Best way to find interior water leaks?
03-13-2019, 09:16 AM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Best way to find interior water leaks?
Hi, all. Awhile back I noticed some standing water in the rear drivers footwell after rain or snowmelt, as well as some wetness abs standing water in the trunk area, right along the base is the tool kit, running along the rear. I’ve been trying to isolate the sources but to no avail. Here is what i have done so far:
- removed most floor and trunk carpeting, rear and front seats. Identified that the points stated are the only areas of standing water. Door carpeting and carpet below drivers door is dry, but the carpet strip by the e-brake is wet as that was on the floor where the standing water was.
- replaced door seals
- removed and reinstalled trunk seal with Hondabond as per Mr. merlin’s recommendation.
- removed passenger side rear quarter panel inside trim. Foam was wet underneath. Assuming rear quarter window leak which I will test, then reinstall
- did not remove drivers side quarter panel trim as foam felt dry when reaching underneath trim. Will need to reinstall quarter window as trim has broken.
- cleaned sunroof drains and rear hatch drain path
- replaced sunroof seals/trim. Loosened headliner to inspect for sunroof leak, however headliner was dry
What’s the next step I should take to find the leak(s)? I was going to take her to the automatic car wash where I can sit in the car and watch, but don’t know if that would work. Was also wondering if I put a light dusting of baking powder on the metal near presumed leak spots and test to see if I can see any water streams marked.
Is there a better way of doing this? Any suggestions?
- removed most floor and trunk carpeting, rear and front seats. Identified that the points stated are the only areas of standing water. Door carpeting and carpet below drivers door is dry, but the carpet strip by the e-brake is wet as that was on the floor where the standing water was.
- replaced door seals
- removed and reinstalled trunk seal with Hondabond as per Mr. merlin’s recommendation.
- removed passenger side rear quarter panel inside trim. Foam was wet underneath. Assuming rear quarter window leak which I will test, then reinstall
- did not remove drivers side quarter panel trim as foam felt dry when reaching underneath trim. Will need to reinstall quarter window as trim has broken.
- cleaned sunroof drains and rear hatch drain path
- replaced sunroof seals/trim. Loosened headliner to inspect for sunroof leak, however headliner was dry
What’s the next step I should take to find the leak(s)? I was going to take her to the automatic car wash where I can sit in the car and watch, but don’t know if that would work. Was also wondering if I put a light dusting of baking powder on the metal near presumed leak spots and test to see if I can see any water streams marked.
Is there a better way of doing this? Any suggestions?
03-13-2019, 11:54 AM
#3
Rennlist Member
I was just going to say this. I haven't done it, but I did buy a relatively cheap Ebay smoke machine for finding vacuum leaks, and a friend borrowed it for this very purpose. He said it worked perfectly...
03-13-2019, 12:04 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
I'm chasing a PS rear footwell puddling, too. What I noticed is that the puddle only happens after a heavy rain when the car is parked nose up. I believe the issue is my window seals and have them on order. So, you might take a look at the seals for gaps at the front and rear of the seals.
I can eliminate the water pool if I drape a large black trash bag over the upper door. That leads me to believe the angle of the car leads to the water reaching a level in the door that lets the water leak out holes in the door.
I can eliminate the water pool if I drape a large black trash bag over the upper door. That leads me to believe the angle of the car leads to the water reaching a level in the door that lets the water leak out holes in the door.
03-13-2019, 11:31 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
For a split second, I thought a smoke generator was a fog machine. I'd be turning my 928 into a mobile Halloween Adventure.
Thanks for the tips, guys. I have one more area I'm going to treat (inspect drivers window seals and driver's side door liner/drain) then will get it smoke tested.
Thanks for the tips, guys. I have one more area I'm going to treat (inspect drivers window seals and driver's side door liner/drain) then will get it smoke tested.
03-14-2019, 02:11 AM
#7
Rennlist Member
Old school: get inside the car with a good flashlight and have a friend use a garden hose from the outside. If your car is equipped with a sunroof, have you looked behind the cover on the headline above the emergency seats?
