How to locate a leak in my car?

HannahIOW

Hi everyone. Posting this on here as it's really getting me down now and I want to get this sorted.

My car has a leak somewhere (as in, water is coming inside the car) and has done for a while now. In fact well over a year. (My OH is a mechanic would you believe it, but doesn't seem inclined to help with my car much. Perhaps if I offer to pay him? )
Anyway I've had puddles over an inch deep in the footwells before. Not for a long time now though. Sometimes the carpet is wet in the back. The windows inside are now always wet. I rarely use my car now as I don't need to, I would say less than once a week so it's sat the rest of the time at OH's garage. (Under a canopy now).
Drove it for 5 minutes just now and my seats are now going mouldy, the dashboard is going mouldy and so is the leather gearknob cover.

This little car used to be my pride and joy but now I can't bear to drive it. OH would never let one of his own cars get like this :mad:

Thanks in advance.

maninthestreet

Get someone to sit in it whilst you use a hose pipe to spray water over the car. If the car has a sunroof, that would be the first place I would look for a leak.

hewhoisnotintheknow

aerial base, windscreen are favourites

you stand a real risk of screwing your car up, ive seen cars that have been written off because their electrics under the carpet get to sit in water and cause crazy problems

HannahIOW

Yep It does have a sunroof, so it's possibly coming in there. Phoning around today to find out how much a new set of door seals and sunroof seal will cost. Been told main dealer only

Will have to try the hose thing, only if it's a slow leak I can't see that working as effectively?

HannahIOW

Thanks will check both those places too. Was sat in it one time and had a drip on my shoulder but couldn't for the life of me find where it came from lol

hewhoisnotintheknow

sunroof seals need to be maintained, not just looked at once leaking

in the summer i would always take my seal out, put it in the bath (after a bath) clean it up and refit

HannahIOW

Just phoned up the main dealer - I won't be buying there lol. Door seals - £29.50 each + vat Sunroof seal - £48.49 + vat lol.

Found some on ebay, sunroof seal £10.00 and £3.99 post, plus set of 2door seals, 2 rear window seals and boot seal for £19.99 and £10 post. Now just need to find out if I actually need these or not.

HannahIOW

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

sunroof seals need to be maintained, not just looked at once leaking

in the summer i would always take my seal out, put it in the bath (after a bath) clean it up and refit

Thanks didn't know that. For some reason there isn't a button for me to click to thank you? Having had a quick look at the sunroof the other day, it actually seems fairly loose. Like I can push it up with my hand and see half a cm of daylight. Are these able to be tightened up?

hewhoisnotintheknow

HannahIOW wrote: »

Thanks didn't know that. For some reason there isn't a button for me to click to thank you? Having had a quick look at the sunroof the other day, it actually seems fairly loose. Like I can push it up with my hand and see half a cm of daylight. Are these able to be tightened up?

well pushing it would possibly be similar to opening it, so im not sure without seeing it

open it up and remove, clean and replace the seal, cleaning anything else that is dirty in the process, at least do this before ordering new parts as you would have to do it anyway

HannahIOW

To explain more about the sun roof, it's the type that when you open it it slides first, then tilts? If that makes any sense lol. Will perhaps clean the seals this afternoon, too chilly at the min.

vaio

If the sunroof slides it will have drain tubes built in to drain the water away, they are normally in the corners of the and run down the screen or door pillars to drain. Gentle poking with a piece of wire is the traditional way of clearing blockages.

Having said all that I’d be surprised if the sun roof was leaking that much without you noticing it. More likely is split/torn door seals, blocked air con/heater drains or even a missing grommet under the bonnet.