car has a sun roof.

    Any suggestions?
  • drjlevittdrjlevitt Member Posts: 1
    My 97 CRV (has sunroof) gets a drivers side puddle when it rains. I pulled back the carpet and removed the wipers, cowl, and driver door plastic but I can t find a clog. When I test it with the hose, it seems to just slowly fill up, I cant tell from where. I want to sell it soon and I want it to be in good shape. Ant tips greatly apprectiated...
  • yellacookiyellacooki Member Posts: 2
    I have a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT. I have a water leak coming from the passenger side under the dash. I have taken it to the dealer several times and had it fixed(supposedly) and each time they say it is the cowl until it rains again. Now the dealership is giving me the run around saying I need to send it to their service dept. Is there any other grand prix owners with this problem? If so, did you get the problem fixed. Thanks,
    getting frustrated
  • dirkhdirkh Member Posts: 1
    Hi !

    My 2003 Lincoln LS leaks water, it comes out via the reading light on the overhead console.

    The car has a sunroof - that area however is dry/not damp.

    Any idea where the water is entering the car? Recommendations on how to fix it?

    Thanks!
  • pyrozpyroz Member Posts: 2
    Hi, I am having a problem with my 2001 civic lx sedan. everytime it rains, my driver side carpet gets soaked. and only my driver side carpet too. i bought this car used a few weeks and there are alot of gooey leaf/tree debri when i opened the hood near the cowl. my question is that how do i come about to clean the fresh air vent drains if thats the problem? i poured some water through the holes underneath the wipers and water seems to be coming down near the front wheels. i need to fix this problem, its a headache, thanks.
  • cardilemmazcardilemmaz Member Posts: 1
    I cannot track this leak for nothing! I got a 1992 Mazda Protege. Everytime it rains, my headliner gets soaked (at the windshield) and drips onto the steering wheel and onto my seat. However my car is tilted, determines which side leaks. I have ruled out the windshield and suspect my sunroof, because I have peaked above the headliner and I see condensation all the way back around the sunroof. It also gets very wet on headliner around sunroof, to the point I touch it and water runs down my arm. I'm a bit nervous about ripping my headliner apart to look closer. How do you suggest I find and fix this leak? Big time thanks! Mike
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Sunroofs have drains. You can open the sunroof and you'll see the drains on the side rails. If you took a small piece of aquarium tubing or similar and inserted it into the drain and blew it out, that might unclog it. You can also test your drains by pouring a small SMALL amount of water into them...you should see if dripping out onto the ground after it travels through the body of the car. Most sunroofs have two drains on each side...one goes down the A pillar (windshield posts) and the other down the C pillar, where the rear windshield is.
    So you'd see water dripping out in back of the front tire and in front of the back tire, on each side.

    You MUST be careful not to poke down the drain with a wire, etc., as you could dislodge some tubing in the A or C pillar and that could be hell to get at.
  • sherrivwsherrivw Member Posts: 1
    I have the spare tire puddles too. I have a 97 VW Golf. It's leaked for the last few years, and I'm now determined to try to fix it.

    I've been told the water is coming in through the back wheel wells, possibly around the suspension system. I get water if it's not raining but the roads are just wet, which indicates the water is getting splashed up into the wells and dripping down into the trunk.

    Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix it, but if I find out I'll try to update you. Let me know if you find anything out also.

