Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:48:45 -0700
Reply-To: Doug Noganav <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Doug Noganav <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Water leak on the passenger side creating a pool of water in
footwell
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
sorry (long)
Robert,
To use the sealant properly you need to get your head around this "design
flaw" which has plagued vws and many other cars for that matter for decades.
Before the windshield glass and rubber gasket are installed the metal on the
vanagon has a shape to it. To attack this problem you need to understand how
the vanagon looks with the windshield and gasket out.
If you had the windshield out and sprayed the van with water or it rained,
you would see exactly where the water is pooling behind the gasket in the
metal body.
It along the bottom edge where the angle of the metal slopes upward for an
inch or so behind the seal. This cups or pools the water there.
When the windshield and gasket are installed the gasket is not making a
perfect seal and anyplace along the top or sides so water can get between
the gasket and body which will allow the water to run behind the gasket DOWN
to the lowest spot. Generally this is the two outside lower corners of the
windshield and the water will POOL there.
If this area rusts and develops even a pin hole all the water will run to
the floor inside. Because now there is a DRAIN for the pool.
If the body has no holes the pool will hold a couple table spoons of water
then overflow forcing the excess water out the bottom of the windshield
gasket.
If you can seal the EDGE of the rubber gasket to the body with a small bead
of silicone you can keep the water out. If you take the windshield out and
repair the body you can keep the water out.
It seems to me that you would want to run a tiny bead along the entire edge
of the top and sides to just seal the area the rubber edge meets the metal.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: Water leak on the passenger side creating a pool of water in
footwell
> Doug,
>
> Question..
>
> Should I be placing clear silicone sealant at the bottom under the
> edge of the entire windshield channel?
> Inside and outside?
>
> Should this be done to all the windows in the van if possible or is
> this overkill?
>
> Should I be Petroleum Jelly, or spray way in their as well before the
> silicone?
>
> Robert
> NY
>
> On Apr 10, 2009, at 7:10 AM, Doug Noganav wrote:
>
> > The most common place in the front of the vanagon for a leak is the
> > windshield channel at the bottom. Behind the gasket. The metal body
> > there is
> > cupped and will pool water even behind the gasket. The vanagon
> > easily rusts
> > there.
> >
> > Go here to view pics of a vanagon rust repair.
www.benplace.com/alain87.htm
> >
> > You might be able to see the underside of this area with a flash
> > light if
> > you pull the glove box out. Not sure.
> >
> > Zoltan mentioned putting clear silicone behind the gasket. That
> > could help.
> >
> > My feeling is the water is running in the top and down the sides and
> > to the
> > bottom of the windshield channel. All it takes is a pin hole rust
> > spot to
> > allow it to flow on down inside the van behind the dash and onto the
> > floor,
> > where it pools.
> >
> > Doug
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 2:58 PM
> > Subject: Water leak on the passenger side creating a pool of water in
> > footwell
> >
> >
> >> Hey Everyone,
> >>
> >> I just noticed that I have a Water leak on the passenger side
> >> creating
> >> a pool of water in the footwell!
> >>
> >> Anyone ever heard of this before?
> >>
> >> I checked the door seals nothing was wet there. I see no visible
> >> water
> >> flowing in the van.
> >>
> >> Could it be coming in from the front where radiator or passenger side
> >> lights are? Then maybe it flows in from there?
> >>
> >> I had my windshield replaced last year with a new window seam and it
> >> looks fine.
> >>
> >> I am stumped.
> >>
> >> Was thinking of taking a friend with me to car wash, using the power
> >> washer on that side while someone is in the car to see where it is
> >> leaking in from.
> >>
> >> TIA
> >>
> >> Robert
> >> NY
> >
