sources of dashboard water leak?
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no mo volvo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 109
From: 37 North on the left coast
sources of dashboard water leak?
my daughter's 240 is getting wet under the dash in the perpetual rains of the northwestern coast of California, naturally this shorts out the electrics and causes the car to stall...
We replaced the windshield with the new style that has the integral flange/seal, and the guy did an extra good job of de-rusting the metal frame, pre-sealing it, then really thoroughly sealing the new windshield... there was some rust, but none of it went THROUGH the metal, it was all surface, and its all been removed.
the cowl drain vents appear to be clear. the sunroof is RTV sealed around the top, so no water is getting in there.
where ELSE could water be getting under the dash?? when the sun comes out and the car dries out, it runs fine. this car is in generally quite good shape on the exterior, there's no rust... the interior is pretty beat up with 500K miles, but still quite servicable, and when the car runs, it runs great, passes smog easily, etcetc.
We replaced the windshield with the new style that has the integral flange/seal, and the guy did an extra good job of de-rusting the metal frame, pre-sealing it, then really thoroughly sealing the new windshield... there was some rust, but none of it went THROUGH the metal, it was all surface, and its all been removed.
the cowl drain vents appear to be clear. the sunroof is RTV sealed around the top, so no water is getting in there.
where ELSE could water be getting under the dash?? when the sun comes out and the car dries out, it runs fine. this car is in generally quite good shape on the exterior, there's no rust... the interior is pretty beat up with 500K miles, but still quite servicable, and when the car runs, it runs great, passes smog easily, etcetc.
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Joined: Mar 2011
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there are a couple places I can think of, first is where the wiper motor comes through the firewall. Second and third would be where the steering column and wire harness come through. Although these are less likely due to their position, it is possible. Plus the wiper motor is easy to check for leaks.
my thought is it that its getting wet from the rain falling, or from the water splashing up while driving in the puddles?
my thought is it that its getting wet from the rain falling, or from the water splashing up while driving in the puddles?
Thread Starter
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no mo volvo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 109
From: 37 North on the left coast
pretty sure its from rain falling, but good question... daughter lives 7 hours drive north of me, so its not like I can pop over to check it out, I have to rely on her descriptions.
we did replace the wiper motor a few years back, and I don't recall applying a fresh wad of butyl tape, I think we just reused what was on the old one.
we did replace the wiper motor a few years back, and I don't recall applying a fresh wad of butyl tape, I think we just reused what was on the old one.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 593
Likes: 6
pretty sure its from rain falling, but good question... daughter lives 7 hours drive north of me, so its not like I can pop over to check it out, I have to rely on her descriptions.
we did replace the wiper motor a few years back, and I don't recall applying a fresh wad of butyl tape, I think we just reused what was on the old one.
we did replace the wiper motor a few years back, and I don't recall applying a fresh wad of butyl tape, I think we just reused what was on the old one.
Thread Starter
|
no mo volvo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 109
From: 37 North on the left coast
there are a couple places I can think of, first is where the wiper motor comes through the firewall. Second and third would be where the steering column and wire harness come through. Although these are less likely due to their position, it is possible. Plus the wiper motor is easy to check for leaks.
my thought is it that its getting wet from the rain falling, or from the water splashing up while driving in the puddles?
my thought is it that its getting wet from the rain falling, or from the water splashing up while driving in the puddles?
looks like it might have been the wiper motor... the shop she'd towed the car into concurred, and packed it with fresh butyl tape, charged .85 hours diagnosis + $8 for the butyl...
of course, we won't know for sure until the next big storm, and she's got to dry out the interior as much as possible during the brief sunny interludes in Arcata, Ca, rain capital of California...
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