FAQ: Wet Carpet - Interior Leak Problems

The drain is on the engine side of the lower passenger side firewall. You may not be able to see it looking down thru engine compartment with hood open. If you don't see it that way then turn the steering wheel left all the way to lock and slide under on passenger side behind front wheel. Look up/feel firewall. You'll find it.

Oh man...when it rains, the car becomes a mini-pool on the driver's side. However, lucky for me I think I know exactly where the car is leaking from.

You know how the roof is a 'panel' of its own? Well I sealed up those seams on both sides very carefully and neatly, and behold. The car still leaks. So the next time it rained I paid attention to where I first saw it start. I notice a spot of water the size of a quarter about 2 inches from the ceiling handle. Guess what's right above that? One of the moonroof drain tubes...

The trail of water continues down the A-pillar and onto the floor.

Has this happened to anyone before? Any advice before I start tackling the headliner?

Thanks,

-Andrew Z

the holes in the moonroof should run down to the wheel well right behind the strut/shock. Make sure it isnt clogged up with dirt.

Quote :

Well I sealed up those seams on both sides very carefully and neatly, and behold.

Do you mean you clogged the channels over the doors? I think those are there to help evacuate water down the C-pillars and rear of the car.

Yes that's what I meant because the seals looked a little dried and I thought they might be leaking into the ceiling of the car. Well, I checked the channel openings in the moonroof over and nothing was clogged so I decided to try something. I took off the ceiling pullstrap handle thing and the driver's visor as well as the A pillar cloth cover. What do I see and I gently bend the headliner down? A moonroof drain nozzle without a tube attached.

A little worried I'm missing the tube altogether, I bend the headliner down a bit more and find it lodged in a space right above where the visor screws in. Phew. I moved it, took about 4 seconds to connect it back up, leak tested, and put the car back together.

I'm SOOOOO glad I didn't have to take the headliner down to do this. It was a really bad leak and was making me nervous each time I saw rain on the radar.

Again, phew...

wow ima have to look into this. the back of my head liner is letting go. it was just alittle when i bought the car. now the complete back half is down. i am using push pins to hold it up for now. i am goin to rewrap it. but i just noticed the other day that it is wet. so i have a leak somewhere. it starts in the back passenger by the rear pillar. could this be a leaky back window. or shud i look in the same place z-type did? i had a feeling it was the moon roof but its not wet near the moon roof at all? its starting to creep up the passengers side by the handles. where should i look first?

Z-type wrote:

Well I sealed up those seams on both sides very carefully and neatly, and behold. The car still leaks.
-Andrew Z

I'm glad you found the leak.
There is one thing to keep in mind about the roof panels on our Rivs, the black rubber trim piece that is visible in the seam is nothing more than a trim piece, it has nothing to do with the sealing/bonding of the roof panel to the pillars. Since there are no welds or fasteners holding the panel on, it is held on with the bond that seals it; if there was a leak there it would mean that the roof panel could be coming loose from the car, very unlikely since from what I have heard they are bonded on VERY well!
My best guess, as you found, is that if there is a leak in that area it would more than likely be a drain tube disconnected.

95ParkAveUltra wrote:

i had a feeling it was the moon roof but its not wet near the moon roof at all? its starting to creep up the passengers side by the handles. where should i look first?

99Rivman wrote:

My best guess, as Z-Type found, is that if there is a leak in that area it would more than likely be a drain tube disconnected.

The foam that the fabric is attached to will generally hold the water until it is puddled full enough to run off, that is probably why it doesn't seem to be leaking near the moon roof? The headliner material might be effected by the leak but probably not, it will just separate with age.

99Rivman wrote:

Z-type wrote:

Well I sealed up those seams on both sides very carefully and neatly, and behold. The car still leaks.
-Andrew Z

I'm glad you found the leak.
There is one thing to keep in mind about the roof panels on our Rivs, the black rubber trim piece that is visible in the seam is nothing more than a trim piece, it has nothing to do with the sealing/bonding of the roof panel to the pillars. Since there are no welds or fasteners holding the panel on, it is held on with the bond that seals it; if there was a leak there it would mean that the roof panel could be coming loose from the car, very unlikely since from what I have heard they are bonded on VERY well!
My best guess, as you found, is that if there is a leak in that area it would more than likely be a drain tube disconnected.

That black rubber trim piece in the seam you mention. When doing a repaint how or would one go about removing/replacing that piece. I was just curious about trim like that...in the future when these cars need the rubber trim replaced if it is going to be possible.

Bert

Aside from my trunk leak, I have discovered yet another. I found the back floor to be absolutly soaked the other day when it was raining. I was in the car during the heavy rain and don't actually see where its coming in. Its just the back floor, its dry under the rear seat.

At this point I'd be worried about karma... Try changing your name to notmoldy.

Heh, yeah. These are the problems you get from buying an abandoned car. It has been sitting for at least 2 years outside, who knows how long it has been leaking.

raise your back seat - is there water pooling up under there?

i had a acura legend that was sold to me by a good friend of mine.he bought it brand new in 88 and gave it to his daughter in 95. she went to college in 97 and the car sat in his driveway for 3 years.i bought it in 2000. it leaked like a sive. it had been sitting in the sun uncovered and all the seals shrank i guess. i removed all them ,cleaned them with soap and water,and armor alled the hell out of them. she remained leak free until 04. maybe try it?

deekster_caddy wrote:

raise your back seat - is there water pooling up under there?

I didn't see anything under there from that storm. I did notice after a ride in the rain there was a bit pooled under the passenger side wiring harness by the battery. I think that came in from the massive trunk leak during the drive.

Try putting talc powder, as Albert has previously suggested, on and around any place you could possibly suspect a leak to be coming from and hose the car down or wait for another rain storm and inspect all the seals and grommets that you put powder on. It could help you find the "Wet Spot".
I'm told it work's on fat chicks.

aghh rick? dats just gross

robotennis61 wrote:

aghh rick? dats just gross

OH, Tell me your not involved in the rumor.!!!!!

ok,you got me. but i use tactile,not talc.

It rained again today and I noticed something of interest. Water seems to pool up between the plastic sill cover and the rubber weather stripping. I still don't see how its getting there. Looks like it runs down something into that small channel, then gets absorbed by the carpet under the sill cover.

Pic's with arrows pointing to the area's you are talking about would help a lot.

I admit, I don't know how to use the software that other people use, that allows them to put arrows and circle's and whatnot onto a picture they have taken then post on here.

It sounds simple enough but I don't have the software or experience.
If you do, that would be tremendously helpful in identifying where you are talking about.

I'll do that. I dont know how to use that software either, I usually draw a crude arrow in paint brush lol.

Rickw wrote:

Try putting talc powder, as Albert has previously suggested, on and around any place you could possibly suspect a leak to be coming from and hose the car down or wait for another rain storm and inspect all the seals and grommets that you put powder on. It could help you find the "Wet Spot".
I'm told it work's on fat chicks.

I have no experience with the latter.

Be sure it's talc and not cornstarch. A cheap foot powder will work fine; be sure to read the label to make sure it does not have vegetable powder (corn starch) in the mix. Reason - you think you have interior mosture problems now, they will just get worse with cornstarch - it supports growth.

Albertj

Albert Said: I have no experience with the latter.

Touche

Why do I see this car turning into a powdery mess when I am done