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PDX_Guy Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2010 Posts: 54 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:39 pm Post subject: Water leak under the dash |
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Greetings everyone,
I recently bought a 86 syncro. It is my first vw and I have been loving it. There are a few issues I have been working on but in general it has been great. Today I noticed water dripping down at the corners from under the dash. I haven't gotten the Bentley manual yet but i suspect it might be coming in from the dash and/or headlights. Is this an issue others have dealt with? Any advice is greatly appreciated |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Check the upper corners of the windshield rubber seal for gaps. |
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Honuak Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2009 Posts: 520 Location: AK
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:00 am Post subject: Common Problem |
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Me thinks your van suffers from the common windshield leak. Im betting it is leaking at both lower corners like mine was. As far as I know the culprit is old windshield seal. There are a few threads here that discuss the problem...
SAMBA! |
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r.e.wing_fc3s Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2010 Posts: 591 Location: Vanagon Capitol USA: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:23 am Post subject: |
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also check the windshield washer seal. thats were mine was leaking. a little bit of der reinzosil anthracite |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11998 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:28 am Post subject: |
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rust |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2230 Location: Olympia, Washington
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ZimZam Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Talkeetna, AK
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Like other members have suggested it's rust. You'll need to remove the WS, and replace the seal.
_________________ '85 Cabriolet (Margo)
'87 Westy (Heidi)
'75 Porsche 911S Targa
"Nobody trusts anyone, or why did they put tilt on a pinball machine.”
- Steve McQueen
"It's just metal, when rusted and dented , anything you will do will be better. Stop being afraid. What they (VW) did many year ago is not better then what you will do now." -Ben |
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Honuak Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2009 Posts: 520 Location: AK
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:40 pm Post subject: May not be that bad... |
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Depending on how long its been leaking the R#@* may not be that bad. Mine had just the smallest start of the R word starting right at the corners. When you get the seal off you will see that theres a spot where the sheet metal comes together forming a fat spot of metal, I think that along with an old seal is what causes the leak. A leak is bad enough but it happens to be right above the fuse panel...
SAMBA! |
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K58 Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006 Posts: 1173 Location: Santa Barbara
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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Also, if your windshield is missing the chrome trim that could be the reason.
I found out the hard way |
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PDX_Guy Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2010 Posts: 54 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone. I checked the seal and the outer rubber of the seal looks good but the hard plastic middle peice has a bunch of tiny cracks. Are those enough to make it leak? It only seems to leak if I am driving but not if it is parked outside. The van does have a few rust issues, but around the windshield looks good so hopefully this will not be another area. And yeah Honuak, it seems to be leaking in by the fuse panel.
86 Westy Syncro |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11998 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
the hard plastic middle peice has a bunch of tiny cracks. |
That is just cosmetic, the slot that it sits in is blind an it wouldn't cause a leak. |
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Honuak Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2009 Posts: 520 Location: AK
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:46 pm Post subject: Looks are decieving |
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Mine looked fine too...the seal seemed ok and there was no visiable rust. If yours is the same its even more reason to take care of it now before you can see the rust. The seal must shrink slightly over time allowing water to get through. Your much better off fixing it sooner rather than later. |
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stclair411 Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2009 Posts: 222 Location: working on it
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:37 am Post subject: |
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I have the same issue, and yes it is worse when I am driving in rain. I have some obvious rust spots around the windshield, both lower corners. My van is not over run with rust, but does have a few spots. Right now, I have all new window rubber in my "pile" of parts. I'm working on getting cash together, and then plan to take it to TransporterWerks in NC to get a repair. If I were you, I'd pull the windshield, and if there is a bit of rust, get it repaired. Try to control it now, before it gets much worse. _________________ 1987 Syncro Westy "June" |
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climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:04 am Post subject: |
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Here's a recent thread that may help you:
Windshield replacement options
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=451423
Quick fix: As suggested by Tencentlife, smear in some RTV.
Long term fix: remove windshield, repair rust as needed, replace with new seal. (I still need to do this . . .)
-CJ _________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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GBA 88West LA Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2008 Posts: 1279 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:47 am Post subject: |
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also while your there the antenna sometimes lets h20 in _________________ 88 Westy GL Vanaru 07 2.5 EJ25/AA Trans/oiling plates, 1.14 3rd-.77-4th..solar powered cabin |
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SWbySWesty Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2010 Posts: 327 Location: Adventureville, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:49 am Post subject: |
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x2 on the antenna seal. That was my issue. I put silicone on any holes in my windshield rubber and still had water. Replaced the antenna since it was broken and it didn't leak anymore. _________________ 1986 Westy - Billie Jean
A Westy with a Jeep heart (Pura Vida)
www.theadventurebrigade.blogspot.com - Latest update: Johnson Valley - Nov 22, 2011 |
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kshbaja Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008 Posts: 476 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:01 am Post subject: |
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You won't know until you pop the windshield. It is possible for water to get to the floor boards without a rusted-through hole in the sill. The small voids inside the old seal fill up with water and it drops down through the gap between the two pieces of metal that are spot welded together.
With that said, chances are you will have some rust. I recently had this same issue and I ended up having rust, but it was what I would call moderately pitted. There were no holes. Before I pulled the windshield there was no visible rust or bubbling at the seal. Clean it up thoroughly, fill with some fiberglass filler and repaint. Use a new seal.
You may also want to take a close look at your other windows for signs of developing rust/leaks. If you are going to have someone install the glass for you, you will likely get a break on the cost to do them all at once. In retrospect, window seal replacement is one of those things I wish I did on day 1. If the rust gets out of hand in these areas it can be very difficult to address. _________________ 1986 Westfalia |
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GMByers Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2008 Posts: 642 Location: Retired in NW PA
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Since you say the water dripping down in the corners I doubt it is your antenna.
My vote is to replace your windshield seal. _________________ And then there were two...downsized to 83 Doka &
74 Thing. |
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K58 Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006 Posts: 1173 Location: Santa Barbara
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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GMByers wrote: |
Since you say the water dripping down in the corners I doubt it is your antenna.
My vote is to replace your windshield seal. |
It could be the antenna or even the windshield washers if there not seated properly.
When I got my Van the antenna and washers were loose and were letting in water. It all collects in the same place on the floor so it's hard to tell where it's coming from. |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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in my case, it was the antenna too but it was only leaking on the driver's side _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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