1995 Discovery - Water Leak In F Footwells
Discussion
I have owned a 95 V8 Disco one for fifteen months and am still chasing down the leaks. Currently the carpets, sound deadening and headlining are removed to track down the last dribbles. I was sure that the sunroofs were not leaking but this proved to be wrong. The front one was removed yesterday; I found that the seal between the roof and the sunroof frame had compressed and was leaking slightly in the front corners. The water ran into a roof strengthener, down the A pillars and came out in the footwells.
We compile information at work on the common sources of leaks on vehicles; it's strange how windscreens get blamed for every case of wet carpets but invariably the water is coming in from somewhere else; pollen filters are favourite but you don't have these on the Disco. I have copied our notes for the Discovery 1 & 2 below; hope this helps. Good luck.
PROBLEM:
Water leaks from windscreen area or into footwells. Several potential causes, not necessarily the windscreen.
SOLUTION:
Common fault with welds in top corners of aperture can cause leaking. Corners need priming and bond smeared over them to prevent water ingress.
If vehicle is leaking into either footwell. Remove scuttle and check welds to outer edge of bonnet hinges as these rot and allow water into seam which leaks out into footwells. Refer back to customer to have work carried out.
There is also a vertical seam beneath the top rear corner of the front wing which can separate and allow water down into the footwell area. Corrosion of the front inner wing by the A post is common; this allows water to run down inside the vehicle and onto the floor.
The drain holes at either side of the well under the scuttle direct water onto the inner wing inside the wheel arch. However, there is a horizontal bar running the full length of the inner wing. The water sits on this and the inner wing corrodes allowing water to run down the inside of the A post panel near the relays inside the car.
The front door seals also leak, particularly by the door mirror/window frame/door shell join. The water runs down the door seal and out onto the floor
The waterproof membrane on the inner door skin behind the trim panel will shrink back over time, leaving a gap at the bottom allowing water to run out onto the floor at the bottom of the door.
If the vehicle is fitted with air conditioning, there are two short drain tubes either side of the gearbox in the top of the transmission tunnel. If they have never been cleared, they are probably blocked with mud. This causes water to leak into the footwells from the centre console/heater vent area. The pipes are only accessible from under the car.
We compile information at work on the common sources of leaks on vehicles; it's strange how windscreens get blamed for every case of wet carpets but invariably the water is coming in from somewhere else; pollen filters are favourite but you don't have these on the Disco. I have copied our notes for the Discovery 1 & 2 below; hope this helps. Good luck.
PROBLEM:
Water leaks from windscreen area or into footwells. Several potential causes, not necessarily the windscreen.
SOLUTION:
Common fault with welds in top corners of aperture can cause leaking. Corners need priming and bond smeared over them to prevent water ingress.
If vehicle is leaking into either footwell. Remove scuttle and check welds to outer edge of bonnet hinges as these rot and allow water into seam which leaks out into footwells. Refer back to customer to have work carried out.
There is also a vertical seam beneath the top rear corner of the front wing which can separate and allow water down into the footwell area. Corrosion of the front inner wing by the A post is common; this allows water to run down inside the vehicle and onto the floor.
The drain holes at either side of the well under the scuttle direct water onto the inner wing inside the wheel arch. However, there is a horizontal bar running the full length of the inner wing. The water sits on this and the inner wing corrodes allowing water to run down the inside of the A post panel near the relays inside the car.
The front door seals also leak, particularly by the door mirror/window frame/door shell join. The water runs down the door seal and out onto the floor
The waterproof membrane on the inner door skin behind the trim panel will shrink back over time, leaving a gap at the bottom allowing water to run out onto the floor at the bottom of the door.
If the vehicle is fitted with air conditioning, there are two short drain tubes either side of the gearbox in the top of the transmission tunnel. If they have never been cleared, they are probably blocked with mud. This causes water to leak into the footwells from the centre console/heater vent area. The pipes are only accessible from under the car.
Hi phill, thanks for your reply, interesting reading.
My one was built in late 94, I'm still trying to uncover her early history, but my local LR dealer told me she was sold to Land Rover warranty !
I think she may ? Have been one of the Discos that went to Japan as she has Aircon ( and thankfully No sunroofs ) and had little rot and very clean underneath.
The water leak into the drivers side apears ? to be coming in somewhere above and to the right of the accelerator pedal, but it's impossible to see exactly where. When I first bought her 2 years ago the first thing I did was lift the carpet up ( and cut out the foam soundproofing with a stanley knife ) as I knew that the ruddy foam soundproofing underneath would be soaked.
What a stupid L Rover design in that you can't lift each front ( and rear ) footwell carpet out individually ( like all my 2 door Range Rovers )
Checking the corners of the upper bulkhead is difficult as the bonnet on the disco doesn't lift up high enough ( unlike a R Rover )
I need to fit a new drivers front wing ( Epson Green ) as soon as I can find one, I will take the Original one off and check that seam behind.
My one was built in late 94, I'm still trying to uncover her early history, but my local LR dealer told me she was sold to Land Rover warranty !
I think she may ? Have been one of the Discos that went to Japan as she has Aircon ( and thankfully No sunroofs ) and had little rot and very clean underneath.
The water leak into the drivers side apears ? to be coming in somewhere above and to the right of the accelerator pedal, but it's impossible to see exactly where. When I first bought her 2 years ago the first thing I did was lift the carpet up ( and cut out the foam soundproofing with a stanley knife ) as I knew that the ruddy foam soundproofing underneath would be soaked.
