Most of us have had the unpleasant experience of having water get into our cars. It could be that you accidentally left the window open when there’s an unexpected rain shower. That’s understandable, but when your windows are shut tight and you find water in your car, you’ve got a problem. Somewhere, there’s a water leak, and it needs to be dealt with.
If you have water in your passenger compartment or trunk, you need to deal with it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait to plug the leak, the worse it’s going to be on your car. Wait too long and you risk the growth of mold or mildew, and then you have a whole different problem that’s much worse. So how do you find the leak? Here are some tips that may help you.
Where to Start
Modern vehicles have ingenious methods of dealing with water. The windows, doors, hatchbacks, and trunk lids have heavy duty rubber seals to keep the water out. The windshield has special sealants that not only help to hold the windshield in place, but also keep water out. If you have a sunroof, there are drains built in to move water from the roof down to the ground. There are even some drain plugs in the bottom of your spare tire well in case you get any water in the trunk.
Despite all of these methods of keeping the water out, there are a few areas of your car that would be likely suspects.
- Doors
- Taillights
- Hinges
- Antennas
- Plugged Drains
- Faulty Repair Sites
Finding and Repairing the Leak
One simple test for the source of a leak is to create positive pressure inside the vehicle. Turn the a/c on to the fresh air setting, turn the blower on high, and close all the doors. By wetting your hand and feeling around the seals, you’ll be able to see if any air is escaping.
To test the door seals, close a piece of paper in the door. If the seal is tight, the paper will be hard to move. If it comes out without resistance, the seal may be your problem.
To check the seals around your taillights, open the trunk, remove any trim around the taillights, then close the trunk. Pour some water pour all around the trunk lid, then open the trunk again. If there’s any moisture around the taillights, that might be your leak. You can then replace the seals around the taillights to stop the leak. If your car is a bit older and still has a radio antenna, check that seal as well.
If you have a sunroof, open it and check the drain holes that should be in each corner. If you see any dirt or debris clogging the holes, remove it. To flush these drains, shoot some compressed air at about 30 psi into the drains.
Check the various body parts of your car. If there are any spots where parts have become separated due to wear and tear, a faulty repair, or rust, that might be the source of the leak. Repairing these problems will likely require a trip to the body shop.
Final Words
Water leaking into your car can cause serious problems, so it’s imperative that you tend to any leaks as soon as possible. Besides mold or mildew, excess moisture can damage the wiring, body parts, or the interior carpet and seats. Finding the leak so that you can repair it can be a tedious process and requires a lot of patience, but if you can find it yourself, there may be an easy fix.
PayLess Glass has been one of Langley, BC’s most trusted providers of windshield replacement and repair for over 40 years. Founded in 1980, we’re one of the largest and oldest glass shops in Langley, BC. We’ve lasted so long because of our commitment to friendly customer service, reasonable prices, and top-quality results. We offer mobile glass replacement o you know you can get the essential services you need, fast, no matter where you are. Our experienced windshield replacement specialists are trained to work in almost all conditions, and our highly trained technicians are government certified, which means that you can be assured that our practices adhere to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. When you choose PayLess Glass for windshield replacement or repair, you can be sure to receive a windshield that is durable and safe for you and your family.
If you’d like more information about the products and services we offer, visit our website, or give us a call at 604-533-4554.
