Water leak in Chimaera
Water leak in Chimaera
Author
Discussion

abmason

Original Poster:

5 posts

39 months

Friday 6th January 2023
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My Chim 4.5 has been previously garaged, but following a move to Perthshire, has had to be left outside. The problem is that with the frequent rain in these parts, the car now leaks significant quantities of rainwater internally. The source of this is not evident - the roof, seals etc seem satisfactory.

Would value your advice.

ABM

tomsugden

2,372 posts

244 months

Friday 6th January 2023
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If you go to Halfords or similar you can buy a smoke bomb. Place in car with all windows etc shut, set the smoke bomb off and close the doors. Wherever the smoke escapes from water will get in.

Catnip64

172 posts

115 months

Friday 6th January 2023
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Or you could sit in the car whilst someone sprays water on the outside then you will be able to see the source of the leak. Note that where you see the water may not be the entrance point as it will track along seals and down the doors/pillars.

Jordie Barretts sock

6,018 posts

35 months

Friday 6th January 2023
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Brake master cylinder seal on the inner wing is a favourite place.

What's getting wet and where?

blaze_away

1,611 posts

229 months

Friday 6th January 2023
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You will not believe how much water gets in through the roof material and stitching.

Just helped a fellow chim owner with exactly same problem.

His roof let water in mostly near the roll overhoop mounts running down to behind seats and by capillary action to flood parcel shelf.

Give the roof several coats of Fabsil until water beads up on outside.

asd2001

164 posts

103 months

Saturday 7th January 2023
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A small price to pay for being in Perthshire 😆 Where about are you?
Mine hibernates between November and April given the amount of salt normally on the roads.

asd2001

164 posts

103 months

Saturday 7th January 2023
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A small price to pay for being in Perthshire 😆 Where about are you?
Mine hibernates between November and April given the amount of salt normally on the roads.

abmason

Original Poster:

5 posts

39 months

Friday 13th January 2023
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Many thanks, guys.

Will start with attempt to seal likely routes of water leakage, as discussed.

Mutley00

292 posts

139 months

Friday 13th January 2023
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Have a look at a cheap 'n' cheerful shower cap to see you through till you get it sorted

PabloGee

680 posts

36 months

Tuesday 21st February 2023
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I had this issue in the driver's footwell when the weather was horrendous last autumn.
Almost an inch of water in there, and had three areas of ingress:

Offside inner wing
Window and window runner not sealing well against any seals
Door/windscreen seal fitted poorly

Wing:
After a lot of looking around, including a helper shining a torch over the wing, and my head stuck in the footwell I could see lots of light up past the pedal box panel.
I dug out almost all the tired sealant on the grommets, brake fluid reservoir, bonnet release cable grommet (down the inner side), then bought some Sikaflex 221 and re-sealed everything:
Grommets - seal below the rim, and the hole in the middle
Brake fluid reservoir - be careful not to move it around when digging out the old stuff (don't want to break the seals to the cylinder below), then seal around again

Then the clutch reservoir cover - I used low modulus (builder's) silicone, a good amount, but not Sikaflex, as this will need access for fluid replacement. Easy to take apart, peel off and reapply.
It's impressive how a seal can look ok but not be:





Window was a different story, in two parts of removing and refitting the windscreen trim to sit against the aluminium window runner (did the whole trim in the end), and repositioning the runners (door card off job) - but mine was sitting around 5-10mm short of the roof rubber - a much bigger job (on this thread if you're interested https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... )

Door seal was easy, around £25 off ebay, just tap the new one on with a rubber mallet, the hardest bit is at the doorway tops, where it takes a tight curve to sit below the hood and needs a screw/rivet to hold it in place.

Completely solved it, very happy, and hopefully you only need the sealing process!

Edited by PabloGee on Tuesday 21st February 21:43


Edited by PabloGee on Tuesday 21st February 21:46

abmason

Original Poster:

5 posts

39 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2023
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Many thanks for your detailed description and excellent photographs - lays out the problem and the relevant solutions. Very helpful following a very wet winter!