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03-14-2019, 03:32 AM
#8
Three Wheelin'
Tear some newspaper into strips. Put the strips all around the hatch. Close the hatch on the strips, then go all around the hatch pulling on the strips. If you can pull the strip out, it's not sealing in that area. Put a piece of blue tape in the area that 's not sealing, then correct that area by shimming the seal.
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Sagres74 (04-28-2020)
03-14-2019, 05:00 AM
#9
Rennlist Member
I dont have any water leaks, but more road noise than I am happy with. Have tried the strips pf paper thing on the doors, but didnt find any gaps. Re the smoke machines, I wouldnt want anything used that could condense on the interior!
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k
03-14-2019, 05:17 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
Probably a good idea to get a friend to try it on his car first especially if it was made in China- but not your best friend!
I saw this technique used to good effect on an episode of Wheeler Dealers- I think it might have been used on an Aston Martin but whatever it was an upmarket car. Straight away it found a leak on the windows at the B pillar.. Ed China solved the leak by inserting a strip of packing into the seal- made it look so easy- not that all leaks will be easy to fix- far from it I would think.
The other solution is to move to a dry climate- ask me how I know!
03-14-2019, 12:07 PM
#12
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
03-16-2019, 04:03 PM
#13
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
So I haven’t gone for a smoke test yet, but I did the following:
- took the car to an automatic car wash where I could sit in the car and look for leaks. I identified two leaks, but could not identify the exact source af that point. One was in the drivers side rear footwell and the other is around the rear edge of the trunk along the wire harness.
- I’m focusing on the drivers side leak first. I removed the quarter panel trim and foam there and it was dry. I loosened the headliner and it was dry as well.
- I then filed a bucket with water and used my iPhone to record a video of the leak. It is coming in through the drivers door top rear corner, and dripping down to the footwell.
i have already replaced the door seal, so trying to determine why it is still coming in there. My only thought is that the door needs to close a little tighter, as the door is not flush when closed. I need to figure out if I can adjust that.
- took the car to an automatic car wash where I could sit in the car and look for leaks. I identified two leaks, but could not identify the exact source af that point. One was in the drivers side rear footwell and the other is around the rear edge of the trunk along the wire harness.
- I’m focusing on the drivers side leak first. I removed the quarter panel trim and foam there and it was dry. I loosened the headliner and it was dry as well.
- I then filed a bucket with water and used my iPhone to record a video of the leak. It is coming in through the drivers door top rear corner, and dripping down to the footwell.
i have already replaced the door seal, so trying to determine why it is still coming in there. My only thought is that the door needs to close a little tighter, as the door is not flush when closed. I need to figure out if I can adjust that.
03-16-2019, 04:26 PM
#14
Nordschleife Master
There's some adjustment. Not a whole lot.
One option is to loosen up the three bolts that hold the 'hook' on the frame that the latch grabs onto. There's a bit of wiggle. Do not remove all the bolts, as the plate that they go into is not secured. I don't know where it will end up if it falls. I don't want to find out myself.
One option is to loosen up the three bolts that hold the 'hook' on the frame that the latch grabs onto. There's a bit of wiggle. Do not remove all the bolts, as the plate that they go into is not secured. I don't know where it will end up if it falls. I don't want to find out myself.
03-16-2019, 04:50 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Excellent reco on the frame lock catch. I confirmed that was the issue by adding some weather seal tape on the door lip on the frame. No leak now. However I’ll do the mm adjustment to get the door to match the passenger door.
Also found the second leak, and it looks like it is coming through the rear hatch lock mechanism. I refreshed the hatch seal and that seems fine, but somehow water is getting into the hatch lock and shooting out into the interior.
Also found the second leak, and it looks like it is coming through the rear hatch lock mechanism. I refreshed the hatch seal and that seems fine, but somehow water is getting into the hatch lock and shooting out into the interior.