Leaking Doors? (Vixen).
Discussion
I'm proud to announce that I've just completed my first 1000 miles in my Vixen since her engine rebuild.
I decided on a 2 day Shakedown to Lands-End and back to worm out any faults and gremlins, which to my surprise there were very few!!
After getting caught in a couple of torrential downpours on the way I notices rain water leaking into the car along the leading edge of the door shut between the door seal (new) and the door trim panel (making a small puddle on the floor!). Before I get bogged down in trying to resolve this, can anyone tell me if a wet knee is common on these cars, or is rectification required?
Darren.
Gratuitous vixen pic attached:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/Ren32/IMG_0...
I decided on a 2 day Shakedown to Lands-End and back to worm out any faults and gremlins, which to my surprise there were very few!!
After getting caught in a couple of torrential downpours on the way I notices rain water leaking into the car along the leading edge of the door shut between the door seal (new) and the door trim panel (making a small puddle on the floor!). Before I get bogged down in trying to resolve this, can anyone tell me if a wet knee is common on these cars, or is rectification required?
Darren.
Gratuitous vixen pic attached:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/Ren32/IMG_0...
Hi, sorry, had to laugh, as my vixen does just the same!!
Its a bit like bonding with a driver of a Land Rover in a rainstorm with a wet crotch.
Still, good to hear that your car made it with few problems.
I cured mine by making a water deflector at the bottom of the a post out of dum-dum.
Try it, its cheap and easy to adjust until you get it right.
Cheers Roy
Its a bit like bonding with a driver of a Land Rover in a rainstorm with a wet crotch.
Still, good to hear that your car made it with few problems.
I cured mine by making a water deflector at the bottom of the a post out of dum-dum.
Try it, its cheap and easy to adjust until you get it right.
Cheers Roy
Hi Darren,
Great to hear the car is back on the road....
Sorry to hear about you catching the "Vixen Chin"...
Yes I'm affraid I used to get a wet leg evey time I drove my car in the rain as well,, but,, unlike your problem my car would leak through the front window, due to the change in cabin pressure and flex in the roof.
Regarding your problem,,,
Firstly,, it may be an idea to make sure the window frame is firmly attached to the top of the door and secured inside at the bottom of the frame.... closing the door on a loose frame will cause problems.
Secondly,, sit inside the car and look to see if you can see anywhere where the seal isnt making contact with the frame and the door.
Thirdly,, I noticed that although my door cards were covered with just plain vinyl as opposed to the perforated original material... After some time the door seal had made an indent in the door card vinyl,, possibly making a better real?/?/?
Regards
The other Darren
Great to hear the car is back on the road....
Sorry to hear about you catching the "Vixen Chin"...
Yes I'm affraid I used to get a wet leg evey time I drove my car in the rain as well,, but,, unlike your problem my car would leak through the front window, due to the change in cabin pressure and flex in the roof.
Regarding your problem,,,
Firstly,, it may be an idea to make sure the window frame is firmly attached to the top of the door and secured inside at the bottom of the frame.... closing the door on a loose frame will cause problems.
Secondly,, sit inside the car and look to see if you can see anywhere where the seal isnt making contact with the frame and the door.
Thirdly,, I noticed that although my door cards were covered with just plain vinyl as opposed to the perforated original material... After some time the door seal had made an indent in the door card vinyl,, possibly making a better real?/?/?
Regards
The other Darren
After twenty seven years of faffing around with various cross-sections of rubber strip on my Vixen S1 I've come to the conclusion the only way to make the car leakproof is to get inside, shut the door then get the wife to put about ten yards of waterproof gaffer tape all over the door/window gaps, preferably after heavy applications of silicon sealant.
During heavy rain (actually, quite light rain really) the aforementioned Mrs would break out a plasic bag which would be hooked over the door handle and tied to the glove box handle, in a desperate bid to catch the drips (rain, that is).
Seriously, I think you are up against it if you want a dry interior, if it's that important buy a properly engineered car ie anything mass produced and made after World War II!
Good Luck!!!
During heavy rain (actually, quite light rain really) the aforementioned Mrs would break out a plasic bag which would be hooked over the door handle and tied to the glove box handle, in a desperate bid to catch the drips (rain, that is).
Seriously, I think you are up against it if you want a dry interior, if it's that important buy a properly engineered car ie anything mass produced and made after World War II!
Good Luck!!!
Thanks for the advice, It's reassuring to know it's a common problem!
The door seal has made and indentation on the door card, which I thought would've sealed?
Well, as it's common I'll put that right at the bottom of the 'things to sort' list, although the water deflector idea down the door post sounds interesting.
Thanks again.
Darren.
I used to get a wet right foot as it dripped through the throttle cable entry to the footwell, the windscreen leaked, the rear screen leaked and the doors leaked.
Suggested answers have been: Don't go out in rain; wear a wet suit and wellies and drill drainage holes in the floor!
Phil.
Suggested answers have been: Don't go out in rain; wear a wet suit and wellies and drill drainage holes in the floor!
Phil.
timelord said:
When did you come down? It hasn't been that sunny in Cornwall since November! Been driving our Vixen round here in a wetsuit!
before driving back the next day where it rained on and off from Bodmin to Dorchester!! I will bring a wetsuit next time (and vaseline my door seals!). ATE399J said:
I used to get a wet right foot as it dripped through the throttle cable entry to the footwell, the windscreen leaked, the rear screen leaked and the doors leaked.
Suggested answers have been: Don't go out in rain; wear a wet suit and wellies and drill drainage holes in the floor!
Phil.
Hi Phil,Suggested answers have been: Don't go out in rain; wear a wet suit and wellies and drill drainage holes in the floor!
Phil.
Yes there was dripping in the footwell too!! I still haven't fitted the cover to the clutch pedal exit so guessed that was the cause. Still, only minor jobs!
I'm waiting for a new carb at the moment (the rolling-road guy recommended that I replaced it) but I'll be touch soon.
Darren.
Agree this is a common problem, however on my S3 there was a length of V profile rubber stuck to the curved part of the leading edge of both doors. It was about 6in long.
I never got round to puting this back on when I rebuilt the car, but it might be worth a try if you are using the car in the wet a lot.
Hope that helps
Matt
Vixen S3
I never got round to puting this back on when I rebuilt the car, but it might be worth a try if you are using the car in the wet a lot.
Hope that helps
Matt
Vixen S3
JC Whitney in USA carry an enormous selection of rubber bits to help make you water tight.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Search?catalogI...
I found everything I needed for my M there a few years ago.
Bernard
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Search?catalogI...
I found everything I needed for my M there a few years ago.
Bernard
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