Exterior leaks

Bacon On Wheels · Post by **Bacon On Wheels** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:49 pm

I'm trying to fix a few exterior leaks:
Leak # 1 (Trunk, maybe right tail light.)
Leak # 2 (Driver side front, to the left of the steering column)
Leak # 3 (Passanger side front, behind glove box)

Over the past 3 years the above leaks developed in the order listed.

Any suggestions for how to go about locating the individual leaks?
Or do you know of any "standard" leaking areas that I should check first.

FYI. I have climbed into the trunk with a flashlight while it's being hosed down and I cannot re-create the leak... but it's gettin' in there somehow!

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:48 pm

The taillight was interesting for me. Turns out the foam gasket was ripped and installed wrong, so I bought another one from the dealer for $7 and some change. The water was leaking into the housing itself, then pouring out the back when I'd stop, I assume. There was also a strange hole drilled on the far left side, with rust starting to form around it. The hole serves no purpose, as far as I can tell.

Spoiler was also leaking due to a crack on the underside by one of the bolts, so I coated basically the entire underside with silicone, and globbed a bunch on the bolts themselves.

So what about the other leaks? From the windows, or just pouring through the cracks on the dash or what?

Bacon On Wheels · Post by **Bacon On Wheels** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:18 am

I have a theory.

Just last week, while washing the passenger side of the windshield, the rubber was porous and just started to flake for the first time. Underneath the dime sized section of rubber that came off was a slight rust stain on the underlying metal. It’s in its early stages, but it’s fixin’ to rust up.

I’m also thinking that might be going on underneath the rubber coating on the driver side as well. However, the rubber is still intact and I’m not about to starting shredding it until I can afford to replace them.

So until then it’s a theory… But it fully intend to investigate and report back.

This Ya Boy · Post by **This Ya Boy** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:14 am

the leak by the glovebox area could very well by something related to the window having a crack in it or some small leak there. i had that problem. dodge dealership charged me i think 75-100 to fix it, but i'm retarded so i bring it to them for everything.

then the tail light one is fixed through resealing the tails.

the other one... your guess is as good as mine.

hope i helped a little.

Bacon On Wheels · Post by **Bacon On Wheels** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:42 pm

[quote="This Ya Boy"]the leak by the glovebox area could very well by something related to the window... quote]

The passenger window or the windshield?

NeonzKing · Post by **NeonzKing** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:56 pm

I think my sun roof is leaking i have water marks passenger side front near the window but starts at sunroof and moves to that side

This Ya Boy · Post by **This Ya Boy** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:43 am

Bacon On Wheels wrote:
This Ya Boy wrote:the leak by the glovebox area could very well by something related to the window... quote]

The passenger window or the windshield?

I didn't notice the leak myself but the dealership said there was a small leak between the front window (not passenger) and the dash area or something like that. When it comes to leaks and such, I think its best to get it done right and not half ass it. If you know how to find leaks and seal leaks properly, do so, if not... you may pay a few more bucks but it'll be done right...

and if it isn't, you can always force someone to do it again due to the fact that you paid for a particular fix that wasn't done right ya know?

Bacon On Wheels · Post by **Bacon On Wheels** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:11 pm

I am assuming your male from your post name. As a woman, I can’t take it to a dealership or they pretty much intimidate me into whatever they want and then some. I have to know what I’m taking about or they’ll smell money from across the counter.

I doubt you’ve got a detailed receipt but do you remember the general amount that you paid?

***For any women reading: I suggest getting a referral from a friend, someone who has had work done for their ride that they can show you. It is normally a small shop/mom&pop kind of deal but they generally guarantee the work for a reasonable amount of time.***

This Ya Boy · Post by **This Ya Boy** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:52 am

Yes I am a male and ironically my mom went to take my car in. To sum up a real long and boring story we've been going there to that place for a while but if you want, tell your dealership (did you buy your car from a dealership?) and explain to them that your car is leaking and (i'm assuming its beginning to smell like mold, because mine did).

from here they'll probably or *should* check under your tire well in the back of your car (where the spare is), if its soaking wet that means its coming from your tail lights and those need to be resealed.

right now here in nj its 2:30 am so I'm not going to check my files but I do vaguely recall having it somewhere at least for the window being sealed. (the receipt for it. I'll find it one of these days for you)

as far as the tail light cost i'm going to say ballpark wise it shouldn't be over 100.

for some reason i'm thinking they charged me 95 to reseal the lights or it might have been 45 (lol something with a 5 in it). if i were you you can just ask for them to quote the amount of work for you.

then you can post it here on the forum for us to look and people way more informed than myself can tell you whether or not they are raping you in the price department.

fact is a dealership will charge you more for anything. in one of my accidents i was quoted at 6000 to fix my car, then i found a guy to do the same amount of work for 3 so yeah...

am i helping you at all here lol.

Bacon On Wheels · Post by **Bacon On Wheels** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:15 am

Yes, thank you. You've been a great help. I don't have the cash to waste on my guess and the fact you confirmed it tells me I'm going to get her fix the first time.

But no, I didn't dealership, those guys kill me. I consult their parts department but that's about it.

I'll post on the results once I fund this little repair.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:29 am

Hey "Bacon On Wheels"... if you want to get those taillights fixed and are a little handy with the tools... I believe there may be a how-to around here covering what is required to fix that issue.

In a nutshell it involves pulling back the trunk carpet such that you have access to the rear of the taillights, removing the nuts that hold them in place (I believe 3/taillight), then replacing the foam and perhaps adding some silicone at the same time.

I skipped replacing the foam and only added the silicone. Trunk has been dry since that.

Bacon On Wheels · Post by **Bacon On Wheels** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:37 am

Thank you. I'll be sure to use silicone. I don't know how long it will be until I get some rain to prove it, but I'm sure it'll fix her right.

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:47 am

Bacon on Wheels.

Sweet screen nam, that is all.

Wills2kneon · Post by **Wills2kneon** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:38 pm

It may not be any help but I had a problem with water in the passenger floor I thought it was the windshield but turned out it was coming in by my passenger mirror runnin down be hind the door panel and coming out at the bottem by the speaker there was a small stream wasent even noticeable unless i was lookin for it might want to give that a thought

Bacon On Wheels · Post by **Bacon On Wheels** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:38 am

Thanks for the idea. I did have to replace the passenger mirror after... hmhmmm... I took it off the wrong way. That's the first time I've thought about that starting a leak.