How much do they leak and can you do much to stop it?

[willdew]

I'm looking into potential Griffith ownership and was wondering how much they leak? I've been told they ALL leak, and the only factor is how much.

Is there anything that can stop or reduce this? Essentially - are they not to be left ourside in the rain unless you want a wet bum?

[g-boy]

garage or car cover is best of course, but mine didnt leak the first night i had it and there was quite a downpour

>> Edited by g-boy on Thursday 16th March 15:01

[richb]

Humm... yes they do leak but they can be made 99% waterproof there are loads of tips and no doubt you will get them all here! I'll start the list off by mentioning:-

1) The hood fabric needs a good coat of Fabsil or Thompsons water repellent once a year.
2) The sealant around the brake fluid reservoir needs checking if it starts to flake away water runs into the driver foot-well.
3) The door rubber seals need to have a pinch in them at the bottom, not sure why but if yours doesn't have them look at one that has and do it.
4) there are a few bolts in the rain channel around the boot lid that can let water into the boot if they are not sealed.

Rich...

>> Edited by richb on Thursday 16th March 15:04

[FourWheelDrift]

Mine doesn't leak.

[simpo two]

What he said. I've had two; the 4.0 dribbled a little (just a few drops) down the driver's door speaker but the 500 seems fine. It's all to do with the condition of the seals and how well everything fits.

However, I'd still want to keep it garaged if at all possible - helps the insurance too.

NB Make sure when you close the doors that the rubber roof strip goes above the glass and doesn't get trapped behind it.

>> Edited by simpo two on Thursday 16th March 15:07

[Podie]

As Simpo says, a bit of TLC means no problems.

My Chimaera lived outside for over a year... it got rained on, snowed on, hailed on, frozen, the lot... did it leak? No.

[richb]

FourWheelDrift said:

Mine doesn't leak.

Well neither does mine but I was trying to be helpfull.

[Wildfire]

I also think it depends on the car. My S3 spent 2 years outside in the North East. Never leaked once. I did keep it proofed and put the shower cap on each night, but when I got caught in some torrential rain or snow on many occasion it was fine. The Griff on the other hand ins newer and more expensive, but leaks much more. Being hand built you will get some variation.

[Loose Lips]

Mine doesn't leak either.

[FourWheelDrift]

richb said:

FourWheelDrift said: Mine doesn't leak. Well neither does mine but I was trying to be helpfull.

I said mine doesn't leak because you said they do and can only be made 99% waterproof. If your's doesn't either then it's clear they don't all leak and can be made 100% waterproof then. Just trying to make the fellow realise he can get one where he doesn't need to wear some kind of hat in the rain with the roof up

[john57]

My Griff didn't leak for the first 6 months I owned it ..... it then suddenly decided to let water into the drivers footwell through the bulkhead around the clutch pedal area ..... which is apprently quite common. £50 was all it cost to get the garage to sort it with new sealant.

That was 6 months ago and It hasn't leaked since .... It is kept outside and not covered.

[cv1040]

If it does leak, then with a bit of time and patience you can fix anything that comes along.

It took me a couple of months to find every last little leak in mine but cost me not much more than a couple of tubes of sealant. The Renovo I used for the hood wasn't cheap but I was giving it the full works.

Cheers

John.

[willdew]

I was really meaning from around where the roof fits.

I'm still in research mode, and a very helpful mechanic at a dealer I just looked at one at told me they all leaked and it was one of the many wonders of TVR ownership. The car I looked at smelt a little damp and there were obvious small gaps where the roof meets the rear corner of the door and window and turns 90 degrees.

The dealer is also a car storage company, so everything is kept indoors, so it was hard to know how much this particular car actually leaked.

[Ballistic Banana]

IMO its One of the telling ways to see if the car has been looked after.
If the carpets are musty and falling apart its not been looked after in these areas..

Roof Sealant and roof door seals
Engine bay where wires/pipes Brake resovoir go through to car
Maintenance of ill fitting Doors/roof ( ie door drops and doesnt make a great seal)
Windscreen wipers Need to be sealed at body as water can get in through there.
AS said before with the boot.

Thers probably a couple of more places that it can happen, Its not that they need doing avery 6 months
but worth a glance over occasionally.

Also if these simple things have been overlooked and the cra has rotten carpets what else might have been?

I would say if It was a PH/TVRCC owner your buying of I would hope it would be Dry one.

BB

[cv1040]

willdew said:

I was really meaning from around where the roof fits. I'm still in research mode, and a very helpful mechanic at a dealer I just looked at one at told me they all leaked and it was one of the many wonders of TVR ownership. The car I looked at smelt a little damp and there were obvious small gaps where the roof meets the rear corner of the door and window and turns 90 degrees. The dealer is also a car storage company, so everything is kept indoors, so it was hard to know how much this particular car actually leaked.

They are all *prone* to leaking a good owner should however be able to keep the water out without too much difficulty. I think BB mentioned this in his reply that a well looked after and loved Griff won't smell musty as any leaks would have been attended to before the problem got a grip.

I had the leak round the back of the window where you mention and had new rubbers round the hood that fixed that. In extreme cases I suppose the fit of the actual door might be at fault and that's a bigger and different problem. Leaks through and round the hood are fairly easy to fix and you'll find more threads in the archives than I can remember here as to how to cure them. The harder ones to run to ground are in the engine bay. Watch out for signs of water coming down over the pedals on the drivers side, no big deal as there's not much for the water to ruin except for the carpet of course. But on the passenger side there's a load of electrics the water can pass over on it's way down and I suggest fixing anything like those first. Again plenty of threads in the archives, but we'll all chip in if you've found a new way for a Griff to leak

Your dealer was more or less right, it's part of the joy of ownership. Once you are on top of it you've got not much to worry about.

Cheers

John.

[groucho]

FourWheelDrift said:

Mine doesn't leak.

Nor mine.

[richb]

FourWheelDrift said:

richb said: FourWheelDrift said: Mine doesn't leak. Well neither does mine but I was trying to be helpfull. Just trying to make the fellow realise he can get one where he doesn't need to wear some kind of hat in the rain with the roof up

And I was just trying to be amusing but clearly I failed.

>> Edited by richb on Thursday 16th March 17:34

[mongoose]

willdew said:

I'm looking into potential Griffith ownership and was wondering how much they leak? I've been told they ALL leak, and the only factor is how much.

Utter crap,whoever told you that should be shot.They only leak if they are poorly maintained and not kept on top of by knowlegeable garages and enthusiasts.As BB says,its an indicator that it's not been well cared for,if its had leaks for a while.

[richb]

mongoose said:

willdew said: I'm looking into potential Griffith ownership and was wondering how much they leak? I've been told they ALL leak, and the only factor is how much. Utter crap,whoever told you that should be shot.They only leak if they are poorly maintained and not kept on top of by knowlegeable garages and enthusiasts.As BB says,its an indicator that it's not been well cared for,if its had leaks for a while.

Or perhaps he was a dealer trying to sell one that was a bit musty and damp

[willdew]

richb said:

Or perhaps he was a dealer trying to sell one that was a bit musty and damp

I don't think so. He's a friend of a friend and was just making sure I knew they highs and... compromises TVR ownership involves. The car belongs to a customer of theirs who stores 4-5 cars with them.