Leaky Chim

[meeko]

Ok ok! I know this have been doena thousand times. I've resealed my brake fluid reservoir, sealed the clutch master cylinder cover, replaced the rubber around the door frame/windscreen etc.

The Driver's side footwell always collects water when it rains. I haven't waterproofed the roof, but it looks like the watre is coming in through bulkhead area - dash, doors, behind seats etc are bone dry.

Any thoughts of any other areas that could be waterproofed? Also I have a massive draught coming through just where your right hand would be on the steering wheel. This is at the bottom of the alluminium window support. Is this normal? Gets freezing in there. Also a massive draughht under passenger footwell - any ideas where it is coming from? Don't wanna remove the dash to look if possible.

[charlie sprout]

I had the same problem. It turned out to be the seal around the brake master cylinder although I had sealed and resealed it several times.
The way I tracked it down was to make a small 'dam' of sealant around each suspect area (bolts, covers etc) and fill them with a small amount of water. When I did the brake seal, the water disappeared even though it looked like a perfect seal.

hope this helps. good luck!

[V8 Trev]

Out yesterday in mine after being parked up at work all day facing downover - absolutely chucked it down all day. As soon as I moved off, water poured in all over my shoes and trousers. Felt around all over inside footwell and apart from part of the carpet where my feet were, it was bone dry.

Thanks for the advice though, I'll go and check brake master cylinder seal.

[meeko]

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for the tip! It seemed water was leaking in around the brake reservoir, even though it looked like a good seal. It's very difficult to get a good seal with silicone that looks neat too. Any tips/suggestions on making a good seal?

Cheers

[rooster]

meeko said:

Hi Charlie, Thanks for the tip! It seemed water was leaking in around the brake reservoir, even though it looked like a good seal. It's very difficult to get a good seal with silicone that looks neat too. Any tips/suggestions on making a good seal? Cheers

We use a product called silane for the rubber seals that allow water in, it is far better than any normal silicone.

[charlie sprout]

meeko said:

It's very difficult to get a good seal with silicone that looks neat too. Any tips/suggestions on making a good seal?

Sorry, can't help you there, mine looks a right mess (but at least it is water tight now)

[hut49]

By far the most effective product for this job is Sikaflex 291. It's not cheap but v effective, very black and highly adhesive - just replaced the front near side indicator glass and Sikaflex'd the lens assembly to the GRP hole, plus enough to replace the seals around the usual water ingress points.

Try ebay - I got mine from there and at £6.50 plus post was the best price around. It doesn't keep very long once opened so work out a list of jobs to do and prepare all the surfaces before making a start.

[M@H]

Sikaflex.. thats gutter seal isn't it..? I reckon they'd have that in my local builders merchants

[spend]

I filled the large gaps with adhesive rubber strips, rather than losing expensive sealant. This also provides a better base for the sealant to adhere to, and just a thin layer on top suffices (also easier to get off when you want to).

Technically the coefficient of something dictates the width/depth of sealant you must use. The brake reservoir in particular can be a very large gap!

Dave

[hut49]

M@H said:

Sikaflex.. thats gutter seal isn't it..? I reckon they'd have that in my local builders merchants

This is 291 - AFAIK that isn't gutter seal. It's a special mastic used by Marine engineers. Probably more durable than gutter seal.

[Big Al.]

IIRC Sikaflex is used in the automotive. Marine and glazing industry. Blanket and sh!t spring to mind.

www.western-marine.com/page91.htm

Available at auto traders Partco etc. (not B&Q).

Available in various colours.

[hut49]

hut49 said:

M@H said: Sikaflex.. thats gutter seal isn't it..? I reckon they'd have that in my local builders merchants This is 291 - AFAIK that isn't gutter seal. It's a special mastic used by Marine engineers. Probably more durable than gutter seal.

Damn - just noticed that this was my 2000th post - and I was going to use it for something 'meaningful'! Oh well, just have to keep plugging away till I get to 3000...must get out more..

[victormeldrew]

I used clear silicone on mine; it looks far better than black gunge. I cleaned off all the original sealant then resealed wih the clear silicone. On the master cylinder reservoir its alarming how big the gaps are when the sealant is removed. I pushed it to one side and sealed way down, then pushed it over the other way and repeated. Then when that had dried I sealed up from there to fill the entire crevace, and finished off at the top with the customary wet finger to get a smooth finish. I must have about two inches depth of sealnt all round the reservoir.

God help me if I ever have to remove the reservoir for any reason, I'll probably have to cut away half the inner wing! It's never leaked though!

A slightly low tech and ugly but nonetheless effective measure is duct tape over the top. Does anyone know where to get hold of clear duct tape?

[GreenV8S]

victormeldrew said:

Does anyone know where to get hold of clear duct tape?

I use greenhouse repair tape, is has a slight green tint rather than completely clear but that suits me fine.

[petea]

Personally haven'y got this poroblem...yet...but, just a thought - presumably the water entering via this point is runnung down from the bonnet / wing?

Couldn't you, as well as sealing the resivoir cover, pit a 'ridge' or 'barrier' around the top half of the cover on the inner wing to divert some of the water away from the cover? It will simply run down the wing and away...

Hope that makes sense...not suer if it would help or not though..

[victormeldrew]

GreenV8S said:

victormeldrew said: Does anyone know where to get hold of clear duct tape? I use greenhouse repair tape, is has a slight green tint rather than completely clear but that suits me fine.

Cheers, I'll look out for some next time I get dragged to a garden centre!