I would think a little sealant would do the job.
Leak Spot: FOUND?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
Likes: 14
From: Central KY
Leak Spot: FOUND?
I think I may have found the leak point on my 2000 FRC. Last night I isolated the area and poured water onto the rear window seal. I then opened the trunk and could see water at the top of the trunk where I anticipated it being. It then drips down onto the side plastic piece over the wheel.
It appears the seal on the outside of the rear windshield needs to be replaced. Has anyone takcled this before? Would I just lift up slightly on the "lip" of the seal and inject a tiny amount of sealant?
It appears the seal on the outside of the rear windshield needs to be replaced. Has anyone takcled this before? Would I just lift up slightly on the "lip" of the seal and inject a tiny amount of sealant?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 106
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From: Nashville Tennessee
Be careful not to tear or damage that rubber seal. GM no longer produces that piece, and I know of someone who had to buy a good used one for his FRC and paid $300 for it.
He told me he found a few new in the box rear window seals and that the seller wanted $1000 for them.
He told me he found a few new in the box rear window seals and that the seller wanted $1000 for them.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: Cary IL
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
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From: Central KY
Wow, that expensive? Seems like you could just use a tiny dab of sealant underneath the existing rubber strip and then press it back down and be good to go.
Last edited by craig_vette; Oct 4, 2016 at 12:26 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
Likes: 14
From: Central KY
Dang it. I stopped at 2 autoglass repair shops during lunch and they were completely useless. Safelite said they "wouldn't touch the job" since it's not a glass/windshield replacement. So I said "yeah but if it were a windshield replacement, you'd have to remove the old window, put a new one in, and reseal it, correct? So just quote me for that and I'll see if it's worth it to me." They still wouldn't. Even worse, it was just the receptionist girl who looked at it b/c "the techs were busy." So I drove down the street to auto glass repair shop and said I need a quote, the girl there (yes another one) says "it'd be seven hundred such and such" and then proceeds to hand me the quote so I say "nobody's even gonna step outside and look at what I'm takling about?! Forget it!" and leave. Service these days...
Anyway, I'm thinking about buying this stuff and seeing if I can do it myself easily. If y'all can point me in a better product direction, please do. It's hard to narrow the search results down b/c so many different auto glass results come up.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...k_ql_qh_dp_hza
Anyway, I'm thinking about buying this stuff and seeing if I can do it myself easily. If y'all can point me in a better product direction, please do. It's hard to narrow the search results down b/c so many different auto glass results come up.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...k_ql_qh_dp_hza
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
Likes: 14
From: Central KY
And the search continues...
Thought I had isolated the leak and found the culprit, as discussed above. When I got home from work tonight, however, I decided to use clear packaging tape and tape up every area in the rear EXCEPT the suspected leak area. Took it to the the self service car wash bay and gave the rear a good heavy spraying. Once the time expired on the sprayer, I thought for sure I'd open the trunk and find a tub full of water. Nope, dry as a bone. So, it must be leaking in one of the areas I taped up (probably hard to see the clear tape in photos below).
Thought I had isolated the leak and found the culprit, as discussed above. When I got home from work tonight, however, I decided to use clear packaging tape and tape up every area in the rear EXCEPT the suspected leak area. Took it to the the self service car wash bay and gave the rear a good heavy spraying. Once the time expired on the sprayer, I thought for sure I'd open the trunk and find a tub full of water. Nope, dry as a bone. So, it must be leaking in one of the areas I taped up (probably hard to see the clear tape in photos below).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,671
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
And the search continues...
Thought I had isolated the leak and found the culprit, as discussed above. When I got home from work tonight, however, I decided to use clear packaging tape and tape up every area in the rear EXCEPT the suspected leak area. Took it to the the self service car wash bay and gave the rear a good heavy spraying. Once the time expired on the sprayer, I thought for sure I'd open the trunk and find a tub full of water. Nope, dry as a bone. So, it must be leaking in one of the areas I taped up (probably hard to see the clear tape in photos below).
Thought I had isolated the leak and found the culprit, as discussed above. When I got home from work tonight, however, I decided to use clear packaging tape and tape up every area in the rear EXCEPT the suspected leak area. Took it to the the self service car wash bay and gave the rear a good heavy spraying. Once the time expired on the sprayer, I thought for sure I'd open the trunk and find a tub full of water. Nope, dry as a bone. So, it must be leaking in one of the areas I taped up (probably hard to see the clear tape in photos below).
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 66
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From: elkton maryland
first question, did you remove the interior trim panel under the rear glass to see the water coming in? I had a leak in this area and fixed it earlier this year. I also thought that the water was coming in through the glass seal, it was not. I removed the panel under the rear glass and the two panels below that. (C-shaped trim panels covers the trunk to wheel house reinforcement) I opened the deck lid and took a hose and gently hosed down the area without it spilling into the trunk area. My leak was in the area that the roof is bonded down. I believe that the adhesive in the area had cracked from age or years of driving.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
Likes: 14
From: Central KY
first question, did you remove the interior trim panel under the rear glass to see the water coming in? I had a leak in this area and fixed it earlier this year. I also thought that the water was coming in through the glass seal, it was not. I removed the panel under the rear glass and the two panels below that. (C-shaped trim panels covers the trunk to wheel house reinforcement) I opened the deck lid and took a hose and gently hosed down the area without it spilling into the trunk area. My leak was in the area that the roof is bonded down. I believe that the adhesive in the area had cracked from age or years of driving.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 66
Likes: 9
From: elkton maryland
yes , remove the trim piece circled in green and also remove the trim piece directly below the window. then once you have those removed put water in the trunk drainage area as I directed in my previous post. watch for water leaking from inside the car you should be able to see it coming in
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
Likes: 14
From: Central KY
yes , remove the trim piece circled in green and also remove the trim piece directly below the window. then once you have those removed put water in the trunk drainage area as I directed in my previous post. watch for water leaking from inside the car you should be able to see it coming in
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 66
Likes: 9
From: elkton maryland
no problem with the questions, that's what the forum is for. as for the trim piece, wrap your hand around it and pull straight out. there are 2 clips that are on it on the back side. it can be a little stubborn. go slowly and do not yank on it. just keep constant pressure on it. it will come off.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
Likes: 14
From: Central KY
no problem with the questions, that's what the forum is for. as for the trim piece, wrap your hand around it and pull straight out. there are 2 clips that are on it on the back side. it can be a little stubborn. go slowly and do not yank on it. just keep constant pressure on it. it will come off.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 323
Likes: 14
From: Central KY
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 66
Likes: 9
From: elkton maryland
I told you it was stubborn! here's a link that may describe you leak problem 1997 - 2004 Corvette: Service Bulletin: General Waterleak Guide