v-tach

i discovered yesterday after the heavy rain weekend in nyc that my rear pass side carpet was saturated. nothing else was wet just the floor right behind the pass side seat. any idea's - i was thinking the sunroof seal is bad or the sunroof drains are clogged ?????
thanks <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Dales944

How many hours had the rain stopped before you noticed it? I ask because when my battery box used to leak, the front would dry rather quickly and all the water would settle behind the passenger seat. I would highly suggest taking 3 minutes to pull the battery. In fact, my PO was convinced that water was coming in from the back because of the way it puddled behind the pass. seat.

Good luck. I hope it is your sunroof drains!

Outlaw952

Yeah sounds like you could have a leak from your battery compartment. The water will leak down in the front, but there is a channel that goes between the seat and the door sill, and will lead the water to the rear floor board. The rear floor board is lower than the front. All this will cause the rear to get saturated, but will allow the front to dry fairly quickly....

SoCal Driver

Check to see if the front passenger seat belt is wet. The one that retracts into the side of the car. If so you need to pull and re-seal the side quarter windows.

I found that the glass on mine had a bit of sealent on it when I removed the windows to replace the side speakers. The cover was damaged also from the window leaking.

I've had the leaking battery problem and never saw the water make it to behind the front pasenger seat.

PS: Pull the metal trim out before you pull the window. But put the metal trim in before you insert the window!

Nico

I had my sunroof leaking a couple of years ago. The symptoms were just like yours: passenger side rear floor was FLOODED! So what I did, I removed the sunroof and pulled the gasket in the roof of the car (not the one in the sunroof). Then I glued the gasket back to it's place with a non corrosive silicone sealant. And zadam! No flooding in my car since that!

SoCal Driver

Interesting.

The inside "seal" on the sunroofs is just a trim piece that finishes the upolstry. While it may contact the sunroof at some points it is not a seal.

Should your sunroof be leaking inside the car then you have to replace the outer seal on the sunroof and possibly clear the drains.

The rear drains go through the two rear side "pockets" where we tend to store just about everything from oil to spare starters. Could have pinched the drain tube and caused back up.

Personally I would have made that inside trim cap a proper seal.

[quote]Originally posted by Nico:
<strong>I had my sunroof leaking a couple of years ago. The symptoms were just like yours: passenger side rear floor was FLOODED! So what I did, I removed the sunroof and pulled the gasket in the roof of the car (not the one in the sunroof). Then I glued the gasket back to it's place with a non corrosive silicone sealant. And zadam! No flooding in my car since that!</strong><hr></blockquote>

v-tach

hey guys
today i washed the car had the rear pass carpet vacumed. i checked the drains in the roof, all 4 drains work i tested them with a cup of water. so next i will check the battery. im not sure if the pass seat belt was wet- in any case - its prob dry by now.
thanks for your help !
my invest still goes on - i will fill you in as soon as i know more.

James Hamm

I'd put money on the battery box area. When you check it, probe it for weak rusted areas with a an object like a small ball peen. If you identify any weak areas like I did on mine, you have to completly remove the rust and decayed metal before the repair. I used an aviation adhesive we call Smurf **** or Blue Glue. It's basically a liquid fiberglass that can be sanded down smooth. I haven't had a drip of water since I made the repair and I've been going through all the flooding in NC. It messed up my h0use but not the car. If you need any more specifics let me know or if you need help with the adhesive, give me an email.

James Hamm...

AMCPILOT

Check this:

I had a similar problem, but the solution had nothing to do with the battery box or the sunroof. The fuel filler rubber gasket (seals the fuel filler neck to body) was corroded and water would flow in from here. Once I replaced the rubber seal, the problems went away.
The sunroof drains tend to be the next most likely spot ... see if you can blow high-pressure air into the drains with your sunroof off. You should hear it exiting behind the rear wheels (and out of the fuel filler drain on the passenger side). If not, they are either clogged or have come loose.
Finally, If the water came from your battery box area, the front floor would be wet. Good luck!

Dales944

[quote]Originally posted by AMCPILOT:
<strong> Finally, If the water came from your battery box area, the front floor would be wet. Good luck!</strong><hr></blockquote>

AMCPILOT - I have to disagree, did you read mine and Outlaw952's posts??? I have personal Hands-On experience with a battery tray producing PUDDLES behind the passenger seat while the front floor is COMPLETELY dry!!! I only post suggestions based on first-hand experience. Like I said, v-tach - take three minutes to check it out, it might save you from a wild goose-chase. But again, I hope it's not your tray, good luck!

xcessiv

If the rear quarter windows are leaking the carpet will get wet the whole way up the back beside the rear seat. My 924 leaked in both places, battery box and rear windows. It is very useful to have help when replacing those seals, they are tough, but at least you can repaint the metal trim while it is off. Good luck!

v-tach

ok
i checked my battery tray - its in great shape!
so its not the sunroof drains.
not the battery tray.
i did notice the lining of the interior sunroof toward the rear where the roof electrically opens from has got some bubble possibly where water may have got to.
should i replace the sunroof seal ?
if so who has the best deal on them ?
thanks
vtach
1987 951 <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

AMCPILOT

Hello again,

I see that your battery tray is fine and your sunroof may not be leaking. Did you look at the fuel filler rubber seal? Based on MY personal experience (sorry Dales44, but I had to respond), this is an area most people overlook. This might be your problem.
GOod luck!

v-tach

about the fuel filler seal - is this piece on the fuel cap or the one that surronds it on the body of that area ?
if it is that one that surrounds that area - it is intact and in pretty good shape. the only thing i di find was that the drain was clogged but i fixed by blowing high pressure air into it.
thanks

crushingday

Had the same problem. allthough the other suggestions are potential culprits. Its sound like you have eliminated most of them. I believe your problem is the rear hatch glass separating from the satin black metal frame that runs around it.

Those rear hatch shocks need to be VERY strong to lift that hatch, especially at the angle they are. When the hatch first opens just and inch or so you will notice that the angle of the shocks are pushing almost straight back. This acctually pulls the glass from the metal frame. Check along the top part of the glass where it attatches to the black metal frame. I believe you will find your problem there!

I hope I have explained my self well enough. Let me know how it turs out.
Ross
Yellow '87 944S w/ 968 engine...need Koni yellows!