Water leak through heater box

Tofufi

Tofufi

Member
Hi all,

I suspect the heater box in my P6 is allowing water into the interior.

Using an old car inner tube as shown below stops water getting in.

Having searched for other people with a similar problem, I don't think the water is going through the accelerator linkage hole in the bulkhead, though I will make and fit a grommet to it today.

I've had the A pillar trims off, windscreen out and found no signs of holes where water might be getting in through those areas.

Any thoughts for what to look into next? :)

DSC_2435.jpg


I took this picture when sorting the heater box linkages a few years ago, but it shows the (I think) drain tubes which I think are non-standard.

CIMG9472.jpg


Thanks in advance for any suggestions :)
 
Hi Jim.
When was the last time you had the heater out,if at all?
Its probable that its finally rusted away at the bottom and now leaks when it rains!
If you have no water loss then your matrix should be fine,its just the heatbox base knackered.
Try just covering the grille section and see if it still leaks?
Could be the box to body thick rubber seal is duff!
3 choices I reckon!
Take it out and fix it.
Buy a known good one and replace it.
Buy one to fully restore then fit it.
Sorry 4th choice.
Dont drive it in the rain!! :LOL:
 
The problem with mine which I finally narrowed down after slowly improving with every other move I made, is the large foamy rubber seal for the heater intake which is compressed by the scuttle panel. If there is only a slight break from refitting badly or age etc it lets water down the bulkhead and through any place it can find (which may not be that easy to spot). The accelerator and other bulkhead grommets are just a symptom of the problem, water shouldn't get down there in the first place.
Hope it's something as simple for you and not the heater rusted out!
Jim
 
Hi Jim,

Have you fitted a new lower windscreen seal? That acts as a drain, directing water off the windscreen away to each side and preventing it from flowing down behind the heater box. Before I renewed the lower seal, when it was raining, water would enter footwells through the vents directly above. Replacing the seal cured the leak. The accelerator linkage grommet on mine rotted away well over 20 years ago. I just use a piece of foam rubber squashed into the aperture, it works just fine with water never entering there.

Ron.
 
Hi all, thanks for the suggestions - much appreciated.

Pilkie... I had the heater box out a year or two ago now (scary how time flies!). No sign of rot on it then, but you never know. Keeping my fingers crossed it isn't that, but buying a refurbishing a spare heater box would be the approach I'd take :)

Pilkie and Jim - I'll try removing the centre section of the rubber, to allow the heater to work again- this should show if it is the heater box, or the seal between it and the front decker panel.

Ron - I've not fitted a new seal, the one fitted seemed to be serviceable when I had the windscreen out. It does appear to be coming straight through the heater vents, but perhaps also through the box sections in the front bulkhead.

I'll keep you posted, but it may be a couple of weeks before I know anything more 8)
 
Just a quick update - I've improved the inner-tube-bodge to allow me to use the heating again. Pic below - we've not had rain since, but will post updates as to whether it begins leaking again. :)

DSC_2469.jpg
 
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