Help me find the water (body) leak!

Post by **tina** » 17 Jan 2010, 20:09

We bought a 2001 S40 last summer, we have been very pleased with this car... except that since the rain started here in CA we've been taking on water and have failied to find out where it is coming in. Before the carpet is ruined and the car rusts out, please help!

Background:

- Car was bought in dry weather, has had sunroof replaced at dealer according to service records, and door was replaced and/or repainted due to a tree branch that smashed the sunroof and door... but car has never appeared to leak in car wash etc

- 2 weeks after purchase I cracked the windshield while changing wiper blades (hand slipped, wiper arm smacked into glass) and we had a mobile glass place replace the windshield, not OEM glass but looks identical.

- 2 months later, we get a torrential rainstorm. Car was not driven for a couple of days, when we open it up there are several inches of water in the floor pan. Seems that sunroof was not closed properly. Dry car out, make sure sunroof is flush with roof and do not touch again.

- another month or 2 goes by with no rain. Car is washed many times and no problems with leaks seen

- rain comes again, this time we notice moisture in car but carpet feels dry. Pull carpet up and it is soaking underneath. Remove seats and all carpet,. dry and clean carpet. Find that sunroof drain is clogged, clean it out with pipecleaner and pour water through until it is clearly open. We think we have solved the problem, yay!

- 2 more weeks, then rain again last week and water is UNDER the carpet, mats on top are totally dry. We noticed windshield fogging up badly on the inside and pulled carpet up again, sure enough foam is soaked. I know it was completely dry when it was put back in Jan 1.

- no dampness on the headliner, sun shade in sunroof, or door upholstery.

So it seems like water is running underneath the carpet somehow, mostly in the driver's foot well.

Does it seem likely this is due to the windshield replacement being faulty, could water run down through the firewall?

ANy typical leak spots to look for? More drains that could be plugged?

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 17 Jan 2010, 20:52

Make sure the evaporator condensate drain is properly directed through the floorboard.

Post by **tina** » 17 Jan 2010, 21:12

Where does that come from and go to (ie where do I check)?

If you meant the A/C evap, I would have expected the car to get wet during the hot weather when A/C was running, but instead it only gets wet when it rains.

Oh and it is definitely not coolant, there has been no coolant loss at all and I do know the smell of coolant, this is definitely just water.

Post by **tina** » 20 Jan 2010, 12:31

Hmm nobody else has suggestions? Well I *hope* we found the problem - took it to the windshield place and they found a lot of crap in the drains under the trim that is below the windshield. Tested with a hose, windshield seems watertight, drains were blow and vacuumed out and water going through. Also drains in the front of the doors were totally clogged. Maybe this is the answer? I don't know, we are getting torrential rain here now so we have the car covered - I don't want to find out the hard way. Once the rain lets up enough I can take out the carpet, then I'll leave it uncovered with some newspaper in the floor to detect leaks.

Tony P · Post by **Tony P** » 06 Feb 2010, 17:55

Tina,

I am having the same problem with by S60. Did cleaning the drains solve the problem? Thanks.

Post by **tina** » 06 Feb 2010, 18:52

I hope so - planning to check under the carpet again tomorrow, since we have had plenty of rain since the drains were cleaned out - I had the carpet out for days to dry completely and put it back in on Wednesday... Thursday and today we had a heavy downpour, so I will see if it remained watertight. I can't tell from the top of the carpet, the water was running underneath and soaking the foam so I have to take off the door trim and check.

Post by **tina** » 02 Mar 2010, 21:21

I forgot to update - the leak is fixed!!! It was indeed the clogged drains. Check your sunroof drains, under the trim beneath the windshield, and the pockets in front of the front doors. Our were all clogged and with the torrential rain it just overflowed and seeped into the carpet. With the drains cleared, we have had more monsoon-level rain for weeks since cleaning the drains and drying the carpet, and the car is remaining totally dry.

Post by **matthew1** » 09 Mar 2010, 22:34

Super, glad you got it sorted and thanks for posting the ending here, Tina. Putting this in the Repair Database.

zenospinoza · Post by **zenospinoza** » 29 May 2010, 13:13

Hi Tina - My car flooded about 2 months ago and I haven't been able to identify the source - thanks for your post. I've torn out the whole interior of the car practically because I went to get the foam up to dry it out and eliminate possibility of mildew. Did you do anything special to dry the car out?

zenospinoza · Post by **zenospinoza** » 29 May 2010, 13:35

also - i can;t find the drains you mention - in front of doors and around windsield . . .