Help identifying a leak

[AnnieApple57]

A newbie after your help and experience to assist with tracing a leak please.

I’ve found a damp carpet in the front footwell and after a bit of investigating I’ve found a little puddle of water in the front pillar (A pillar?) where the heating system seems to push the air into the doors and beyond. I’ve got all the water out with a sponge but suspect this little puddle gets to a level then the water drips down into the footwell.

Where is the fault? Should I suspect the windscreen surround and rubber?? 3/4 windows and seals? Or???

[slowcoach]

Most likely the windscreen seal as you've guessed. A real pain. Mine does a bit too, even though it's been out and fixed up.

[multisi]

My caravelle had leaks both sides from rusty areas under the windscreen, I used black flexible windscreen sealer, lifted up the edge of the rubber and pushed the sealer under all the way around the windscreen, no more leaks. The windscreen will be removed in the future to fit a new panel .

[AnnieApple57]

Thanks for your help, I’ll be ordering a new seal this week. I have sorted one other leak from the 3/4 windows where the latch wasn’t fitted correctly so replaced a lost c-spring pin and cleaned it all up - cured but more to do with the windscreen which I’ll hopefully be able to fix myself.

This newbie will keep you posted.

And if anyone would like the odd c-spring pin 1.5mm then let me know and I’ll post a spare or two I have.

[AnnieApple57]

The windscreen is out and I’ve only found a little rust, pleased overall. New seal warming up for replacement soon.

[img][IMG]https://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz98/MK1CHICK/Mobile%20Uploads/E280B952-D680-415A-B121-8D9AE48DDF7D_zpszywakpag.jpeg[/img][/img]

I’ve bought the vactan and I’m after advice as to what abrasive I use to get after the area...flapper disc on a angle grinder sounds too heavy handed. What abrasives do you all use?

Also if my chassis plate states T3D6 for Merian Brown and Timor Beige - which colour is that that is seen inside the van, I’m thinking the Median Brown?

Thank you

[multisi]

Are you going to use flexible black sealant when fitting the new seal .

[AnnieApple57]

Hey Multisi. I haven’t made my mind up yet due to A. If I work hard to make the whole surround smooth and ripple free I’m hoping for a perfect seal with the new rubber. B. I don’t want to make a mess for when I take it out and do maintenance in the future. C. I don’t want to trap water and cause more rust without me knowing.

But I get the idea to make a small continuous sealant line against the metal frame all the way around. Hmmmm all advice welcome. Have seen loads and loads of comments and views on here but still undecided.

[multisi]

A perfect seal with new rubber is what vw were hoping for but some did leak, if you check out the vw factory workshop manual it states that from year 1986 adhesive was applied to the rubbers . That isn't like flexible sealant which fills the tiny gaps that may be there, putting sealant on with the glass out and everything dry will prevent water getting past the rubber so it wont trap water in causing rust. Its one of those jobs that's worth getting a bit messy for ! It all cleans up with a rag with a little white spirit on. I did this job on a van I bought in the late eighties, twenty years on I scrapped the van, took all the windows out and there was no rust under any of them.

[AnnieApple57]

You’ve sold me on the idea of sealant, which one is best?

[clone123]

You’ve sold me on the idea of sealant, which one is best?

I'm anxiously waiting on the answer for this one as I have changed both my front and back seals on the Windscreens and both of them are still leaking I wish I would have to put sealant on them first time round

[R0B]

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[Mocki]

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