Leaking rainwater! via passenger door?

Post by **Emma&Al** » 18 Sep 2015, 16:01

For a while the van has had a leak!
The sound proofing and carpet between the front seats gets soaked, the battery tray fills up with around an inch of water(!) and the drivers seat gets wet! For ages I blamed the sunroof which I think was an after thought, after factory fitting. It does leak, BUT I've now noticed that the small bit of carpet right of the drivers seat and slightly back, is SOAKED! I can only now think that rainwater is getting in somehow via the drivers door vent and running down into the battery tray which is then running through to the carpeted area between the two from seats?? Is that possible...do other people have these vents? Im due to put in plywood door cards but really need to rectify this first.
Any ideas? Thanks

Post by **clift_d** » 18 Sep 2015, 16:13

I'll lay odds on the fact that it's caused by your skylight.

The water is probably tracking across the van in the lining buildup and down the door pillar into the battery tray. When we first got our Westy hightop we discovered the front skylight leaked - the sealant to the roof had failed. The water was tracking from directly above the middle of the van through the roof buildup and emerging at the top of the passenger side A-pillar next to the windscreen.

My advice to you is to get the lining out and get the skylight sorted. If you leave it too long you'll end up with the kind of corrosion in the top of your van that'll be expensive to fix.

Post by **Emma&Al** » 18 Sep 2015, 18:31

Thanks clift_d - did you remedy it by putting a new seal on? I'm still trying to work out if the skylight is factory fitted or an after thought?

Post by **Paul Southworth** » 18 Sep 2015, 20:38

I work in a garage. Try sitting in the van and have someone run a hose pipe over the top of the van to simulate rain.
It may sound drastic but you're sure to find the entry point of the leak. Good luck

Post by **Plasticman** » 18 Sep 2015, 21:45

Not necessarily, depend on the cab roof and actual sunroof fitted, as capillary action leads to all sorts of issues, post a picky up of inside and out of the roof
mm

Post by **clift_d** » 18 Sep 2015, 22:00

Emma&Al wrote:Thanks clift_d - did you remedy it by putting a new seal on? I'm still trying to work out if the skylight is factory fitted or an after thought?

The Westy skylights have a mastic sealant joint between the skylight frame and the roof skin. We removed the skylight cleaned off all the old sealant and refitted the skylight with new sealant. Whether that's the same as your skylight is another matter.

Post by **Emma&Al** » 21 Sep 2015, 09:04

Thanks all - I'll try and get some photos up in the next hour or so.

Im up for the idea of sitting inside whilst someone uses a hose - thanks

Post by **New Kentish Campers** » 21 Sep 2015, 13:15

Does the van have door radio speakers fitted? Chances are that the plastic membrane was cut to allow the speaker to fit. Rainwater will run down the membrane and instead of going on to the drain holes at the bottom of the door, will pass though the speaker hole, run down the inside of the door card and into the interior.
Warped door cards are a good sign of water damage. Take a look if so and add more plastic sheeting to the cut section so water cannot get past.

Post by **Smcknighty** » 21 Sep 2015, 18:49

I redid mine recently using double sided gorilla tape and rubble sacks - worked a treat

Post by **clift_d** » 21 Sep 2015, 19:09

Smcknighty wrote:I redid mine recently using double sided gorilla tape and rubble sacks - worked a treat

Presumably not referring to a skylight here.

Post by **Smcknighty** » 22 Sep 2015, 18:57

Yeah it's a bit darker than before mind..! Sorry I meant the door damp proof membranes, I'll take a pic, it worked really well

Post by **Emma&Al** » 23 Sep 2015, 22:19

Yes!! It's had speakers fitted at some point definitely - you might be onto something there. There seems to be a definite line where the carpet is wet..its from the seatbelt anchorage point to the battery compartment - although the front seat gets wet I can see where that directly gets dripped on from the rusty hinges where the sunroof glass is fitted.

Post by **Smcknighty** » 26 Sep 2015, 19:18

Get an idea from these pics how I did the damp proof stuff. Basically run the double side stuff around as a border then apply a layer of rubble sack - works really well, a lot better than the old days of duct tape based repairs

Post by **Emma&Al** » 27 Sep 2015, 17:37

Thanks Smcknighty

Post by **Emma&Al** » 05 Oct 2015, 11:26

Hooray!!!
I've found the leak - about 30 minutes ago!
I took the door card off, disconnected the speakers - and can see exactly where the leak is coming in..but what to do next is the challenging part.
It's coming in directly from the window, running down inside the of the door, through the vent at the bottom, into the carpet and straight into the battery compartment.
I seem to remember having to replace that window 7 years ago as someone attempted a break in.
The window rattles and shakes when driving, so obviously its not fitting properly - but why?
Thats the next challenge....

Any suggestions? :-/

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