[JJL]

For 18 years I drove an 1987 ElCamino and after a rain or car wash, the windows came up wet. The doors filled with water, and rotted out at the bottom.

The same thing with my 04 SSR.

I washed it good and I put it away for the Ohio winter.
After 5 months, I got it out only to find water in the doors.
Every time I send the window down and back up, it comes up wet.

Should I drill out the bottom so the water drains out, and what will that do to the warranty?
I would rather not wait for them to rust out, just to make a warranty claim.
Can anyone help?

 

[big-daddy]

Take it to the dealer

Let Chevy have a shot at repairing it. I've not heard of this problem on the SSR before, and letting them know can help identify the source and determine if it's an isolated or widespread issue.

 

[REBEL]

Good

Good question, I had to do work on my 57 BelAir doors for the same reason. what will it do to the warrranty

 

[JimGnitecki]

Doors on production vehicles are ALL supposed to have drain holes in the bottoms of the doors for precisely this reason.

Have you checked to see if your are perhaps clogged? To test, gently push a non-metallic thin object up into the drain holes (non-metallic, but stiff object, so that it can push through a clog but not scrape finish off of metal).

Wet windows are normal IMMEDIATELY after a car wash, as water is SUPPOSED to be able to get past the window side down into the door, to drain out the bottom through the drain holes. Higher quality car washes do NOT force you to roll down your window right after the wash to give them your receipt, etc, ofr precisely this reason. If they do have you roll it down, they also have a cloth to wipe it dry right after doing so.

Jim G

 

[wildcat66]

How was it stored for winter? Indoor/outdoor? Covered/uncovered? Did you notice this before you stored it? After washing it?

 

[Guest]

Did they do any undercoating, rustproofing, or sound deadening, to the vehicle at the dealership?
That could have cloged the drain holes, and if the dealer did it, then they voided the outer body rust through. I'd have a little talk with them about that! :boxing

 

[Guest]

The doors do have drain holes at the bottom. it takes an hour for them to quit dripping. found them after washing. the bottom front of door just kept dripping water. while i was drying. I opened door to see where the water was coming from. 4 drainslits in each door. So I would bet yours are stoped up some how. :seeya

 

[beer100]

pipe cleaners

The windows coming up damp after the exterior has been wetted is normal. The weather seals hold water against the window.

There are drain holes in the bottom edge of the door. One is below the mirror. After a wash, I find I have to wipe the running boards down many times over the next hour.

I had a Sebring, the outside weather seals didn't actually touch the windows. Rain or washing would dump large amounts of water into the door. For the first 5 years it just drained out the 3 drains in the bottom. After that I kept a pack of pipe cleaners in the glove box for clearing the drains.

 

[JJL]

How was it stored for winter? Indoor/outdoor? Covered/uncovered? Did you notice this before you stored it? After washing it?

It was stored in the Barn, cement floor, overhead gas heater with a light weight cover on it. I started it up and ran it about the first of each month. I did not notice anything before I stored it, except that I had washed it.

This weekend I will look for those drain holes with a toothpick.

 

[JimGnitecki]

JJL: The word "barn" is the clue.

Your SSR was used as a "home" by probably dozens or hundreds of small critters. They almost certainly imported grass, edibles, and generated other debris ("fertilizer") while using the "hotel". THAT's how the door drains got plugged.

Check your wiring too. Certain critters find it very munchy.

I'm not kidding.

They pick the most unlikely spots too. A freind had a Buck Riviera stored in a shed for a few months. Wouldn't start. Problem cause? A rodent nest inside the air cleaner.

Jim G

 

[wildcat66]

You are right about those critters, Have I told you the story about the squirrel that tried to kill me?

I had sold my 96 Tahoe and hadn't replaced it yet so I was driving my husbands X-cab p/u going up a hill pushed the gas so that I could move up and over to the other lane (due to construction) Gas pedal stuck and I couldn't stop.
By now traffic had stopped because of the stop light and I had no way of stopping, both feet on the brake and still isn't stopping. I made a hard right turn from the far right lane across two lanes in the left to a side street and I still couldn't stop.
My only thought was to put it in park, I now know this wasn't the correct thing to do but at least I stopped and my two boys were very scared. I got out of the truck opened the hood and found a wood chip stuck under the gas cable and I had to use a paint stick to get it unstuck.
And they chewed the wires of the antenna too. My husband thought I messed up his radio since he couldn't listen to it after this incident. Watch out for those rodents.

 

[houtex]

You are right about those critters, Have I told you the story about the squirrel that tried to kill me?

I had sold my 96 Tahoe and hadn't replaced it yet so I was driving my husbands X-cab p/u going up a hill pushed the gas so that I could move up and over to the other lane (due to construction) Gas pedal stuck and I couldn't stop.
By now traffic had stopped because of the stop light and I had no way of stopping, both feet on the brake and still isn't stopping. I made a hard right turn from the far right lane across two lanes in the left to a side street and I still couldn't stop.
My only thought was to put it in park, I now know this wasn't the correct thing to do but at least I stopped and my two boys were very scared. I got out of the truck opened the hood and found a wood chip stuck under the gas cable and I had to use a paint stick to get it unstuck.
And they chewed the wires of the antenna too. My husband thought I messed up his radio since he couldn't listen to it after this incident. Watch out for those rodents.

Only you and your dry cleaner know the real story --- :lol :lol :lol

 

[wildcat66]

Hey I swear it was my husband, out to get my SSR! I should never have told him " Over My Dead Body" :lol :lol