zekgb

My 85 has a leak from the top of the hatch that only appears after a wash. The hatch seal looks very good except for this bit below the driver's side hinge, the hatch looks perfectly aligned but I assume at some point the hinge was pressing down on this spot (it's impossible to see with the hatch closed.) Before I start taking things apart, is this the likely culprit, and if so is there anything to be done short of replacing the seal? If I replace the seal how can I be sure I won't have the same condition all over again?

Randy V

What the heck is that?

Here's a case where a picture is not helpful.

Fabio421

Is that an alien? WTF man. Take another pic.

zekgb

OK, here's a shot looking up at the open hatch from the driver's side back seat (the other shot was shooting from outside of the driver's side quarter panel into the same area.) Sorry that it's not clearer as it is hard to get a good shot with the cramped quarters. For scale purposes, the pinched area of the seal is about 2" in length.

No_Substitute

Ok, now we seen the extreme closeups, so maybe you can step back and give us a little context.



You know...like ****.

zekgb

Should mention that it only leaks after a wash, not in the rain, and water is not getting in under the hinges.

Mrmerlin

OK so does it leak after you open the hatch to wipe things down or can you see water dripping into the car when you spray the hose into the top hatch channel?
If it only is leaking after you open the hatch then try parking the car on a hill with the driver side facing down this may let the water drain off/. Otherwise you could get some simple green and the some Dow Corning 111 and a syringe and remove the seal scrub it down with a brush and the simple green, let sit in the sun for a day , inspect the body channel of the seal looking for any obstructions also inspect the hatch/body to mkae sure the metal is straight. Inject the DC111 into the body part of the seal and refit
Also make sure that the hatch isnt too far back as this could crush the seal and couse the seal to deform . . With a screwdriver handle gently press the body channel of the seal by rolling the handle along the seal to add some extra grip

Randy V

This thread might be helpful:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ighlight=hatch

Jim M.

What Randy said! If you suspect that area you could build two small dams from modeling clay on either side of the suspect area. close the hatch and pour water in the gap between the dams. If it leaks you've confirmed the location. Then go to the thread Randy quoted.

zekgb

OK after a bunch of testing it appears that the water is making its way in not from the hatch but from the sunroof, with the water collecting in the motor cover where it gleefully deposits its contents into the back seat as soon as the car goes in motion. All of the drains are clear and small volumes of water clear with no problem. There appears to be a larger than normal gap in the rear of the sunroof (maybe 3mm between seal and roof), so I'm guessing that washing the car overwhelms the drains and the excess makes its way to the cover. Does that sound right?

largecar379

your sunroof drains do not drain into the motor cover (at least they shouldn't!).

the sunroof drains should drain into the roof channel above the door, hidden by the roof trim (and hatch) that runs from the bottom of the A-pillar, above the door, to the hatch. (best way I can describe it--sorry) If you open the hatch, you will see a hole in the channel where the water is supposed to be draining from. If you look at your last picture, go left from your arrow, and you will see the drain hole I am referring to.....

Have the drain tubes been "probed" at some point? they may have come dislodged at the sunroof end, and therefore the water is not actually draining down the tubes to the hatch channel......but to the headliner and motor cover.

If the tubes are intact, it sounds as if you need to replace the sunroof seal, and then adjust the sunroof panel accordingly.

--Russ

zekgb

I had read that the seals were meant to keep large amounts of water out of that area, I'm assuming that overflow from the rear drain channels spills over into the headliner and ends up in the motor cover. If I take a bottle of water and slowly pour it directly over the gap at the rear of the sunroof everything drains as it's supposed to, if I use a hose I get water in the motor cover. What's not clear at this point is if this is a problem with the seal or whether an adjustment of the roof may solve it. I assume that if the roof is adjusted too far forward then the front part of the seal will have been deformed and I'll need to replace it anyway.

largecar379

I would say you have found your problem.....seal/adjustment.....even with my original seal, my roof did not leak. But, once I started on my paint removal project, I disassembled the sunroof and found that the seal was rock hard and brittle.

--Russ

Mrmerlin

you may have to remove the sunroof, if you do you will find a plastic water tray that is made to divert the water that gets through to the sides. If you have a darker colored car its safe bet that the tray has warped and cracked