water leak assistance please

[psaboic]

I know it has been discussed ad-nauseam in the past, but frankly doing a search sends me in several different directions doing nothing but getting me more confused.

On my 83 300D I have a front passenger side water leak that has gotten progressively worse over the last three months. I looked at it today while it was raining and found that the water is coming in from under the passenger foot kick panel by the door, making the side carpet wet and soaking the floor mat.

What do you think the cause is in most probable order. Sunroof drain, door bellows, windshield seal?

Thanks for the help in advance.

Glenn

[Jeremy5848]

I can't prioritize your list but there's a fourth item you should add: remove the battery and its pan and check underneath for rust.

[vstech]

yeah, but that leak usually fills the well from the front, he's getting water from the side... more likely the door seal of some type.
also the door drain holes need to be clear, or water gets up into the trim and spills out in the car under the covers... how are the window felts?

[psaboic]

Well, I got to thinking, the PO replaced the windshield and seal before I purchased the car, so..............I did a little poking with a plastic screwdriver on the inside of the windshield seal near the dash. When I pushed on the seal near the right lower corner, I easily pushed out several drops of water. Tried it at the same place on the outside and got the same thing. Rest of the seal was dry inside and out when tested.

So, I'm thinking I need to get the windshield re-sealed. Not sure if it is the cause of my trouble, but it ain't helping.

Any tips I need to know about the windshield and seal before jobbing it out?

[patbob]

Likely the windshield seal -- they're designed to leak. If its leaking there, you may be able to see it leaking down the inside of the windshield seal far down in the corner.

Another spot is through any missing rain gutter screw holes -- those are through holes into the pillar and a good flow of water can easily enter under fairly modest conditions. Run a hose to flood the gutter and you can watch the water dribble out the weld holes at the base inside the cabin up under the dash.

[Orv]

Is this a "drive it until it wears out" car, or a "keep it forever" car? If it's the former, I've had good luck injecting silicone sealer under windshield seals to reseal them. I usually use the really thin "windshield sealer" stuff for leaks between the seal and glass, and the thicker stuff for leaks between the seal and metal. Works on those pop-in side windows (like the rear quarter windows on wagons), too.

If it's a "keep it forever" car, the only right way to fix it is to take out the windshield, fix the rusty metal that's under the seal, and then reinstall with new rubber.

[Codifex Maximus]

Don't forget to check the cowling drains into the engine compartment. They look like plastic pinch tube protruding from the firewall.

Mine got slightly melted from the heat of the turbo and closed up tight. This caused the fresh air vents next to the wipers to fill up with water on the passenger side. This caused water to backup into the ducting leading to the blower motor (shorting it out) and soaking the passenger side floorboard.

Solution? Replace tubing - easy and cheap. Replace blower - easy and expensive.

[psaboic]

Well, today I worked on the car a bit. I checked the door bellows and they are fine. I ran stiff weed-whacker line down all the sunroof drain holes then poured water down them. They drain fine and no leaks. I checked the cowl drains and they are clear, ran water down them and no leaks. Lastly, I checked the door drains. they are open and clear and the window felts are nice and tight against the glass with no tears.

I'm still thinking it is the damn windshield seal.......Any other ideas or????

Glenn

[indybenz]

I know this is an old post, but any solution?