Cornish Brummie
New Member
Hi all, I have water ingress in the drivers side footwell, I have to renew the screen rubbers, (Front and rear) but is there anywhere else I should be looking at for leaks into the footwell ??
Windscreen leaks.
- Thread starter Cornish Brummie
- Start date
redrover
Well-Known Member
Can you be 100% sure it's water and not brake fluid? That would indicate master cylinder seals. The bulkhead in the drivers footwell has a handful of grommets in it, which could be perished, but they wouldn't let in a stream of water. The other possibility is via the heater box. If water is getting into the heater box (variety of routes as well as the obvious top flap) it could be working its way down to the footwell vents. Take the front decker panel off (easy to remove without removing the bonnet - just take the wipers off) and inspect the seal on the lower edge of the windscreen, and all around the heater box.
When you replace the windscreen, be sure to replace the U-channel seal on the bottom as well, and fitting new closed cell foam seal. Here's a cross-sectional diagram I did the other day for someone on Facebook. The U-section seal is key to preventing water ingress to the heater box/bulkhead. The open-cell foam seal stops fumes getting in. Here is a suitable replacement.
When you replace the windscreen, be sure to replace the U-channel seal on the bottom as well, and fitting new closed cell foam seal. Here's a cross-sectional diagram I did the other day for someone on Facebook. The U-section seal is key to preventing water ingress to the heater box/bulkhead. The open-cell foam seal stops fumes getting in. Here is a suitable replacement.
Cornish Brummie
New Member
Many thanks for your brilliant response! It is definitely not brake fluid, But I think you are on the right track with the various seals , I have the Rubber main seal for the windscreen, and the lower seal but you have highlighted the foam seal which I haven't got !! I will now get that and look at the job as soon as I can !!! Thanks again for your help !!!Appreciate it !! (Just orderd the foam strip, Delivery Friday )
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colnerov
Well-Known Member
Hi, Another possibility is corrosion in the windscreen side frame. There's a stainless cover trim pop rivetted to it and it's not obvious to see it. Try squeezing it with your thumb to see if there's movement or drill the rivets out to see properly. Rain gets in round the roof gutter and down between the trim and frame causing rot and then down into the bottom of the 'A' post where it finds its way into the footwell.
Colin
Colin
Cornish Brummie
New Member
Thanks for your advice, I have to renew the whole windscreen rubber set , so I will check the areas you have highlighted ! Thanks!
Cornish Brummie
New Member
Thanks for your help on this, It appears that the problem is all around the widscreen and frame area, I am planning to replace all of the rubbers ,so I will check all the surrounding metal areas as suggested!
Phil Robson
Well-Known Member
It's often this problem, so it's worth drilling the rivets out at the rear of the A-pillar & taking the trim off to have a look, even before replacing the windscreen seal (unless that is perished anyway).
The debate comes up quite frequently on here, but in my opinion a seal has to be almost non-existent to allow water into the cabin via the screen itself. The physics of it all just won't allow it otherwise
Cornish Brummie
New Member
Thanks for the info!! I am planning to do both front and rear screens soon, so all of this information is priceless! I will make sure I inspect everywhere and replace/ repair all that is needed! Thanks again !!It's often this problem, so it's worth drilling the rivets out at the rear of the A-pillar & taking the trim off to have a look, even before replacing the windscreen seal (unless that is perished anyway).
The debate comes up quite frequently on here, but in my opinion a seal has to be almost non-existent to allow water into the cabin via the screen itself. The physics of it all just won't allow it otherwise
jp928
Well-Known Member
I was in this area last year due to water in the cabin - see my project at P6B S Project Car
The U section seal was toast, the foam under the glass had completely crumbled. See also others experiences with UK sourced windscreen rubbers not being very good fits. Another possible source of water ingress is the grommet in the firewall where the throttle goes through the firewall - mine was missing completely, indicated by engine odours coming inside. Note also that care is needed when re-tightening the screen clamps.
The U section seal was toast, the foam under the glass had completely crumbled. See also others experiences with UK sourced windscreen rubbers not being very good fits. Another possible source of water ingress is the grommet in the firewall where the throttle goes through the firewall - mine was missing completely, indicated by engine odours coming inside. Note also that care is needed when re-tightening the screen clamps.
Cornish Brummie
New Member
many thanks for your reply, i am so gratefull to everyone who has responded, all the info will hopefully mean that I canget the job done with few problems ! I note your last point about the screen clamps, I will probably be sweating a little when i do this!!!
redrover
Well-Known Member
JP is right about the clamps. The marker pen tip is a useful trick. You don't want to over-tighten the clamps as it will put strain through the screen and risk cracking from vibration or temperature changes.
Here is what the clamps look like - there is one per side. The top nut jacks it up, the bottom nut is a locking nut. Do them up evenly. If you thump the windscreen with your fist as you go, you'll be able to detect when the screen is getting too tight. It changes from a 'duff' to a 'dub' sound & feel. Back it off so it stays in the 'duff' territory.
On the main seal, getting it up into the top corners is hard. You have to pull it up into situ quite a bit by dragging the outside flap upwards. This is difficult if the inside flap has got caught in the channel instead of being exposed, like this....
Here is what the clamps look like - there is one per side. The top nut jacks it up, the bottom nut is a locking nut. Do them up evenly. If you thump the windscreen with your fist as you go, you'll be able to detect when the screen is getting too tight. It changes from a 'duff' to a 'dub' sound & feel. Back it off so it stays in the 'duff' territory.
On the main seal, getting it up into the top corners is hard. You have to pull it up into situ quite a bit by dragging the outside flap upwards. This is difficult if the inside flap has got caught in the channel instead of being exposed, like this....
Cornish Brummie
New Member
Great tip... Thanks !!
Cornish Brummie
New Member
Wow , Thank you for the pics, and explanation, .. Brilliant !!