    Thanks,
    Sherri
  • mikeh404mikeh404 Member Posts: 1
    I had the same problem with my 2004 grand prix gtp. The dealership said that there was a GM technical bulletin on this requiring a deflector shield. The shield diverts water around the filter and blower motor opening below the windshield on the passenger side. It took one month because of a supposed part number change so they re-ordered and it arrived 3 days later. My deflector shield was installed last week, and water tested with a garden hose, but the real test will be when it rains.
  • ciciwakenciciwaken Member Posts: 2
    Ok I was so glad to see someone has my same problem. I have noticed the last few times it has rained in OKLAHOMA that I have had a two inch puddle of water on my pass. side of my 2002 grand prix. All i knew is where somewhat it was coming from, and of course it is the hardest place to get your body into behind the dash. Well so we decide last night to pull the carpet back and see how bad it was. Well i got a gallon atleast of water out of it and now Im letting it air dry. So everyone is saying on here a deflecter shield and where would i find that on this car?? Is it that top piece where my windshield wapers are? Im tired of this crap though. please help any anyway..
  • dmw2dmw2 Member Posts: 3
    I have a 2003 Grand Prix as well and the past month it has been leaking in the pass. side as well.....to the tune of about 4 inches sometimes.....tonight it caused my heater/blower to stop working. Does anyone know the GM bulletin they are referring to?
  • gambinogambino Member Posts: 2
    I have a 2004 with the same problem. There was a technical service bullitin by gm in april of 2005 regarding the issue. The problem is that as water runs down the windshield on the passenger side of the car it runs into the air box. You can find this by this:
    put your wipers in the upright position, Open the hood. Remove the plastic wiper fluid hose off the clips. remove the rubber gasket hood seal. there is a plastic cowling that covers the lower passenger side of the windshield. this is removed when you change the air filter for the passenger compartment. the trim screws are 2 piece clips. pull out the center (heads looks like a nail, and then pull out the outer section. There should be a 2 foot section of rubber gasket that is on the sheetmetal that the windshield rests on. This is supposed to deflect the water. Mine had fallen off, letting water run right into the fan box. GM sells a new colwing for this that replaces the gasket, and stops the water from hitting the airbox. It is not covered under warranty, but it's less than $4.00. (yes, a gm part for less than 4 bucks). This is easy to replace and can be done in 5 minutes.
  • dmw2dmw2 Member Posts: 3
    Do you happen to have this part number by any chance???
    Thanks so so much.....btw....my heater blower started working again, but I need to get this fixed asap!
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    I have a 74 SB and I get water in the drivers backseat floor as well as the drivers front floor.
    I "suspect" the sunroof & would like to fix this but I am not sure how to.....
    HELP! :cry::cry:
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    If you open the sunroof, you can see right there in the rail (as you look down on the roof) and least one, and possibly two, drainholes on either side. If you pour a little water down the drain hole, you should see it ALL exiting under the car, usually in front of the back wheel and in back of the front wheel.

    NEVER try to ram something in the drain to clear it...you might knock off a piece of rubber tubing under the headliner, etc., and then you have a bigger problem. Gentle air pressure is the way to do it.
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    I removed the headliner from the car due to the leak AND when I save up enough money I DO want to send the car in for restoration, so I don't mind it having no headliner. I also removed the old wet carpets from the car.
    I can see, sitting in the driver's seat........daylight & I cover the roof when they predict rain but I still get water inside.
    I only see one piece of rubber tubing & that is on the passenger side..........I don't see one on the driver's side.........although it could be tucked up under the metal lip.......
    I need to make it so the water drains properly & so I cannot see daylight thru the rear portion of the sunroof when it is closed.........
    Do you know what parts I need & how to install?
    Thanks for your help!
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    I JUST did as you suggested........I put some water in the gully? lol and it came out just bhind the front wheels on both sides & right behind the doors on both sides.......
    So...........I know still that I have to put some sort of seal in somehow..........I told you how I see daylight when it is shut.

    Where else could the leaks be coming from if not the sunroof? It is ONLY on the drivers sides front & rear
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Could be a clogged drain in the left side fresh air vent, which is under the windshield wipers. You might pour a little water in there and see if it drains on the ground or into your car.
    What happens if the drain is clogged is that it fills up in there like a fish tank and overflows into the car.
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    I take it you are talking about the louvers that would right below the left wiper?

    IF it does leak into the car...........how do I get rid of this clog?

    I hate bothering you with all these questions but I figure a stupid question is only the one you DON'T ask...lol
  • tgarritytgarrity Member Posts: 1
    Hi,

    I have a 2001 Tahoe, and have owned it for a year. No problems until now. When driving during a torrential rain the other day, water started coming in through near the mounting screws and bracket of the passenger-side sun visor. This car has a sunroof also.

    I've read the posts about plugged sunroof drains, and will check that. All other seals, including windshield and perimeter look intact. What is the likely source, sunroof, windshield gasket, or ??.

    Thanks,

    Terry
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    I tore the headliner out of my VW & it is not leaking where I assumed, which was the sunroof. Neither is it leaking around the mounting screws or brackets...
    My drains are not plugged as I put water in & it drained out just where it is supposed to. I am STILL looking for my leak........ Good luck!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You pop off the vent under the wipers (probably have to take off the wiper blades, then unscrew the shield) and then bail out the fish tank and then either poke a stick or blow air through the vent.

