Suggestions on Leaking Window seals?

[fesifisky]

Went to my car this morning and noticed behind the passenger seat had a puddle almost covering the matt. I also noticed that the weather strip on both passenger side doors seems malformed at the upper corners where the 2 doors meet. Also, the metal on the car where the weather strip 'should' meet with the doors closed had water droplets. This spot looks to be right above where water could drip down there without getting anything else wet.

Anyone else have this issue?

Any suggestions on at least a temp fix? It started raining again so I don't think I can even tape a bag in place.

Since I'm 95% sure the weather seal is the cluprit, I was thinking of some kind of silicone as a temp fix until I can get new seals. Any drawbacks aside from not being able to open both passenger doors?

[69marquis conv]

Check the condensate drain for your A/C. Remove the RF plastic wheel well and check to see if the drain is allowing water to wick back into the firewall, and run down the floor pan to the rear of the car.

[fesifisky]

Ac's been gone since winter and no water anywhere else. The water is restricted to just the floor behind the passenger seat. The seals on the back door looks malformed and where it should meet the car when closed I noticed water droplets.

Pretty sure it's the weather seal, so I'm going to just use some silicone on the back door until I can get it to a shop to replace the whole seal. I almost never have passengers so keeping that door shut shouldn't be an issue.

[fastblackmerc]

Ac's been gone since winter and no water anywhere else. The water is restricted to just the floor behind the passenger seat. The seals on the back door looks malformed and where it should meet the car when closed I noticed water droplets.

Pretty sure it's the weather seal, so I'm going to just use some silicone on the back door until I can get it to a shop to replace the whole seal. I almost never have passengers so keeping that door shut shouldn't be an issue.
You can replace the seal yourself. It just clips in. If you can post a picture I may be able to help you fix it......

[F8LBITEva]

When I was working for L/M we had mystery leaks like this come in every once in a while. Turns out some body seams along the floor didn't get enough seam sealer at the factory and over time began to leak. Have you been driving in the rain lately?

[fesifisky]

F8LBITEva: It happened twice in the last 2 days, both times while it was parked during a downpour, 2nd of which wasn't even that long. At some point the whole carpet will need to come out clean up what I'm sure is a bunch of rust now, so I'll make sure all sealing on the floor is taken care of then.

[fesifisky]

You can replace the seal yourself. It just clips in. If you can post a picture I may be able to help you fix it......

Let me know if these are clear enough and if I'm explaining well enough where I think the issue is:
http://webpages.charter.net/isaidyoink/Reardoor1.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/isaidyoink/Reardoor2.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/isaidyoink/Reardoor3.jpg

[fastblackmerc]

Let me know if these are clear enough and if I'm explaining well enough where I think the issue is:
http://webpages.charter.net/isaidyoink/Reardoor1.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/isaidyoink/Reardoor2.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/isaidyoink/Reardoor3.jpg

OK. This is how you can fix it.

The weatherstrip is hollow. Make a small slit in the moulding (don't go all the way through) before or after the depressed area, get a piece of 1/4" hose longer than the depressed area, insert the hose into the slit, working it into the depressed area. This should expand the weatherstrip. If it doesn't use a bigger diameter hose. Once you have the right size hose in place, seal the slit with some black silicone sealer. Smear it on the edges and let it dry.

[fesifisky]

That's a down right Macgyver-ish fix, I'm heading to home depot shortly to try this. Thanks!

I did buy clear silicone and almost bought the black, is there a major difference other than color?

[fastblackmerc]

That's a down right Macgyver-ish fix, I'm heading to home depot shortly to try this. Thanks!

I did buy clear silicone and almost bought the black, is there a major difference other than color?

Clear will show up shiny on the flat black weatherstrip. I always used black.

I used that fix on many cars when I repaired them for a living.

[fesifisky]

OK. This is how you can fix it.

The weatherstrip is hollow. Make a small slit in the moulding (don't go all the way through) before or after the depressed area, get a piece of 1/4" hose longer than the depressed area, insert the hose into the slit, working it into the depressed area. This should expand the weatherstrip. If it doesn't use a bigger diameter hose. Once you have the right size hose in place, seal the slit with some black silicone sealer. Smear it on the edges and let it dry.

So I managed to fish 1/4" tubing through the seal on both doors near where I think the leak is. Didn't seal it yet since I want to do a test. Tried a soda bottle filled with water and a hole in the cap to see if it leaks, didn't appear so, but I think I need a stronger stream of water(no hose for the building I live in). Gonna try the car wash a lil later. If no leak then, I'll use silicone to close up where I sliced into the seal. Thanks again for the tip!

Fingers crossed.

[fesifisky]

Haha, you replied while I was typing out the last post. I'll swap the clear for the black at walmart a lil later.

[fesifisky]

Finally had a chance to run it through the car wash on lunch a few minutes ago, had the front seat all the way forward so I could keep an eye on things. No sign of a leak, but it's a crappy car wash and didn't last long.

We're supposed to have rain here on Sunday, actually hoping it does to get a real test.

[fesifisky]

OK. This is how you can fix it.

The weatherstrip is hollow. Make a small slit in the moulding (don't go all the way through) before or after the depressed area, get a piece of 1/4" hose longer than the depressed area, insert the hose into the slit, working it into the depressed area. This should expand the weatherstrip. If it doesn't use a bigger diameter hose. Once you have the right size hose in place, seal the slit with some black silicone sealer. Smear it on the edges and let it dry.

Didn't get much heavy rain yesterday but have today while I was in the office, just got home for lunch and found a lil bit of water, nowhere near the puddle as last week but still, it was there.

I didn't seal it yet because I wanted to wait, but with a leak still there, should I try the larger tubing(5/16") and then seal or just try sealing it now with the 1/4" tubing in there?

[fastblackmerc]

Didn't get much heavy rain yesterday but have today while I was in the office, just got home for lunch and found a lil bit of water, nowhere near the puddle as last week but still, it was there.

I didn't seal it yet because I wanted to wait, but with a leak still there, should I try the larger tubing(5/16") and then seal or just try sealing it now with the 1/4" tubing in there?

Go larger... you can always remove it.

[fesifisky]

So I had written out a long timeline of what happened earlier, pretty much a novel, decided to just edit it down to this post. Just got home from my buddy's. We pulled out the passenger seat and pulled up all the carpet and lo and behold, it was exactly what my buddy said it might be when all I did was mention there was a leak under the carpet....behind the passenger seat. Turns out panthers have a common enough issue with a leak at the firewall, apparently around the heater box. In a shop, it's a 12hr job and I don't have over a grand to spend on this type of issue.

He's moving a few towns away next week, so once he's settled, we'll pull the dash and take care of it over a weekend.

So from here on out, I'm not assuming anything anymore, I'll just wait until someone with more knowledge looks at it.

Thanks again for all the help everyone.

[fesifisky]

Check the condensate drain for your A/C. Remove the RF plastic wheel well and check to see if the drain is allowing water to wick back into the firewall, and run down the floor pan to the rear of the car.

I'm not sure if that's exactly what it is, I thought my buddy mentioned the issue is on the cabin side of the firewall where the heater is sandwiching the firewall with the ac, at least I think that's how he explained it. All I know is the dash needs to come out to properly fix it.

I just feel like a major dumbass now for thinking it was the door seal. It just seemed to fit at the time.