A couple of random questions

[Krono353]

Does anyone else experience a lot of moisture in the cabin and trunk of your car? I'm finding that some of the stuff I keep in my trunk is often moist and my tools have even developed some rust. There was a time after there was a big storm for about a week, there was water right in where the spare tire is kept. Is there anyway I can get rid of this? There also seems to be moisture on my seats. They seem almost sticky when wet with water or when it's hot in the summer. I am hoping it's moisture or the whoever had it before me was just somewhat messy. I shudder to think what they may have been doing otherwise (lol). But anyone have any ideas or know what cleaners work real well?

I believe that the sunroof that is in my car is aftermarket as it is a pop-up and small compared to others. But it's been leaking more and more horrible since i got it. I was told urethane works real well but I want the roof to be able to open again because i sealed it shut with clear silicone hoping the leaks would stop. They have only slowed down. Anyone know how much a new sunroof with labor would cost, and while I'm at it should I just get an electric one instead? Also the headliner is ripped because of it and it annoys me, how much would a new headliner cost?

And the fog lights. Should the one on the passengerside be angled towards the driverside? The driverside is straight and the passanger side crosses into it.

And that appears to be it for now. I know these are nothing major but cause a major annoyance and really makes me want to get rid of the car rather than keep driving it.

[xeroinfinity]

moisture is bad! that roof will hav to be fixed then you can attempt to rid yourself of the horrid mildew smell.
The best way I hav found to clean the seats(not leather) and carpet is to rent (or buy) a cleaning unit. Hell I think I paid 15-20$ for over night(24hrs) and had to buy the shampo and defoamer. The trick is NOT spraying excessive amounts of cleaner to the seats. You may need to hit it twice.
But You need a machine that has a hose attachment for your house furniture and carpets. You will need to let it air out really well to get them dry. I done my 99 last summer, looked/smell lik new!

A manual sunroof would be easier to install and cheaper. About 200-300$ installed, depends on what type etc.
About the fog ligghts, they should only raise and lower. I havnt seen any that turn side-to-side. Try to turn it by hand, it might just turn back into shape.

[Krono353]

My car doesn't have much of a mildew smell. I guess if i don't have an air freshener there isn't much of a smell but there is one. I'm just having a problem with the sticky seats and moist trunk. But thank you for the information on the cleaning stuff and the sunroof. I am gonig to try and tackle that before spring.

[xeroinfinity]

Well you could just try letting the car air out some where warm and dry. Maybe try a hairdryer? Good Luck with the sunroof.

[xeroinfinity]

Oh one thing the trunk might get wet because the ruber seal around it's leaking. sometimes dirt and crap build up around it letting water stand too.

[Krono353]

Yeah the rubber weather stripping is looking kinda bad. That could be why I've seen the leaks in it. Is there specific weather stripping for the trunk or would i do this myself or have a shop do it? I think I might have a shop do it because I don't want to mess it up. And I think as soon as I can I'm going to get a new sunroof put in and see if they will grind the little bit of rust off underneath. I guess the clunking sound i posted about awhile back is 1 or both strut mounts. Should I have the struts replaced with the mounts because they are looking pretty rusty.

[xeroinfinity]

Oh ya, you should be able to pick up a trunk seal for your year. Not exacty sure where but try auto parts stores, and or an auto body shop, they'll definatly be able to tell you where to get it.

Its not hard to do, just clean the surface really good so the new seal will seal.

If you take you car to get the struts on, hav them check them out. If they're really bad I sure would replace them when I had the struts put on. Sav a trip and $$ .
they arent bad to change out if you hav the right tools , its dangerous though, you screw up and you could loose your head or at least a tooth or two.
never heard of anyone loosing their head, but hav seen guys with broken jaws and knocked out teeth from a spring jumping out at them. Should hav used the right tools, thats all I got to say.

[Krono353]

By trunk seal do you mean that rubber peice that goes around the whole trunk? It's like stuck on the car as it probably should be but the upper-like part is kind of ripped in places. And with my struts I think I do want to replace them entirely, the whole rear end of my car is rusted pretty bad. Damn northeastern snow. Are the strut mounts intergrated into it too? Or are those seperate?

[xeroinfinity]

Yes the part stuck to the body of the car, around the entire trunk. They are most likly glued down at one time anyway. Where everyou find the seal, you'll be able to buy some adheasive to keep it down if its needed. On some older cars I've redone they just slip over a metal rim around. Not certain on your 94 how they were aply'd.


You hav shocks in the rear now that i think of it, and their is an upper shock mount that may be rusted. If its real bad rusted the bolts maybe fun to get off too. heres a pic! kinda tiny!

[Krono353]

I was going to have a professional do the mounts for me. Most likely rusted as you said. Good times I tell ya. The problem is me being low on money even with the guy giving me a deal. The bad sound it makes over bumps sounds like it's getting worse. Should I just go right for broke and get this done or would waiting one more week be okay? I'm just hoping this isn't causing a lot more damage than it should be.

By the way nice new pic xero.

[xeroinfinity]

Well if the mounts are pretty far gone, It just might tear stuff up. BUt if you hav been driving it for a long time the chances of things breaking increases.
Were you going to do the shocks your self or was the shop going to do those too? Because if they do the mounts, they'll hav to loosen the rusted shock bolts to install the new mounts above them. So the shocks should come off easily for ya, just though you could save your self a few dollar$.
If you hav to wait 1-2 weeks just take it slow and easy over bumps to minumise the damage.
Good Luck Krono353

[Krono353]

I was going to have the shop do the shocks too but if they are ok then i can wait. I have been taking it easy too over bumps and what not. And thank you, I'll let you know how it all turns out.

[Amerikaner83]

I've got a lake Pontiac in my trunk as well...I swear i see tadpoles swimming around the spare tire! Had to use the spare a few months ago and it was like I was digging my hand into Lake Placid to get to the damn tire! Does it in Summer as well - just don't evaporate. I used a wet/dry vac and it just cleared out the tadpoles but I still get water...I learned just not to keep anything important in the trunk that's all.

[gmack221]

I've had no problems with water in my trunk, i'd say you have a bad seal, replace it. Ever think of putting a drain hole in the rear side of the spare tire cavity? Just make sure you drill on the back side so road grime doesn't come in, and don't drill into the fuel tank!

[Amerikaner83]

Originally Posted by gmack221

I've had no problems with water in my trunk, i'd say you have a bad seal, replace it. Ever think of putting a drain hole in the rear side of the spare tire cavity? Just make sure you drill on the back side so road grime doesn't come in, and don't drill into the fuel tank!

yeah that would not help my gas mileage at all would it?