What a stupid L Rover design in that you can't lift each front ( and rear ) footwell carpet out individually ( like all my 2 door Range Rovers )
Checking the corners of the upper bulkhead is difficult as the bonnet on the disco doesn't lift up high enough ( unlike a R Rover )
I need to fit a new drivers front wing ( Epson Green ) as soon as I can find one, I will take the Original one off and check that seam behind.
Mine's doing something similar, as well as leaking at the back.
I had another one a few years back, the problem with that one was that there was accumulated mud/grot in the drainage channel at the bottom of the driver's side wing, but inside it where I couldn't get access to it. It necessitated unbolting the wing and cleaning out the rubbish. Might be worth considering if you are feeling handy.
I had another one a few years back, the problem with that one was that there was accumulated mud/grot in the drainage channel at the bottom of the driver's side wing, but inside it where I couldn't get access to it. It necessitated unbolting the wing and cleaning out the rubbish. Might be worth considering if you are feeling handy.
It's also worth checking the aircon drains underneath the car; from where the water seems to be coming from it's probably not this but don't do what I did and spend lots of money to get the windscreen resealed only to discover the problem was still there and a screwdriver shoved up the drains sorted it for nothing!
Spent the morning chasing down the leaks again. Found one around the trim on the nearside door mirror allowing water to run onto the door sealing rubber and then puddle on the floor at the front of the door.
On the driver's side, I found that water was still running down the inside of the inner wing and traced this to yet more leaks from behind the front wing where the horizontal strut runs from the bulkhead to the headlamp. Hopefully both sorted.
Water tested the front sunroof and no sign of leaks.
Now waiting for the next heavy rain to see if if stays dry inside!
On the driver's side, I found that water was still running down the inside of the inner wing and traced this to yet more leaks from behind the front wing where the horizontal strut runs from the bulkhead to the headlamp. Hopefully both sorted.
Water tested the front sunroof and no sign of leaks.
Now waiting for the next heavy rain to see if if stays dry inside!
Thorough water test today and it appears that the battle has been won. The sunroof is bone dry inside with no water even getting into the frame to run down the drain tubes.
The last two fixes mentioned above appear to have dealt with what were the causes of the main leaks which took so long to track down.
I spent a few hours refitting the roof lining, sound proofing, carpets and trim, now ready for the next problem! New boot floor scheduled to go in when Spring arrives.
The last two fixes mentioned above appear to have dealt with what were the causes of the main leaks which took so long to track down.
I spent a few hours refitting the roof lining, sound proofing, carpets and trim, now ready for the next problem! New boot floor scheduled to go in when Spring arrives.
My 96 discovery 300tdi has bad water ingress during heavy rain in the drivers side footwell i found one leak was water coming down the front of the drivers door seal and seaping through near the dash on the s curved bit of door seal i could see a clear line of water runnning down and across the seal to the footwell.I cured this leak with and fitted new universal door seal bought four metres.After curing this as i still had my footwell filling up bad i watched for water coming in during more heavy rain i couldnt belive it i found it was coming in from the pedal box foam gasket seal towards the top of the dash above the accelerator,it was soaking and forming big drips there was a clear line of water running down from the pedals into the footwell this leak is that bad i can submerge my hand in the footwell.i have also removed all carpets to find leaks and have sealed and painted all the footwells.I hope this can help others as i havnt seen anyone mension pedal box gasket leak i have yet to fix it i might make a new gasket from rubber cause if i tigar seal it there will be fun trying to get it out one day.
530dTPhil said:
Found one around the trim on the nearside door mirror allowing water to run onto the door sealing rubber and then puddle on the floor at the front of the door.
Sorry for the old thread revival, can anyone clarify exactly what area the above poster mentions concerning the trim around the side view mirror and how it was fixed?Thank you!!!
Matt927 said:
530dTPhil said:
Found one around the trim on the nearside door mirror allowing water to run onto the door sealing rubber and then puddle on the floor at the front of the door.
Sorry for the old thread revival, can anyone clarify exactly what area the above poster mentions concerning the trim around the side view mirror and how it was fixed?Thank you!!!
I have a passenger side footwell leak; Carpet is out and when water is poured over the roof/windscreen etc, you can see water coming out of the bottom of the door seal, on the bend nearest the front of the vehicle. I wonder if this could be coming down the door seal/seam somehow...
Apart from replacing the door seal, is there anything else to look for which is sending the water to the door seal? Don't want water backing up and corroding somewhere else on the vehicle. I assume it's the same checks as outlined about, check around the windscreen and the A pillar trims etc.
Thanks!!
If you have a sunroof they drain via the pillars, the rubber drain pipe stops by the lower door hinge inside the pillar, it should empty just behind the front wheel with a hole in the sill but it's often blocked and the water enters the footwell where the wiring loom exits the pillar.
Hope that makes sense.
Hope that makes sense.
Matt927 said:
Sorry for the old thread revival, can anyone clarify exactly what area the above poster mentions concerning the trim around the side view mirror and how it was fixed?
Thank you!!!
Sorry, only just caught up with your question. There is a small plastic trim on the forward edge of the window frame that is purely cosmetic. This was causing rain that ran down the frame to cross the area sealed by the door seal and on into the car so that the water ran down the door seal to the floor. It was running behind the cosmetic trim so not easily seen and not stopped by the door seal.Thank you!!!
I have since discovered the major source of water ingress into the floor area but only after a significant amount of dismantling. Inside the car, about 6-8 inches ahead of the vertical run of front door seal lip and about 24 inches above the floor there was some nasty corrosion.
If you remove a front wing, you will see a vertical seam where the door pillar joins the inner wing. On mine, water had got in behind this seam and rotted through. It's close to where the scuttle area releases its water down behind the wing. Major surgery with interior removed, dashboard out etc, etc.
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