I noticed during today's torrential rains, that water came gushing out of the passenger side under the dash on my wife's feet. I had this before but thought it was from my umbrella. After looking up under the dash, things are getting mighty wet under there and there are plenty of wires exposed to it. Not a good thing for sure. Before I take it to the dealer, it would be great if anyone on the forum, especially those that are SSR technicians or former factory workers, could give me a heads up on what could be causing a leak in that area. It is so much better when I go to the dealer armed with some information before they take the beast apart. The leak appears to be coming from the right side (passenger side), pehaps from the seal around the windshield itself. Any thoughts anyone?
I would especially appreciate the advice I could get from Freezer, since you are the quinticential Guru of SSR production. Thanks for all your great advice in the past man! You have saved me more than often.
Sure wish I could take more stuff apart down under the dash, but I am afraid of breaking something to determine the source. Thanks for the tips though. Will pass that on to Colonial Chevrolet when I "Git Er Done!"
My SSR: Originally Smokin Asphalt 03 #00099 now kustom graphics, tu-tone Kandy green/white
ED,
Having been a waterleak and windleak specialist for the GM dealers around here for many years. Start with awater hose in your driveway. Just turn it on low with out a nozle, (tape the end if you want to protect the paint). Start low with the hood up and watch the interior for drips. Let it run for about 10 minutes before moving up a level. You will be able to narrow it down as to where it may be coming inside. At that point take it to the dealer and let them know what you've found. They can then verify the leak and get to the leaking area much quicker.
More than likely it's a spot weld that burned though and left a pin hole for the water tot travel in.
Hope this helps
__________________
Go fast till you see GOD, THEN HIT THE BRAKES!!!!
Another way to find leaks is to turn the AC fan on full speed with the re-circ button off (bring in external air). With soapy water, you can see where windows, roof seals, etc. are letting air escape. Kind of backwards, but it works. Try it next time you wash the car just to see what happens.
They did a good job at Colonial Chev. finding the source of the leak. It apparently is coming from the passenger side in the piller at the top of the windshield. It crawled in there, flowed down the pillar, and across the dash onto my wife's feet. The are putting her back together (the truck) tomorrow and I will once again be out cruzn with the beast! Obviously, when one owns a convertible, it is just a matter of time before the first leak, rag top or hard top is irrelevant. Glad I got mine early on and got er good to go. Should be ready for the Woodward Dream Cruise in August now!
One thing I can offer is to get a free standing dehumidifier and set it up inside and close up the car tight. These baby's will suck your entire interiour dry as a bone and more. You surely need to avoid stinky mold and mildew. A dehumidifier gets it ALL, sucks moisture from inside the panels, carpet and all hidden places you have no other way of even knowing are wet..
I've used this on several vehicles that got caught in torrential rains while I slept and forgot I had left the windows cracked due to the extreme heat here..
They start at about 100 bucks and could save who knows how much expense from damage that may not be apparent until the wreak of mild and mildew draw your attention to them..
Actually, I don't have it back yet. They said it was still leaking, but less, so they reinstalled another weather strip seal on the top of the windshield area and are going to wait for overnight for it to dry and then test it Friday. Hopefully I will have it back then. I better, got an autocross at Little Creek this weekend and I got into the first heat and I really want to torque her out this time.
My SSR: ricochet silver 2004 all options available for o4 on it, was dealers demo mod born on 3-26-04
Quote:
Originally Posted by cruzned
They did a good job at Colonial Chev. finding the source of the leak. It apparently is coming from the passenger side in the piller at the top of the windshield. It crawled in there, flowed down the pillar, and across the dash onto my wife's feet. The are putting her back together (the truck) tomorrow and I will once again be out cruzn with the beast! Obviously, when one owns a convertible, it is just a matter of time before the first leak, rag top or hard top is irrelevant. Glad I got mine early on and got er good to go. Should be ready for the Woodward Dream Cruise in August now!
funny to hear you talk about colonial chevrolet that was my main place for cars or parts when i lived in va beach
Not really, they will give me a loaner on Monday, but I gave them the address of Water Works in Va. Bch. who specializes in this type of thing and said tha if it did not work the third time, they need to hook up with them and pick up the tab. They are very good at what they do and are the best in our area on water leaks in autos. I just don't have the time to finagle with someone to drop me off and hope it gets fixed on Monday. They will be getting me a loaner and that is better than nothing...
Round 3...dealer has my SSR again to try to fix the leak for the 3rd time. Definately coming in on the passenger side in the pillar. I get this exciting Chevy Cobalt, base model to drive too! Boring.....:-(
They are still trying to resolve the issue...told em this is their last chance and then it is off to Water Works to actually fix it. We shall see, they just may fix it yet. All I know is I am missing some outrageous low humidity top down weather.....bummer
I prefer the waterfalls in Costa Rica and Panama to these! They found the other leak today at the cowel, by the fan where the air intake is. So stoked they found the little bugger! Now I can go get her and go for a very long drive!
OK folks, you may want to bookmark this for future reference. My service guys said that there was an apparent design flaw in the cowl area (the area at the base of the windshield where water flows down and out). Apparently the water running down past the water shield onto the cowl area was too close to the fresh air opening and water was curling back and over into the fresh air inlet. They fabricatd a water deflector to extend the cowl runoff plate and that has prevented the water from getting into the fresh air box and into the fan blades, thereby preventing the water from going into the cab area and causing the carpet to get wet. I was pretty impressed at their problem solving, even though I was inconvenienced for a few days without the beast to drive. Thank you colonial chevrolet! and Tony on the Yellow Team.
My SSR: Originally Smokin Asphalt 03 #00099 now kustom graphics, tu-tone Kandy green/white
Were they sure that the rubber drain on the firewall wasn't plugged with debris causing it to back up. Have seen this in the past on other vehicles. It may be difficult to find or even get to, but it's worth a peek with a flash light.
Wish I could remember wether it was on the front of the fire wall or on the side if it. Been a while since I had mine that far apart.
__________________
Go fast till you see GOD, THEN HIT THE BRAKES!!!!
My SSR: 2006 Aqua Blur - SSRENITY #22578 Born 10/20/2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by cruzned
OK folks, you may want to bookmark this for future reference. My service guys said that there was an apparent design flaw in the cowl area (the area at the base of the windshield where water flows down and out). Apparently the water running down past the water shield onto the cowl area was too close to the fresh air opening and water was curling back and over into the fresh air inlet. They fabricatd a water deflector to extend the cowl runoff plate and that has prevented the water from getting into the fresh air box and into the fan blades, thereby preventing the water from going into the cab area and causing the carpet to get wet. I was pretty impressed at their problem solving, even though I was inconvenienced for a few days without the beast to drive. Thank you colonial chevrolet! and Tony on the Yellow Team.
Great they found a fix, but if there were a design flaw wouldn't there be a whole bunch more of us having this problem?
It may just be my SSR was an earlier model (Number 856) and this could have been correcte down the line or something. I will still be patient and wait for the next big rain to see if she is really fixed and if not, it will be off to Water Works to get it right. They really did do their best to resolve the problem. It does seem rather odd that no one else on this forum has reported any leaks like this and then suddenly it is a "design flaw". Will keep ya'll posted on what happens after the next "frog choker" rolls through and black betty gets a soakin!
