My II is drowning. I recently lucked out and found NOS carpet, my old was rotten. Replaced with new, moved and lost my garage... Then I figured out why the old was rotten. My seals were shot, so I bought new roof rails from mustangs unlimited, and had my windsheild professionaly removed and resealed. After all that -- I get into my weekend driver and hear the carpet go squish, and to my horror, notice almost 2" worth standing on top of the carpet on the passenger side --WTF!!??. I instantly returned to the windshield shop with my dash and interior trim removed, wanting it fixed -- the guy held a hose all over the glass, and after twenty minutes or so tells me it the body seals. I inspected all around the windsheild, and to my dismay found him truthful. I am at a loss here, never have been good at body work. Any advice? Should I pull quarter panels, or remove dash? I love oregon rain.....
That's a lot of water for just body seals being bad... On a day it was not raining, I would get the hose out and find out where it is coming from! As much water as you have, I would not be suprised if it is coming from multiple locations! Chad
Sounds like a rusty cowl. Run water in the vents in front of the windshield and see if water is coming in the car from the upper corners of the dash or the heater box. If this is indeed the problem, to repair ir correctly will require alot of time if you do it yourself or money if you pay someone.
When I hose my II through the slots below the windsheild, most of the water goes out the side, by the wheel, but some trickles in at the corners inside. Should I try to fix from the inside -- removing entire dash, or outside. And if outside, what do I have ahead of me? The rain here is often not hard, but constant. I am not concerned about money or time, I have little of both, but I am persistant about this car.
Tearing out and replacing the heat ducting is not fun at all! I have had to do it twice, 2nd time I just did not put it back in Took out the heater core and everything! Who drives their II in the winter?? umm not me! Here is a picture of where I bet it is leaking... (Sorry for the poor picture quality!) Now I wonder if it is leaking through that black sealer stuff or if it is coming throught the vent hole there???? Maybe someone that knows more about this part of the car can help? Chad
The pic addicted2II posted is the fresh air intake for the heater box (and pass. vent on non a/c cars). There's also one on the drivers side thats rectangular. It will be for the vent on non a/c cars and blocked off on factory air cars. These are probably the trouble spots. You might take the hood hinges out and the their rubber boots and this will give you some access. You could shine a flashlight in there and see if it's plugged up with trash and just cleaning the drains and cowl could well fix it. If you see rust then you need to determine just how bad it is to decide on a good fix. I've seen them bad enough that the cowl had to be seperated and new metal welded in but let's hope this isn't the case. Good luck.
Found It!@! Removed hood hinges, used flash and drop light and found area clean.... Then removed quarter panels and the seam that had factory putty was leaking -- beware all desert cars that move to the rain! Thanks for all of the advice, will post pics as soon as I can. Mike.
Good to hear Mike! You know mine has never been out in the rain (Since I have had it) so mine could be leaking in the same spot Chad
Attempt to add pics.... here is where it was leaking from, both sides. Cleaned off old putty, resealed with 3m 5200 fast cure, a marine grade sealant that dries underwater -- highly recommended. Mike.
