over the last 3 months ive noticed my passenger footwell getting soaked when it rains or i wash my car, this is how i repaired the common leaks found in a mk1 leon...
1) pollen filter
the leak started after having my windscreen replaced, using a hose i ran water over the screen an checked inside for leaks, found water dripping under the glove box (comes from the plasic casing that covers the blower motor).
so i removed the pollen filter cover and found a very dirty wet pollen filter.
check the guttering under the windscreen, when my screen was replaced they were not resecured and this caused all the water to just pour over the bulkhead.
with the wipers/scuttle panel and pollen filter cover removed check the foam seal that sandwiches between the pollen filter housing and the bulkhead (2 13mm bolts), mine was perished and replaced with BOLT ON PANEL SEALER BUTYL ROLL STRIP SEALANT BONDING, (£15 from ebay). reassembled with a new pollen filter and making sure the pollen filter cover is pushed back compleatly over the pollen filter. this cured the pollen filter problem.
2) inner door seal
noticed water still comming in from under the plasic door covers, i cured this by removing the inner door trim to expose the metal panel that bolts to the door, this is the panel that hold the speakers and electric windows ect, again the foam panel seal had perished.
i removed the bolts holding the panel in place at the bottom and sides and loosened the top bolts. do not remove the panel, just give yourself enough room to work.
i compleatly removed th foam seal around the bottom and sides and replaced with the same butyl panel seal (warming the butyl up makes it easier to work with). do not use silicone!
i noticed water marks around the pop rivits holding the speaker in place and around the holes where the trim clips locate the plastic inner door panel, i sealed the speaker using a good quality sanitary silicone and used a small bead of bytual around the trim holes so when the plastic inner door panel is refitted it will 'squash' down around the hole and seal it.
3) bottom of door weather strip
my car only gets used at weekends, so the doors just seemed to fill up with water when it rains, with the doors closed the rubber weather strip is compressed and seals the 3 drain holes under te bottom of the door, when i opened the door the water would pour out in the corner.
to fix this all i did was remove the rubber strip under the door, careful not to break the little cone shaped clips to reveal the drain holes, check that the holes are not clogged up.
offer the seal back in to position and mak the loacation of the drain holes on the rubber with a pencil. i then simply cut a v shape to expose the drain holes. now when the door is shut it will drain!
sorry for the essay, i really coudnt be arsed to add photos. hope this helps
1) pollen filter
the leak started after having my windscreen replaced, using a hose i ran water over the screen an checked inside for leaks, found water dripping under the glove box (comes from the plasic casing that covers the blower motor).
so i removed the pollen filter cover and found a very dirty wet pollen filter.
check the guttering under the windscreen, when my screen was replaced they were not resecured and this caused all the water to just pour over the bulkhead.
with the wipers/scuttle panel and pollen filter cover removed check the foam seal that sandwiches between the pollen filter housing and the bulkhead (2 13mm bolts), mine was perished and replaced with BOLT ON PANEL SEALER BUTYL ROLL STRIP SEALANT BONDING, (£15 from ebay). reassembled with a new pollen filter and making sure the pollen filter cover is pushed back compleatly over the pollen filter. this cured the pollen filter problem.
2) inner door seal
noticed water still comming in from under the plasic door covers, i cured this by removing the inner door trim to expose the metal panel that bolts to the door, this is the panel that hold the speakers and electric windows ect, again the foam panel seal had perished.
i removed the bolts holding the panel in place at the bottom and sides and loosened the top bolts. do not remove the panel, just give yourself enough room to work.
i compleatly removed th foam seal around the bottom and sides and replaced with the same butyl panel seal (warming the butyl up makes it easier to work with). do not use silicone!
i noticed water marks around the pop rivits holding the speaker in place and around the holes where the trim clips locate the plastic inner door panel, i sealed the speaker using a good quality sanitary silicone and used a small bead of bytual around the trim holes so when the plastic inner door panel is refitted it will 'squash' down around the hole and seal it.
3) bottom of door weather strip
my car only gets used at weekends, so the doors just seemed to fill up with water when it rains, with the doors closed the rubber weather strip is compressed and seals the 3 drain holes under te bottom of the door, when i opened the door the water would pour out in the corner.
to fix this all i did was remove the rubber strip under the door, careful not to break the little cone shaped clips to reveal the drain holes, check that the holes are not clogged up.
offer the seal back in to position and mak the loacation of the drain holes on the rubber with a pencil. i then simply cut a v shape to expose the drain holes. now when the door is shut it will drain!
sorry for the essay, i really coudnt be arsed to add photos. hope this helps
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