Finally done the door seals.

[blackcupra180]

is the butyl tape a bitumin based sealent? also could soemone explain to me how the water actually gets into this part of the door? as i would have thought that part of the door is covered by the door card? and is inside the car?

Sorry if im being stupid but seems a bit strange that this part of the door is letting in water?

Comes in down the window. Unsure about the butyl question.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Slimy]

Yes it is a bitumen base, or at least something similar. It smells like it, it sticks like it, and it stains your fingers like it!

The water tracks down the window, into the door. The slight curve of the door is enough to have the water get on to the inside panel. This is the panel that has the faulty seal, so the water just tracks into the car.

The same applies to most cars but each manufacturer solve the problem in a slightly different way. For example, Vauxhall use a waterproof membrane stuck on the panel behind the door card (or at least they used to). And given the choice between a solid metal plate and a piece of thin plastic, I know what I'd choose!

 

[spiff]

So will this also stop the problems of the dorrs not locking and unlocking properly? As i thoight the part that made the central locking play up was in the middle of the door? In the part that would be exposed to waterleaking in?

 

[Mark300zx]

If you take it apart it will become apparent.

 

[Slimy]

The door lock is permanently exposed to moisture, sealing the doors won't change that. But as Mark says, they're both sorted by getting into the door so you might as well do both at the same time. I fixed my door lock when I had removed the panel to fit the seal.

 

[spiff]

So if my door lock is playing up now e.g. when wet the door wont unlock and when it does it wont lock, does that mean the lock is knackered and i need a new lock and the water in the footwell is a separate issue?

meaning i would need a new lock to fix the locking problem and also a new seal to fix the water in the footwell? sorry for asking so may questions i just dont want to fix the seal to then find i still have the door lock problems and have to take doorcard and poanel off again?

CHeers

 

[Slimy]

Yes they are separate (although both caused by water obviously!). You would do well to sort out the door lock and then when you're happy with that then sort out the panel. The bitumen tape is in theory removable but I wouldn't want to do it too often.

You don't necessarily need a new lock though, I'm not sure if someone has sent you this before?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1542461

I opened mine up and found a connector that had turned green from water corrosion. I just scraped it off so I could see copper again, and it fixed the problem. Cost me nothing but time.

 

[spiff]

great stuff i'll give that a try first and see how it goes!

 

[Craig_swansea]

after the previous owner doing the butyl tape and it still leaking on my tolly, i am going to use clear CT1 sealant, if it is good enough to stop water leaking out of a gutter even when wet it'll be good enough for me.
and if i wanna remove the doorcard CT1 multisolve spray breaks it down allowing me to remove the panel leaving it prepped for more CT1.
will report back once its done!!!

 

[Trev]

How much tape do you need for all 4 doors?

 

[Dione J]

Would 8 meters be enough for all 4 doors?

 

[CupraRchris14]

I sealed mine the other day useing a waterproof sealant called 'Tiger Seal' not cheep, around £12 for a tube. Supposed to be the strongest sealant known to man? lol
All i can say is that its worked but bare in mind its messy ****! get it on your hands and it will stay on there for bloody days no matter how much you wash your hands!

 

[pel]

I sealed mine the other day useing a waterproof sealant called 'Tiger Seal' not cheep, around £12 for a tube. Supposed to be the strongest sealant known to man? lol
All i can say is that its worked but bare in mind its messy ****! get it on your hands and it will stay on there for bloody days no matter how much you wash your hands!

I really hope you never have to take the doors apart again, i know quite a few folk who have used that stuff alone for attaching spoilers and skirts

 

[CupraRchris14]

I really hope you never have to take the doors apart again, i know quite a few folk who have used that stuff alone for attaching spoilers and skirts

lmao! i did think about that after i done the job.. **** man, what if i do need to get the door apart? angle grinder will have to do the job i guess

 

[diddles]

I sealed mine with roof and gutter sealant which is actually butyl in sqeezy form, really good for sealing up leaking hole where the bolts go through.

 

[Europower]

Please could you post a pic of the completed work. My door seals have given in and I would like to see the end result with the butyl tape. I don't want to ruin my re-sale value of the car if it doesn't look the way it should..

Thanks!

 

[dazjstuart]

I'm not sure if your understanding where the seal is Europower, the seals we are refering too here, the ones that go all the time you cant see. They are the seal between the window carrier plate and the door itself. The carrier plate is covered on the inside by the door card so you cant see it.

 

[diddles]

You won't ruin your resale value, all the sealing you do is behind the plastic door panel so it won't be visible any way.

 

[Europower]

I think you are right! I have misunderstood. The seal that have gone on my vehicle are the rubber seals that line where the door meets the chassis when closed.