Not waving but drowning!! HELP!!

[Toptaff]

OK.
I am officially at my (limited) wits end with my damned Cortina Crusader.
It leaks.
Rainwater gets in and fills the passenger footwell and we just can't figure out where it's getting in.
Dr.P has had the wings off & sealed up the inner wings.It doesn't get in on the drivers side so I reckon it must be getting in through the bonnet vents & somehow getting in somewhere around the heater matrix but can't see where or how.
Yesterday morning it was about 1" deep and Richy must've bailed out about a gallon!
Anyone got any bright ideas?

On a lighter note,the HA van is going to Dr.P for new front wings,new sills and a cosmetic once over & if I can find a suitable lump( a 1.8 Carlton's the current favourite) then hopefully it'll come back prettier *and* faster.

[rustingdeathtrap]

I've pulled my hair out loads of times trying to find leaks on cars so you have my sympathy. I normally find the best way is to sit in the car while someone goes round it with a hose pipe making sure they give it a proper drenching. It helps if you can take out some of the interior trim too like A pillar trims and kick panels.
Make sure the radiator has water in it and its not the heater matrix leaking, thats caught me out before.
Check the door rubbers too.

Has the car got a sunroof?

[billybunter]

yup sit in it and blast water at it.

my bet is the heater matrix area

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Argh! If theres one thing that boils my p*ss its soggy cars. i've just had the widscreen glued back into my Mazda for just this reason, the glue had all dried out and come away from the glass! now the bloody thing honks like a pair of old socks.

[Davenger]

Yeah, my guess would be door seals or the windcreen rubbers.

[rustingdeathtrap]

I used to have a pug 405 that had been hit up the and everytime it rained the back seat would flood. Very amusing when you've got someone sat in it, less so when its been in the sun for a day with all the windows shut .

[nickb]

Mr_Bo11ox said:

Argh! now the bloody thing honks like a pair of old socks.

Sure that's not just your socks, camembert boy?

[DarrenW]

Has it got a steel sunroof? If it has, check that the drain holes are clear. When I worked in a garage we used to trace leaks by stripping all the interior out, shaking talc everywhere on the panels inside (floor, bulkhead etc) and soaking with a hosepipe/leaving it out overnight. The water would leave a tell-tale trace in the talc. Bit of a curse word to clean up afterwards though, but it helps get rid of the musty smell!!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

NickB said:

Sure that's not just your socks, camembert boy?

Hey, freak you buddy! ;D

Cheeky futha mucka! I change my socks QUITE OFTEN.

[quantum stop]

get yourself some poster paint "red blue green etc" "water based ."Paint the door seal blue windscreen rubber green or outher area you may think is leaking red when it rains instant puddle in colour were its leaking from Done this before to trace water leaks JUST ME THINKING OUT OF DA BOX ;D

[BenzBoy]

Water leaks are the worst!! I have one in the Merc - I have found where it's coming from (by using the method mentioned - lie in the car... usually in a really uncomfortable position with head stuck in the footwell... then get an assistant to pour water over the car)
Drives me mental. I still haven't managed to fix mine completely yet!

[Jarvis]

I got problems with the Manta and rain water
Behind drivers seat turned into a swimming pool
as did the boot

Traced it to the sunroof leaking back end of last year
so quickly sealed it with silicon for the winter

Silicon still there and might be for some time
Apparently can not get seals from Vauxhall/opel anymore!!!

Might just cut it out and fit after market! don't know yet

[SilverMachine]

i had similar problems with my nova, and i discovered the door rubber was leaking. i just started parking it the other way around and gravity cured it

[Mr_Bo11ox]

My maz is going back to the windscreen shop for the THIRD TIME tomorrow as these dopey fuggers cannot seem to fix its leaky screen, despite releiving me of 100 euros to sort it out.

[JonnySierra]

Haven't really looked at a Cortina heater set-up, but on some motors (definitely mk3 Cavaliers and Sierras!!!) if the heater air intake vents have let leaves etc in it'll block up the drain holes / tubes and voila...wet carpets.

Other than that....what ^^they^^ said!!!

[richy]

Ta for all your help guys.... Dr P's on his way round as we speak!

[jizzy gillespie]

found a bloody great pool in the drivers footwell of my mazda wagon,ooh how silvermachines g/f laffed at my plight. i think ill just drill a little hole in the floor and let the curse word back out.

[SilverMachine]

park it facing downhill dude then it should stay dry, and be easy to bump start too pmsl lol

u been kidnapping my bird again?

[jizzy gillespie]

parked downhill and had a dry carpet today, strange car lol.

yeah sm i keep her in a small box in my boot

[SilverMachine]

my infinite wisdom triumphs again lol ;D