water leak
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
water leak
I have a leak that I can not find.
The windows do not leak when I go through a brushless car wash.
But after a rain the floor it wet on the drivers floor board.
Last rain I had an inch or so of water standing.
This is only on the drivers side floor board.
Any ideas?
Ralph
The windows do not leak when I go through a brushless car wash.
But after a rain the floor it wet on the drivers floor board.
Last rain I had an inch or so of water standing.
This is only on the drivers side floor board.
Any ideas?
Ralph
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
Ralph that is not a good sign... Often times it's the indication of a rotted birdcage. Pull the kick panel and see what the #2 body mount pocket looks like. What happens is the windshield frame rotts away, the water then runs down through the birdcage and onto your floor via the #2 body mount pocket.
Hopefully you get lucky and it's t-top seals or something... ?
Hopefully you get lucky and it's t-top seals or something... ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
3 years ago the car was stripped down to bare bones.
All the glass removed all the interior removed and painted.
I was told everything looked "good".
I'll check the windshield wiper area first.
is should be the easiest to seal.
thanks
Ralph
All the glass removed all the interior removed and painted.
I was told everything looked "good".
I'll check the windshield wiper area first.
is should be the easiest to seal.
thanks
Ralph
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
I believe it is accumulating from a large area and ending up on the floor.
A little rain puts an unusual amount of water on the floor.
Ralph
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Check to make sure your drain vents are not blocked with leaves or debris.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 249
Likes: 4
From: Eastern Ky
Check to make sure your drain vents are not blocked with leaves or debris.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
Check to make sure your drain vents are not blocked with leaves or debris.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
I noticed that the factory sealer has hardened and cracked.
It is actually loose in some spots.
So I have found a good place to start. The worst spot is the drivers side.
So what do I use to fix this with?
I plan on removing the loose stuff and redoing everything.
Is that a good idea?
Thanks Guys
Ralph
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
Check to make sure your drain vents are not blocked with leaves or debris.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
The water in the windshield wiper tray drains to either side and down the inside of the front fenders and out. If the drain is plugged the water will back up and drain out of the kick panel into the front floor board area.
Use a piece of coathanger or thin screwdriver to clear any blockage from the bottom of the fenders. If there are a lot of leaves or big debris also remove the little plastic side screen (if they are there) from the side of the wiper tray and use a "magic fingers" to run down inside the fender and grab the leaves and pull them out.
I assume once I start digging down there I can find the vent or should this be done from the bottom?
Ralph
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Over time the curved screens may have been taken off and lost or discarded.
Try cleaning out from the bottom up first. You can also take a garden hose or bucket an pour some water in the tray area and see where it goes. If its not draining out at the bottom underside of the fenders but is going into the cockpit, good chance the weep holes are plugged. clear them out with a piece of coathanger wire or thin screwdriver and try again. If water drains out of the weep holes now then your problem is probably solved.
Last edited by stock76; Mar 1, 2014 at 08:29 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Okay I went out and cleaned the windshield wiper area out with compressed air.
I noticed that the factory sealer has hardened and cracked.
It is actually loose in some spots.
So I have found a good place to start. The worst spot is the drivers side.
So what do I use to fix this with?
I plan on removing the loose stuff and redoing everything.
Is that a good idea?
Thanks Guys
Ralph
I noticed that the factory sealer has hardened and cracked.
It is actually loose in some spots.
So I have found a good place to start. The worst spot is the drivers side.
So what do I use to fix this with?
I plan on removing the loose stuff and redoing everything.
Is that a good idea?
Thanks Guys
Ralph
I used a seam sealer that I bought from Eastwood brushed over the joints it flows out some it dries hard but a somewhat flexible. Then after drying I sprayed the complete tray with a 3M rubber like spray.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Once you rule out all the other stuff including the wiper shafts/transmission,
there is a leak that c3's have that many people do not know about, the front fenders have a bonding area at the top back corner/ base of windscreen,
This part has 3 pop rivets and some sealer and sometimes more sealer than others and over time the rivets get play and the sealer dries out,
The leak will be water on the floor it will only show up at odd times like in a car wash or right rain shower, hard to get it going with a hose in the driveway sometimes.
No amount of "goo" or sealer dumped or sprayed down at it will fix it nor can you reach the rivets with dash in car,
These pieces are on the metal of the bird cage and if it's leaking the cage there is rusted, sometimes just surface sometimes way more.
I have seen no other way to fix it right besides pulling the clip or at least hacking the top rear of the fender off and then glassing fender back on after repairs.