    What typically happens is that biomass (leaves, twigs, whatever) filters into the vent, then it all gets wet, breaks down into a wet clump and forms a pretty darn good bathtub stopper.
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    Boy are you teaching ME STUFF..........I did not know that the vent came off!
    I will let you know what happens..........
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    The grill under the wipers does not pop off it is part of the body of the car........
    :cry:
    Any suggestions?
  • dmw2dmw2 Member Posts: 3
    Just so you know.....I got my leak fixed today for $6.34. They didn't have the new cowling, but used a couple of cut up plastic anti-freeze jugs that they glued together and put in a new rubber gasket over the top. The water specialist said that a guy from Detroit had showed him the trick. As you said, my rubber gasket had totally fallen off!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    that can't be right...there must be access to the drains....???
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    I have no idea
    I know that this is what is causing the front driver's leak now so for the moment, until I can find a way to unclog it.........I did what every good person does.......
    ..........I PUT DUCT TAPE OVER IT! :)
    IF you find out how I get to it............PLEASE let me know & this will solve the front leak!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    What kind of car is this and what year? A '74 ????
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    It is a 1974 VW Super Beetle
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Ah, ok. I don't have manuals going back that far, so I can't tell you how to access those drains.
  • yankee1951yankee1951 Member Posts: 10
    bummer..........
  • thomasdgthomasdg Member Posts: 2
    I have a 1990 Miata that I love (in the warm months) but it has started letting in water in large amounts. A month ago I took the passenger seat out to better mop out that side.(water only appears on the passenger side) When I took the lower seatbelt bolt loose from the pillar water gushed out. Water is also slowly draining from a rust spot in the drivers rocker panel.

    It is not obvious where the water is coming in. It was not like this when I purchased the car.

    Does anyone know of the location of drain holes that may need opened up?

    Any suggestions would be appreciated, I really do not what to loose it to rot.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The convertible top drains are usually accessed in most two-seaters by removing the rear trim panels (on either side of the rear shelf)

    Other areas to check are the "squeegee", the rubber trim that sits at the base of the passenger window and wipes the glass clean when you roll down the window. If that's cracked or warped that could allow water to drip down the door and into the car.

    Other than that, water might be able to come in through the trunk by leaking past the tail light lens gaskets.
  • thomasdgthomasdg Member Posts: 2
    Thanks, I will check all of these places.
  • ciciwakenciciwaken Member Posts: 2
    thanks so much for all your help with this. we got it fixed in the nick of time and now no more leak.. plus i know that this is why my blower motor went out last august.. thanks everyone so much..I have a happy car again
  • nickyd186nickyd186 Member Posts: 4
    i have a ford focus v reg and found a rather large puddle on the floor of the passinger site of the car could anyone help with what the problem may be? also my partner has found the same problem in her x reg model too.
  • smokey75smokey75 Member Posts: 434
    More than likely a drain hose for AC condensation is clogged.
  • camry00camry00 Member Posts: 1
    I have the same problem with a 2000 Camry. A friend says it's fairly common in this style Camry, and that there is a drain somewhere in/behind the dashboard that gets clogged, and you have to clear the clog. Does anyone know how to fix this?
  • stan60stan60 Member Posts: 5
    My wife's 1999 Grand Prix has had this problem for some time now so today I took the bull by the horns and ripped the area under the wipers apart. The problem is the gasket between the black plastic moulding under the wipers and the windshield deteriorates. Their is a funnel section above your heater fan under this so the water just runs down into the funnel and into your fan motor. Then it overflows onto the floor in heavy rain to the tune of three inches. The repair is easy, remove the full wipers, remove the rubber hood gasket,remove the washer tube and move it forward and pull four plastic plugs holding the moulding in place. Remove and replace the foam gasket on the underside all the way along the area that sits on the windshield. As an extra precaution put a bead of black silicone along that edge after you reasemble everything. Make sure the funnel for the heater fan is placed in the right position before reassemble . Hope this helps somebody get the floor dried out. :)
  • plucas_78plucas_78 Member Posts: 1
    hey I am having the same issue in my 02 sable

    did you ever get any resolution?
  • jupiterbayjupiterbay Member Posts: 2
    Mr. Shiftright - you hit the nail on the head. I am experiencing that exact problem right now. When you talk about "warranty work", would a broken passenger mirror be considered?

    That is, I took my car to the VW shop a week ago for them to replace the recalled seat warmers and give an estimate on a broken passenger mirror. Coincidentally enough, my car started to take on water after that episode.

    Any possibility the two are related?

    Any help is much appreciated. I am being charged $400 for this "act of nature" which I think is a serious design flaw.

    Thanks.
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