Drain holes in sliding door

[ScienceBoy]

So we've had Harry back from the painters for a week. It just went out to do some interior work to hear the sound of the sea as I opened and closed the sliding door - yes it's full of water. Before it was pretty rotten so probably drained if any moisture got in there, but we had both the outer and inner bottom panels replaced.

So I looked for a leak path. Favourite is the window seal at the top. The window was removed for spaying and as I worked myself around it I found that it clicked up at the top. I'm thinking the heavy rain we've had passed around the window seal at this point, ran down the window, between the outer(glass) seal and the inner one (Harry is a van conversion) and down into the space between the panels at the bottom. The door seal is brand new and does require a good slam to close, so I'm thinking that's a pretty good seal right now.

So first step is to try and eliminate the route. Hopefully that's done as far as possible
Next thing is to remove water and prevent future accumulation; especially when I add the insulation, seal and upholstery.

I've read a few comments in here and other forums about drain holes but its never very explicit. I believe that the original design does not have drains. But should it?

[Plasticman]

when i remake slider bottoms i alter the frame and add a couple of drains so they are below the area that the seal abuts. also consider condensation running of the glass and down the inside , this is the most common cause in panal conversions,
stick foil insulatioin to the inside and leave it shy of the bottom then dose it with dynax .
show us a picky of the door bottom inside and the problem area of the external glass seal if poss'
mm

[ScienceBoy]

Cheers Micky
I will. Time to get a photobucket account methinks

[Plasticman]

yes do . a picky saves a hundred words.
mm

[billy739]

repo bottom inner skins are solid sheet , original has holes pressed in the vertical side , probably for weight and to allow the ddor to breath

[Plasticman]

yep but those arent for drainage, well un less we get a few gallon in
i cut holes in for aesthetics, could do ovals but have sq and round ones but not the oval so



I always refit the door with the outer skin off, this way i can ensure it conforms to the correct profile as its a pain to try bend the door afterwards
mm

[ScienceBoy]

This is the view showing the kitchen roll i'm trying to wick out the water with before trying more drastic action


Close up of the detail just above the weld. These are brand new panel inner and outer.

There's nothing apparent at the seals although the top seal did "locate" up when I pressed it. The lower seal below it was a bit squelchy when I pressed it, but for all that they look in good condition. I tried the other windows and another one did not appear to be pushed fully into the van bodywork

It's also clear that the didn't remove the windows, but looks like they push the seals back and masked it.

[Plasticman]

ah, id sell you some nice supple seals that should rectify that problem
nice colour combi by the way
mm

[ScienceBoy]

Micky,
So are you saying your holes are aesthetics?
Do you have any pictures when installed and painted up?
Nice if illuminated from inside

[Plasticman]

nope sorry they are just like the vag ones save i did 2 holes rather than 1 oval for the reason i gave, its looks and maybe a little ventilation? who knows but they are not for drainig as they are also too high above the door bottom, easiest way though a bit l;ate now is to swage a roll in the inner rep panal to allow a drainway out below the seal contact area, you could drill a few holes and when dry spray it with dynax and thats abourt as good as it gets till youn sort the cause of the water ingress
mm

[ScienceBoy]

So I drilled a hole at the end of the run. Water pee'd out for at least a minute. I've increased the size of the hole now to 6mm. I'll paint the hole then spray in the goo.


Carefully went around the seal again. It doesn't look that old, but I found a couple of little places where there was moisture just bubbling up when I squeezed it. I'm not sure if it's coming round there (at the bottom) or coming round the top where I'd found the seal hadn't been reseated properly by the painters and travelled round. It has tipped it down since but I see no new evidence of water running down the inside cavity of the door as I had done when I first discovered this.