Sealing the rivets from inside will not help the rust forming on the metal up there.
After seeing this condition on many c3's I believe that it will happen to 100% of c3's if not restored along the way.
there is a leak that c3's have that many people do not know about, the front fenders have a bonding area at the top back corner/ base of windscreen,
This part has 3 pop rivets and some sealer and sometimes more sealer than others and over time the rivets get play and the sealer dries out,
The leak will be water on the floor it will only show up at odd times like in a car wash or right rain shower, hard to get it going with a hose in the driveway sometimes.
No amount of "goo" or sealer dumped or sprayed down at it will fix it nor can you reach the rivets with dash in car,
These pieces are on the metal of the bird cage and if it's leaking the cage there is rusted, sometimes just surface sometimes way more.
I have seen no other way to fix it right besides pulling the clip or at least hacking the top rear of the fender off and then glassing fender back on after repairs.
Sealing the rivets from inside will not help the rust forming on the metal up there.
After seeing this condition on many c3's I believe that it will happen to 100% of c3's if not restored along the way.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Once you rule out all the other stuff including the wiper shafts/transmission,
there is a leak that c3's have that many people do not know about, the front fenders have a bonding area at the top back corner/ base of windscreen,
This part has 3 pop rivets and some sealer and sometimes more sealer than others and over time the rivets get play and the sealer dries out,
The leak will be water on the floor it will only show up at odd times like in a car wash or right rain shower, hard to get it going with a hose in the driveway sometimes.
No amount of "goo" or sealer dumped or sprayed down at it will fix it nor can you reach the rivets with dash in car,
These pieces are on the metal of the bird cage and if it's leaking the cage there is rusted, sometimes just surface sometimes way more.
I have seen no other way to fix it right besides pulling the clip or at least hacking the top rear of the fender off and then glassing fender back on after repairs.
Sealing the rivets from inside will not help the rust forming on the metal up there.
After seeing this condition on many c3's I believe that it will happen to 100% of c3's if not restored along the way.
there is a leak that c3's have that many people do not know about, the front fenders have a bonding area at the top back corner/ base of windscreen,
This part has 3 pop rivets and some sealer and sometimes more sealer than others and over time the rivets get play and the sealer dries out,
The leak will be water on the floor it will only show up at odd times like in a car wash or right rain shower, hard to get it going with a hose in the driveway sometimes.
No amount of "goo" or sealer dumped or sprayed down at it will fix it nor can you reach the rivets with dash in car,
These pieces are on the metal of the bird cage and if it's leaking the cage there is rusted, sometimes just surface sometimes way more.
I have seen no other way to fix it right besides pulling the clip or at least hacking the top rear of the fender off and then glassing fender back on after repairs.
Sealing the rivets from inside will not help the rust forming on the metal up there.
After seeing this condition on many c3's I believe that it will happen to 100% of c3's if not restored along the way.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
These were on one of my 81's got lucky and it was just surface rust....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
Been waiting on the weather so I could take my first shot at it.
Been raining most everyday here.
I cleaned the wiper gutter out real good and sprayed it with "Flex Seal".
It went on really well and looks real good.
Even if yours doesn't leak this stuff will make it look better than new.
Like I said the old sealer was dry and cracked and this stuff covered it very well. A half of a can did several coats.
Now I need it to rain to see if I got it the first time around.
I'm praying it's that easy.
Ralph
Been raining most everyday here.
I cleaned the wiper gutter out real good and sprayed it with "Flex Seal".
It went on really well and looks real good.
Even if yours doesn't leak this stuff will make it look better than new.
Like I said the old sealer was dry and cracked and this stuff covered it very well. A half of a can did several coats.
Now I need it to rain to see if I got it the first time around.
I'm praying it's that easy.
Ralph
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Been waiting on the weather so I could take my first shot at it.
Been raining most everyday here.
I cleaned the wiper gutter out real good and sprayed it with "Flex Seal".
It went on really well and looks real good.
Even if yours doesn't leak this stuff will make it look better than new.
Like I said the old sealer was dry and cracked and this stuff covered it very well. A half of a can did several coats.
Now I need it to rain to see if I got it the first time around.
I'm praying it's that easy.
Ralph
Been raining most everyday here.
I cleaned the wiper gutter out real good and sprayed it with "Flex Seal".
It went on really well and looks real good.
Even if yours doesn't leak this stuff will make it look better than new.
Like I said the old sealer was dry and cracked and this stuff covered it very well. A half of a can did several coats.
Now I need it to rain to see if I got it the first time around.
I'm praying it's that easy.
Ralph
