Rear Doors hold water?

[Keith]

Hey there guys,

I've noticed in all the rains here in Houston, that when I open the rear doors - either side - later, I get quite a bit of water out of the bottom drain slots. This can really mean "later," too - days later sometimes.

Not only do the rear doors trap water, but it doesn't seem to drain well. I can see maybe a 1/4 cup dribble out with the door just 'open.' I can then swing the door back and forth and get a higher flow and lots more water as the door swings. (Looks pretty stupid but after all, I bought a DTR.)

Note that I've replaced the rear window lifts in my car and had my hands all up in them doors; I even cleaned out the shavings from drilling out the rivets - my doors are clean, baby.

Is this a common problem with MM's and CV's? I'm surprised that my doors have not rotted away yet.

Keith in Houston
04 DTR

[RubberCtyRauder]

check the drains on the bottom, I've seen clear tape over them (maybe a production thing)

[fastblackmerc]

check the drains on the bottom, I've seen clear tape over them (maybe a production thing)

What he said. I have the "drains" if needed.

[Spectragod]

My DTR rear doors hold water too, not bad enough it’s so slow, but it feels like even the factory guys were picking on us.


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[Serge]

Check to see if your drain holes are covered with clear tape. I've seen this on a lot of Panthers.

[camelgrundle]

I popped the plastic pieces out and removed leaves and such blocking the holes. Give that a shot too.

[Keith]

Thanks guys, will do. Maybe painting bottom lip of doors black too, eh? Black paint seems to fix most DTR problems.


Keith in Houston
04 DTR

[Keith]

Thanks guys, will do. Maybe painting bottom lip of doors black too, eh? Black paint seems to fix most DTR problems.


Keith in Houston
04 DTR

[Bruce Wayne]

yes, the more black paint you use on a DTR, the faster it goes , I've heard

[PonyGuy]

Check to see if your drain holes are covered with clear tape. I've seen this on a lot of Panthers.

I found that on my 2004 GMQ... I wondered why there was water sloshing around when I opened the rear door on the driver's side... saw some clear plastic tape (looked like Scotch tape) over the door drain holes. I removed the tape (a long time ago), but I just noticed some rust starting along the hem...

I don't know if I should try to repair the rust, or just replace the door with a desert-sourced one.

(Yes, I know it's a 14 year old car with 128k... but I'm past 75 years old, and this is very likely my last car... so it must out-last me.)

[Accumulator]

.. I just noticed some rust starting along the hem...

I don't know if I should try to repair the rust, or just replace the door with a desert-sourced one.

(Yes, I know it's a 14 year old car with 128k... but I'm past 75 years old, and this is very likely my last car... so it must out-last me.)

Such fixes, whether DIY or Pro, depend on:
1) How bad the rust is
2) How good the fix is

I've fixed such rust (not on a Panther) and it stayed fixed...the second time I did it but not the first. As best I can recall though, I'm the only person I know who can say that, at least over an extended timeframe that included winter use.

But the fix that lasted took *many* hours, I know what I'm doing, and I have the right equipment, and products that I know (from trial/error, i.e., "from the fixes that didn't last") are OK.

Given your demographics (not a slam, my Father was 100% good-to-go through his mid-80s) I'd kinda lean towards new doors. IF you have the oe ones fixed, I'd sure get some kind of guarantee as this is extremely hard to fix permanently. The times I had (very good) shops do it the rust *always* came back.

Sorry to sound pessimistic, but this is one tough fix to get right.

My P71 doesn't have problems with the doors draining, but IMO I really oughta pull the panels and rustproof the seams now while everything's still OK. Just having the plastic down there *by* the drainholes undoubtedly results in some water retention, and that will eventually lead to trouble.

So if/when you do have this dealt with, I'd absolutely have that done, with the right stuff by somebody who knows what they're doing; it's easy to botch the job and end up with "pockets" in the rustproofing that will lead to...rust.

[Accumulator]

I just noticed that KBS Coatings has a video on using their products for this kind of repair.