water leaking on a 1995 grand am

[indyram]

A friend of mine has a 1995 grand am and has had water leaking on the driver side front floor. Any ideas on where it might be coming from.

[skibum1111]

Check the ac drain. It's located on the passenger side firewall, just a small rubber tube with an elbow in it. Most likely its clogged, when it rains water runs through the vents and is supposed to drain out. If the drain is good, look for rust on the firewall. Good luck.

[GASE 95]

i had the exact same problem. The seal between the floorboard and firewall was old and had a really fine crack in it. Almost not visible. I resealed it and it fixed the leak. Caulk will work to fix it. You gotta take the plastic piece off the side of the car (see pic below) then peal the carpet back from behind the pedals back towards the seat. Also while i was at it I tore all the foam padding out because it made the car smell like old, wet shoes.


the plastic piece actually goes back a little farther than the pic shows but its the best i could do. Careful not to break it but it is very flexible.

[swalt]

Feel the firewall sponge material behind the rubber and see if it is damp. If it is, your crack is higher, the seam that runs horizontal across the firewall is prone to rust from water running out the drain and behind the windshield washer motor. Passenger side will likely also be cracked and water will run down onto the wire harness mounted to the firewall (by passenger feet) and in some cases the computer. Will cause high idle during rain storms.

[kidscars2]

My son also has a 95 grand am and we are finding water on the drivers side. Try to dry it up and it right back, Today dealer suggested that we go to windshield place to if there are any leaks, there and then to try a bodyshop. Will look into these options that you suggested. Very FRUSTRATING, and a concern for safty with winetr coming and moisture on the windows. Any other suggestions to look for would be great.. Thanks for the help.

[swalt]

Originally Posted by kidscars2

My son also has a 95 grand am and we are finding water on the drivers side. Try to dry it up and it right back, Today dealer suggested that we go to windshield place to if there are any leaks, there and then to try a bodyshop. Will look into these options that you suggested. Very FRUSTRATING, and a concern for safty with winetr coming and moisture on the windows. Any other suggestions to look for would be great.. Thanks for the help.

Save yourself some time on the windshield bit and take a quick look under the wiper motor. Water has a tendency to pool there from the drain. There are two rubber flaps that drain by the blower motor and the wiper motor that allow water to run into the cavity under the wipers and out into the engine compartment. They can also get clogged with leaves. It is also common on the Achieva's, Beretta's, Corsicas for it to rust there and water come into the passenger compartment. I went to NAPA and picked up a tube of Seal Sealer. It hardens like plastic. Put it in a cocking gun, get some rubber gloves and just start smearing the holes. I finished up by spraying ignition sealant (drys like silicon) in any other places I found questionable. Been 5 years now and car has been bone dry. A shop will charge you a small fortune to seal them as it will take the better part of a Saturday to do. I removed the firewall matt by the driver's and passengers feet. You will likely need to cut it down the center, to get it out, but when it goes back it, you can't see it.

[GASE 95]

Originally Posted by swalt

Save yourself some time on the windshield bit and take a quick look under the wiper motor. Water has a tendency to pool there from the drain. There are two rubber flaps that drain by the blower motor and the wiper motor that allow water to run into the cavity under the wipers and out into the engine compartment. They can also get clogged with leaves. It is also common on the Achieva's, Beretta's, Corsicas for it to rust there and water come into the passenger compartment. I went to NAPA and picked up a tube of Seal Sealer. It hardens like plastic. Put it in a cocking gun, get some rubber gloves and just start smearing the holes. I finished up by spraying ignition sealant (drys like silicon) in any other places I found questionable. Been 5 years now and car has been bone dry. A shop will charge you a small fortune to seal them as it will take the better part of a Saturday to do. I removed the firewall matt by the driver's and passengers feet. You will likely need to cut it down the center, to get it out, but when it goes back it, you can't see it.

you wont need to cut the carpet. See my first reply. I included pictures.

[swalt]

Originally Posted by GASE 95

you wont need to cut the carpet. See my first reply. I included pictures.

That's fine if it is that seam. What needs to be determined is how high up the firewall material is wet. The tendency for these vehicles to rust out and through by the drivers side drain plenum will cause water to run down from a much higher point.