Why does it leak?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 209
Likes: 4
From: Ocala FL
Why does it leak?
I think I have a pretty good understanding of the leaks in our cars, but was wondering...if one of the drain tubes gets full of debris and backs the water up, where and how does the water get in? The all originate at the cowl where the windshield wipers are mounted to the body. I know there is one on the passenger side that when clogged dumps water in the passenger side footwell... Anybody ever traced the flow?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Water leaks are a pain. For water to enter through HVAC opening at cowl it normally takes a lot of rain. The car would have to be parked under trees or source of flying debris regularly. Cowl will likely hold a couple gallons of water, never measured it. Water level would exceed dam designed to prevent water from entering HVAC case.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 209
Likes: 4
From: Ocala FL
Water leaks are a pain. For water to enter through HVAC opening at cowl it normally takes a lot of rain. The car would have to be parked under trees or source of flying debris regularly. Cowl will likely hold a couple gallons of water, never measured it. Water level would exceed dam designed to prevent water from entering HVAC case.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
What is more disturbing is the drain tube in the left rear side of the fuel filler bib. It can become clogged up from debris and spider crud. If you get caught in the rain the water can pool and get sucked into your fuel tank. Learned this at a Gordon Killebrew C4 class.
Good idea to run a wire down there from time to time in order to clean it out.
Good idea to run a wire down there from time to time in order to clean it out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
besides keeping the drain tubes in the cowl area open and free flowing, the "drain of last resort" is the much larger one on the bottom of the evaporator housing; remove the "gill" on the passenger's side, (same as removing the "gill" on the drivers side to access the battery) and the drain tube is easily accessible.
