Car Wash Trouble

[SHO SWIFT]

Well I traveled the 364 mile trek home yesterday from Virginia to New Jersey. By the time I got home, my car had turned from it's beatiful black to pure white from the salt and all other chemicals on the road. I decided to get it cleaned ASAP (like any SHOForum member would) so I went this morning. Well the car looks beauitful again. BUT. . . when I got back in it there is a HUGE puddle of water in my passenger's footwell. Water had come in from behind the glovebox (?). There is no moisture in my glovebox but the floor underneath is compeltely soaked. What is the problem? more importantly what is the solution??

 

[rangerj]

SHO SWIFT,

Hear are some thoughts for you. Look for a missing body "PLUG". These are usuall oval in shape. Look at any body drains, especially around the cowl. They get plugged up with leaves, seeds from trees, bugs, etc. If they are plugged up the water will back up into the interior.

Make sure the drains at the bottom of the doors are open. If they get plugged up the water will overflow into the passenger compartment. Is your windshield sealed ? Is water getting in around the sunroof and flowing down the "A" pillar?

Is the caulking around everything that goes through the firewall in good shape, especially on the passanger side?

Are the seals around the passanger front door in good shape, especially where the door meets the front fender?

Just some thoughts, rangerj

 

[shojuan]

Rangerj covered pretty much everything. thumb When I had a similar leak a couple years back it turned out to be the cowl drains plugged up with leaves and pine needles. When you get these drains hand clean flush them with a good strong spray from a garden hose to verify that they're flowing properly and also to clean out the rest of the gunk that you can't possibly reach.