Just a precaution for anyone that has leaks in their car

[bhw33191]

Recently my car has come up with numerous leaks which were getting on my nerves so i found the time to take a look around every inch of the car. "Now i really know why they calls these cars a big boat." The leaks in the front are most likely coming from under the hood near the bottom of the windshield. Apparently GM puts this rubber shroud like thing "which was hard as a rock" that is suppose to wick away water or soemthing. The only problem is years of debris and buildup of ppine needles or whatever cause rot holes to occur which arent very obvious. The water leaks directly on top of the fuse box and other wiring so this may be a fix for some electrical problems for some people. "This makes for a very awkward job if you're gunna weld it up, so many things are in the way." It took me months to find this out so im just trying to help anyone else out with the same problem. This also occurs under the strip of metal between the rear windshield and the trunk.

PS- you'll have to tear out the rubber stuff but its no big deal, i dont know if you can replace iit but im not anyway.

[bobss396]

Yeah, you have to keep the cowl free of leaves, those little maple tree things and pine needles. I make it a point to get it as clean as possible before winter sets in.

Like you say, it can get the whole cowl piece to rot out which is extremely hard to fix. I've seen some really good GM cars junked because they had a waterfall running down the inside of the firewall whenever it rained. I mean you could literally push the windshield out from the bottom, there was nothing holding it in.

I'm to the point with my Caprice that the next freaky thing that breaks, my car will be up for sale someplace.

Bob

[mike561]

I managed to pretty much stop the leaks in the trunk, but theres still a major one on the firewall right behind the glove box after a hard steady rain, not when i wash the car though strangely.

[CD Smalley]

You need to replace the caulk that seals up the intake box. Someone has probably replaced the heater core and didn't seal things up properly. Made that mistake myself once...

[mike561]

i know its caused by rust, you can see a line of rust actually right where the black insulation is around there too, hard to describe

[j cAT]

I have used horse hair fiber glass with great success on these 80's gm boat cars it is strong water proof and sticks to scuffed metal great. takes paint or undercoating with no more rust. if you can't weld the area use s/steel rivets then coat with the fiberglass never leak again.

[mike561]

yeah i was thinking of doing that for the dash leak situation, i just cant get to the other side, i think the ac and heater coils may have to be taken out, BIG BIG project if thats the case.

[bobss396]

The fiberglass trick is a good way to go if you can access what needs to be patched up. It doesn't have to be pretty either, but like you said, it will be a bit** of a job due to getting in there. This is why so many of cars with this condition wind up on the scrap heap.

Another suggestion would to be making up a piece of flashing to divert the rain water from running inside the car, at least away from the fuse panel side of the interior.

Bob

[bhw33191]

Originally Posted by j cAT

I have used horse hair fiber glass with great success on these 80's gm boat cars it is strong water proof and sticks to scuffed metal great. takes paint or undercoating with no more rust. if you can't weld the area use s/steel rivets then coat with the fiberglass never leak again.

I used some fiberglass yesterday to patch mine up. Havent had a chance to see if it sealed it.

P.S.- I recently found out that the water had leaked along the firewall and under all the carpeting. This carpet/ foam stuff GM puts in is strickly for sound-proofing, therefore it DOES NOT dry out. This could end your car's life if not fixed so I recommend taking out the carpet and replacing the gray stuff under it so that the whole bottom of your car doesnt fall. "Takes a lot of work and time but is worth it."

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by bhw33191

I used some fiberglass yesterday to patch mine up. Havent had a chance to see if it sealed it.

P.S.- I recently found out that the water had leaked along the firewall and under all the carpeting. This carpet/ foam stuff GM puts in is strickly for sound-proofing, therefore it DOES NOT dry out. This could end your car's life if not fixed so I recommend taking out the carpet and replacing the gray stuff under it so that the whole bottom of your car doesnt fall. "Takes a lot of work and time but is worth it."

i have had this occur this requires the complete removal of interior rug/ soundproof materials then dry out everything then prime and paint and if necessary patch holes especially check cat area of floor. if the sound proof material smells use some bleach 10% and water to kill mold. with carpet out shampoo and if necessary spray with fabric paint . when done it will look and smell good.....

[mike561]

I had to do that as well, i took out the pass. seat and just took out the sound proofing, i dont notice difference without it actually

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by mike561

I had to do that as well, i took out the pass. seat and just took out the sound proofing, i dont notice difference without it actually

this sound proofing also helps keep cold and heat out . so in winter you will feel the cold more. also in the heat of summer your exhaust will make the interior very hot.....