Hi everyone, and Happy New Year.
I have a pretty bad water leak. Most of the water is collecting on the rear passener side floor. The carpet and underpad are soaked. I peeled them up, and the floor pan has quite a bit of water collected there. Grabbed some towels and sopped up the worse of it, and peeled the carpet up so fresh air can try to dry it out a bit. Next, I will go to a car wash and use there super powered vaccum to suck up the rest of the water. Don't need rusty floors!

When I run my hand under the passenger side front seat, the carpet seems wet under there as well. It'* almost like the leak is originating up front, and running into the back.

The sunroof drains seem to be okay, the door seals have shrunk a bit on the rear passenger door, but not much. If leaks were occuring while I was driving, I would think I or my wife would have noticed.
I think this is a fairly recent problem, as luckily the floor pan seems to be rust free, however the carpet is staring to smell a bit like a wet dog.

It hasn't been raining much in Southern Ontario, so I'm not sure where or how the water is coming in?
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Adam

Check out Don'* thread here. He'* moved some of the pictures, but is plenty descriptive ....plus...a nice guy that will probably provide pics as needed.

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...66&highlight=A

Thanks for the link, lots of good info!
During my lunch break I've made a discovery: I opened the passenger side door, and found the weather stripping to be pulled away from the fender side, leaving a giant gap. Upon further investigation, I noticed the carpet next to the passenger side kick panel to be discouloured. No doubt the water is leaking down that seem, and trickeling under the carpet, then making a pond in the rear floor pan.
I noticed a bit of wind noise on that side of the car: Wonder why :?:
I was going to submit some pics, but I think you all can picture what I'm going through!

I will either try the trick of removing the seal, and re-applying, leaving a gap at the bottom of the door which I can go nutty with RTV over, or there'* a weather stripping place across the street that may install a new one. I hope this is the only leak!

Anyone know the best way to remove the discolouration / water stains / wet dog smell from the carpet?

Adam

The way to get rid of the wet dog smell..........pull the carpet out of the car and all the wet padding and hang it up to dry. Your seats, belt mounts and console will need to come out to get it out as well as the back seat. You can wash the carpet side at a speedy wash (don't get too close) and the padding side gently with a garden hose, then hang it up to dry. Your seat belts can be washed at a speedy wash too. It makes filthy belts look like new. Be careful of really high pressure nozzles though, they can rip out carpet fiber and make permanent furry marks in seat belt webbing if held too closely. Test how strong the pump is at your speedy wash by getting really close in an inconspicuous spot. BTW, this is a pretty neat detailing trick. Clean belts and carpet make a car look really great. A dry basement with a floor drain is one option for drying this time of year. It will take several days to dry. While it is drying, you can re-install the console, and seats and drive the car with the floor pan bare. This is the preferred condition for finding and fixing all the leaks, by the way. The only way to find the sources of the leaks, really.

Nicer to dry outside on a line or over a fence with the sun and wind to help. It will dry even if cold outside, and the UV helps to kill some of those stinky bugs. When it is dry, if you have fixed the leaks, and keep it dry, it won't smell anymore.

You might be able to accelerate the drying process a little bit with a wet-dry vacuum to help suck water out of the carpet and padding, but be prepared to wait several days for it to completely dry. Left wet in the car, it will corrode your ground bus, wiring splices, and rust your floor pan.

How can you set a lake on fire?

Don...any chance you can relink some of the pics in the tougher to understand leak locations?

Thanks for the help.
I took the car to the car wash last night and was able to suck up most of the moisture. This is where I made an unpleasant discovery: The rear drivers side floor pan was soaked as well. :(
I have completely lifted the rear carpet and underpad for the fresh air to get to it, and made an executive decision: I will cut the underpad out, and replace with a new piece from a carpet store.
The underpading by far is the worse part. It'* all coming apart and when I put my foot on it to try to squeeze out more water, it made a rather unsavoury squishing sound. At least the carpet has a rubber backing and is still in good shape, the Super Suction of this vaccuum brought it back to life.
I have noticed the weather stripping on both rear doors has pulled tight, and is pulling away from where it comes to a sharp bend, mid-way down the door frame. Do you think this is also a source of water sneaking in?
My sunroof is driving me a bit nutty too. As you're driving along, it will just pop open a bit. Enough to make some crazy wind noise, I hit the button to close it, and it will happen again after hitting a bump. Can this be tightened?

I'm hoping a local weather stripping place may help fix it up, otherwise I may embrace it and open a turtle pond in the back. It will go along nicely with Don'* fish tank.

What color is your weatherstrip? I have a couple pieces left over that I can send for you to piece in at the bottom.

Hi Bill.
It'* black, however I don't really care about the colour, I just want the water to stop coming in!

Thanks, that would be great. Is it a problem for you to send to Canada?

Canada is easy. Being a light package..it'* the small form.

PM me your addy and phone number for the customs form. It'll be on it'* way.

On the weatherstrip..the inside color is the one I meant. If your interior is tan...the weatherstrip on the inside is also tan. Or graphite or grey.