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pixelpete56
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Muncie, IN, USA
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 Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 6:56 pm Post subject: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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This has me puzzled and I hope someone can help.
After it rains, and I open the back hatch, I get water draining from both sides of the hatch. I have taken off the vinyl back panel on the hatch and even used a piece of chalk to mark the inside of the hatch from one side to the other. I thought if it was leaking around the window it would show drips down the chalk. Nothing. No sign of where the leaks are coming from. It has to be on the outside edges, and on the top but I can't locate it.
I am missing a rubber grommet which protects the tube and electrical wires that go to the windshield wiper motor but that is only on one side. The leak happens on both sides.
Any thoughts? I appreciate any comments. |
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avwa
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2005
Posts: 233
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:35 am Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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| Mine did it, it was the wiper seal. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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kipkohl
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2012
Posts: 91
Location: Olympia, WA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 7:21 am Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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| I've had two leaks in the hatch; first was from the rotted out rubber boot on the passenger side, the other was from the washer nozzle. If your rubber boot is compromised I'd guess that's your leak source. Maybe remove the interior panel and insulation and have someone hose down the hatch while you you observe from the inside. You might be able to see trickling water and trace to the source. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17201
Location: Brookeville, MD
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HeinleinTrooper
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2020
Posts: 74
Location: Washington
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 7:39 am Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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I have two replacement hatch grommets to install on each side or my rear hatch. Is that a difficult job?
_________________
1990 Vanagon Multivan 2.1 WBX AT |
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kipkohl
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2012
Posts: 91
Location: Olympia, WA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 11:35 am Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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| It's one of those "vanagon jobs"...tedious and irritating, but not particularly hard. On my 89 Westy GL the drivers side grommet fitting is oval and the passenger side is round. When I was looking for a replacement I could only find the oval. I ended up scabbing together a replacement out of round rubber gaskets and heat shrink tubing and caulking. A dubious fix for sure, but it has held fo a couple of years now. |
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HeinleinTrooper
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2020
Posts: 74
Location: Washington
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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Thank you, kipkohl, for setting my expectations. That means an all-day job for me plus the chance of breaking something along the way. At least I have the correct grommets for each side and the Bentley.
_________________
1990 Vanagon Multivan 2.1 WBX AT |
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kipkohl
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2012
Posts: 91
Location: Olympia, WA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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| You'll get it no prob. If I remember correctly, the hard part was getting the wires/washer fluid tube free. |
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kguarnotta
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2004
Posts: 1207
Location: Woodstock, NH
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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I love the samba - It seems like everyone has the same problems as me..
I had this in my '86 Syncro. I checked all the seals, thought it was a hole i poptop- so I re-sealed that. The grommets for wiring on either side next to hinges are in bad shape on mine. I ordered new ones, but have to been brace enough to begin that project.
As for drain holes - what I can't figure out (and it sounds like you have the same problem) me rear cushion gets wet when it rains heavy. When I open the rear hatch, water comes out those big holes. I figure there must be some sort of weep hole somewhere at the bottom of the door, but I don't see anything?
Why isn't the water coming out of the big holes when the hatch is down? That I can't figure out.
I've got to take the rear panel off - and then take a look at washer squirter. This also does not work, but rear wiper does. Is the washer pump in the door, or over near the rear reservoir?
_________________
-Kevin
Lincoln, MA
2001 Eurovan
'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper |
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termuehlen 
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2012
Posts: 1033
Location: Redwood City
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| Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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Hatch weep holes are located in the bottom corners. They are covered with a plastic cap from the factory.
If you have a Westy & your interior is getting wet, look at the three "snaps" for the rear hatch screen located along the top of the rear hatch opening. These "snaps" have a post that extends through the body, the top of which is right in the "rain channel" at the back of the van. If the entire top of the post and retaining clip are not sealed well, water flows right through the post hole and will exit on the cushion.
_________________
1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx |
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kguarnotta
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2004
Posts: 1207
Location: Woodstock, NH
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:16 am Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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I've taken the rear panel off mine - and began to investigate with a hose spraying from outside.
I found my emblem (Volkswagen GL) was leaking. I will probably just smear some sealant on there, unless someone has a much better idea? So that is where water gets in, but why isn't it getting out.
The weep holes! In your picture - should I pull those round plastic plugs and clear this out? I don't understand why they would plug a weep hole - I didn't want to take them out - thinking that maybe there is some reason they put them in? I'm guessing at this age - the plugs will probably break when I try to take them out. So then should I be looking for new ones, or just leave them out...
_________________
-Kevin
Lincoln, MA
2001 Eurovan
'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17201
Location: Brookeville, MD
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wesitarz
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2012
Posts: 1754
Location: Victoria,B.C.Canada
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:08 am Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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| Often I would have the hatch open in the rain while gearing up for a shore dive and there would be a steady drip inside the van from water pooling outside of the upper right window. The electrical seal grommets don't seal there but was not the source I thought. It seemed to be the window seal,so I ran a bead of windshield black silicone under the window seal around the corner and down the right side. Can't say for certain that this fixed it. |
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pbrown
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008
Posts: 501
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Can't locate the leak from back hatch after it rains |
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I had a rear hatch leak for a while. It turned our to be a past owner "fixing" the drooping A/C housing with sheet metal screws into the area above the hatch where the hinges are.
_________________
Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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