Hey all, I just picked up a 97 3x locked 80 with 200k. Motor is shot and hasn't ran in two years. The owner took the cover off a few days ago and I noticed a ton of water in the vehicle. Both driver and passenger floorboards were sopping wet. The rear was wet as well, but was parked on an incline, so gravity may be the culprit for the rear. Any ideas where to start? Luckily, no rust yet. I have DampRid and a heater running 24/7. Again, car hasn't been ran for two years, so nothing has been operated. Thank you for the help, excited to get started.
New 80 Water Intrusion
- Thread starter bburn11
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I'd pull the seats and pull the carpets and get everything completely dry
Sounds like a formula for a mold factory until you stop the water intrusion.
Sounds like a formula for a mold factory until you stop the water intrusion.
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On tomorrows agenda!
NeverFinis
SILVER Star
Make sure your rocker panel drains are clear. The forward sunroof drains just drain into the rock panels.
Same situation with my 80 when I got it. I pulled the carpet/underlayment out and put the seats back in and drove it for a while without carpet, while I was handling the bulk of the drivetrain repairs, so that I could be sure all leaks were resolved before new carpet went in.
From what I recall the worst of my leaks was the sunroof (plus clogged pinch drains) but I also had water coming into the rear quarters from the vents behind the sliding windows and from the trim that runs along the bottom of the sliding windows. There were also a few leaks coming from the rear hatch seal and a small one from a roof rack foot in heavy rain. It took a while before a post rain inspection found a completely dry interior.
From what I recall the worst of my leaks was the sunroof (plus clogged pinch drains) but I also had water coming into the rear quarters from the vents behind the sliding windows and from the trim that runs along the bottom of the sliding windows. There were also a few leaks coming from the rear hatch seal and a small one from a roof rack foot in heavy rain. It took a while before a post rain inspection found a completely dry interior.
smritte
SILVER Star
I've seen several including mine that leaked from the roof rack mount's. The crush nuts no longer sealed. On mine, the previous owner went as far as gluing the sunroof shut with urethane.
You'll just need to check each possibility, as noted above. Each wet spot can have more than one possible source, so it needs to be eyes & hands on, tracing backward.
My culprits were mainly sunroof and windshield seals, with clogged rocker drains. Sunroof seal leaked, overwhelmed the drains & thus tray, water made its way on top of the headliner, and mostly came down the a-pillars, making its way to the floor on each side. I also had some water running back to the rear passenger corner, getting the floor wet there. The windshield also dripped at each corner.
Cleared the tiny rocker drain slits with a small paperclip, and dirty water came gushing out. I then rerouted the front drain hoses through the holes in the floor, just behind each kick panel trim. Draining into the rocker panels is not a great design IMO. Resealed the windshield, and went ahead and sealed the sunroof as I never need to open it, and disconnected the wiring for the motor in the map light assembly.
When you check the roof rack mounts, also inspect your roof paint for any signs of cracking or otherwise. I had a couple spots to touch up, and found a couple tiny pea-sized holes in the metal, where there was a little spider cracking in the paint. Ground to clean metal, patched, repainted. After all those things, never had a single drop of water intrusion again.
My culprits were mainly sunroof and windshield seals, with clogged rocker drains. Sunroof seal leaked, overwhelmed the drains & thus tray, water made its way on top of the headliner, and mostly came down the a-pillars, making its way to the floor on each side. I also had some water running back to the rear passenger corner, getting the floor wet there. The windshield also dripped at each corner.
Cleared the tiny rocker drain slits with a small paperclip, and dirty water came gushing out. I then rerouted the front drain hoses through the holes in the floor, just behind each kick panel trim. Draining into the rocker panels is not a great design IMO. Resealed the windshield, and went ahead and sealed the sunroof as I never need to open it, and disconnected the wiring for the motor in the map light assembly.
When you check the roof rack mounts, also inspect your roof paint for any signs of cracking or otherwise. I had a couple spots to touch up, and found a couple tiny pea-sized holes in the metal, where there was a little spider cracking in the paint. Ground to clean metal, patched, repainted. After all those things, never had a single drop of water intrusion again.
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