space between...

[edoh]

i have a small leak in front (rhd) drivers footwell.... not brake or clutch fluid - definitely water.... a tablespoon or two in rainy weather... have tried sealing the windsreen rubber with sealant - to no effect.... no obvious rust or trails of water behind dash....

looking closely from outside the van - noticed the space between the front headlamps and the front top grille that goes over them.. could this gap be letting in rain water? which then passes through to inside of van? is there meant to be a gap?

where else should i be looking for a water leak in this area?

as always your thoughts n experiences much appreciated -

'.....well they call it stormy monday...'

[peasant]

The grille and headlamps are not sealed against the body, just bolted on (not even with through holes) ...no water can get in there.

Other than the windscreen frame (often invisibly, under the rubber) some less likely candidates are:

the little quarterlights (if they open), sunroof (factory or aftermarket) or the heater matrix.

[Dan Wood]

On my old bus, the water was getting under the rubber right up at the top corner of the screen, and then it ran down underneath the rubber before making it inside to the footwells.

Only discovered it by standing in the rain and watching where the water went. There were blobs of rain near the top of the screen that 'disappeared' rather than running down the outside!

[irishkeet]

hi
check the door seal for holes, also check the corners of the windscreen and if the aerial or wash nozzles are loose

iriskeet

[meggles]

An old, but effective, way to check where the water is getting in is to "puff" talcum powder over inside of dash/bulkhead and then gently run a hose over front and sides of van. Any water ingress will wash the talc off. You'll need to get your head under dash area to see. If you are very careful you can re use the talc!
My leak was from top centre of screen seal and was leaking inside seal on to passenger floor. I just sealed the whole screen 'cos all the above method told me was that it was a screen seal leak!

[nutter]

check the wind screen wipers where they screw on to spindles and around the washers as these were causing water to come into my van.

[edoh]

thanks so much for all your useful info -
will start working through the list!

[edoh]

T'was the washer nozzle on the drivers side - little quarter inch gap from the rest of the van... drip drip drip ..... drop drop drop.. (cub scouts anyone?) - sealed up with 'instant steel' - a tube of what looks like blue and white plasticine which you mix together - and which makes a permanent solid waterproof seal - waiting to be sanded n painted -

thanks again for everyone's contribution -