How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum?
12-23-2002, 06:33 PM
#1
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How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum?
I'll get the pics uploaded shortly but keep the input coming
Ok, I have had water leaking issues for a goodwhile now. It leaks in by the passenger side B-Pillar:
It'll drip in along the passenger window along the mating surface where the window meets the weather strip. It'll also pool here (where a-pillar and roof top weatherstrip meet):
Now my passenger floor is damp only under the carpet in the jute. You can't feel the wetness if you test it from the top of the carpet but only if you pull the carpet up and then you can see and feel the wet jute passenger floor carpet. The water isn't pooled there but it's still cause for concern. I haven't had time to get the car on a lift to check the A/C drain but I'll do that this week. I really hate all this water getting into my car. I think I'm gonna have to buy ALL new weatherstrip to do the entire roof, B-Pillars, A-pillars, etc. Also, the driver's side window latch is very difficult to open and close. My first latch began creaking so the dealer replaced it with a new one and it's been very difficult to open/close ever since. I have a feeling that since the roof top is obviously not aligned properly b/c one side is more snug than another that my weatherstrip has been learned to this new fit and if I try to adjust the top I'm fear that the leaks will get worse.
Thus, my scenario is to replace all the weather stripping and have the roof top latches re-aligned for proper fit. What tips do ya'll have for my present leakyness? Does someone have the roof top adjustment, with pictures, online?
Ok, I have had water leaking issues for a goodwhile now. It leaks in by the passenger side B-Pillar:
It'll drip in along the passenger window along the mating surface where the window meets the weather strip. It'll also pool here (where a-pillar and roof top weatherstrip meet):
Now my passenger floor is damp only under the carpet in the jute. You can't feel the wetness if you test it from the top of the carpet but only if you pull the carpet up and then you can see and feel the wet jute passenger floor carpet. The water isn't pooled there but it's still cause for concern. I haven't had time to get the car on a lift to check the A/C drain but I'll do that this week. I really hate all this water getting into my car. I think I'm gonna have to buy ALL new weatherstrip to do the entire roof, B-Pillars, A-pillars, etc. Also, the driver's side window latch is very difficult to open and close. My first latch began creaking so the dealer replaced it with a new one and it's been very difficult to open/close ever since. I have a feeling that since the roof top is obviously not aligned properly b/c one side is more snug than another that my weatherstrip has been learned to this new fit and if I try to adjust the top I'm fear that the leaks will get worse.
Thus, my scenario is to replace all the weather stripping and have the roof top latches re-aligned for proper fit. What tips do ya'll have for my present leakyness? Does someone have the roof top adjustment, with pictures, online?
12-23-2002, 07:04 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (C5Noir)
This one is easy. Dont drive in the rain. :jester
[Modified by cscollis, 6:05 PM 12/23/2002]
[Modified by cscollis, 6:05 PM 12/23/2002]
12-23-2002, 07:23 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (cscollis)
The weather stripping is pretty supple, it may not have taken a set as you suggest. I would try to make adjustments before going to the expense. There is also a GM published document on how to address C5 water leaks. You should try to get a copy: do a search, contact you dealer or Fichtner (see link in my sig). From what you have said it does sound like you need some adjustments both to the top and the window/door.
[Modified by SoCal C5, 4:26 PM 12/23/2002]
[Modified by SoCal C5, 4:26 PM 12/23/2002]
12-23-2002, 07:45 PM
#4
Team Owner
Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (C5Noir)
chuckster recently posted this water leak guide:
General Waterleak Guide #02-08-57-003
General Waterleak Guide
1997-2002 Chevrolet Corvette
Condition 1
Water is dripping on the passenger side transmission tunnel.
Cause
The plentium drain may be plugged or compressed.
Correction
Inspect the drain and unplug, if necessary.
Condition 2
Water is dripping on top of the passenger side carpet.
Cause
A wire harness leading into the passenger side compartment may be mis-routed (bent upward) at the first split in the wire harness. This may allow water to enter the harness and into the passenger side compartment. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Correction
Remove the battery and push the harness downward.
Verify the leak by flooding the front of the dash. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Condition 3
The carpet is wet under the passenger side floor.
Cause
The dash attaching bolts may not be sealed. Refer to the bolts in the illustration.
The lower hinge pillar may not be sealed. Refer to the arrow in the lower right hand corner in the illustration above.
Correction
Verify the leak by flooding the hinge area. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Clean the area with one of the cleaners listed below.
Reseal the area with the Kent™ sealer listed below.
Condition 4
Water is running down the front edge of the door or water is on top of the sill plate.
Cause
The butyl strip under the seal at the base of the "A" pillar may not be sealing properly or the push-in fastener may not be seated.
Correction
Clean the area with one of the cleaners listed below.
Reseal the "A" pillar starting at the bottom of the weatherstrip retainer with the GM sealer listed below. Refer to the dotted line in the illustration for sealing.
Condition 5
Water is running down the front edge of the door or water is on top of the sill plate.
Cause
Water may be leaking around the weatherstrip at the top of the door due to an undesirable nub in the weatherstrip at the top of the door. Refer to the arrow in the illustration .
Two screws may not be sealed under the "A" pillar garnish molding. Refer to the illustration. During water test with the "A" pillar molding off, there may be water coming out of either the garnish molding retaining hole or the wire harness retaining hole. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Correction
Replace the weatherstrip.
Seal the two screws with the Kent™ sealer listed below.
Condition 6
The floor is wet behind the seat belts.
Cause
The "B" pillar weatherstrip may not be sealed properly.
Correction
Reseal the weatherstrip with the GM sealer listed below. Refer to the dotted line in the illustration for sealing area.
Condition 7
There may be a leak around the perimeter of the hard top causing water to drip from the garnish molding into the rear compartment.
Cause
There may be a void in the sealer between the body and the hard top.
Correction
Clean the area with one of the cleaners listed below and seal the area shown in the illustration with the Kent™ sealer listed below.
Condition 8
The floor is wet behind the seat belts (Hardtop/ Z06 only).
Cause
The top corner of the weatherstrip may not be sealed properly. Refer to the area shown in the illustration.
Correction
Reseal the weatherstrip with the GM sealer listed below. Refer to the sealer in the illustration.
Condition 9
The floor is wet behind the seat belts or water seems to be entering through the hole in the interior trim panel where the seat belt feeds through.
Cause
The fit where the front edge of the convertible top stowage compartment lid "protector" contacts the rear edge "bulb seal" of the "mucket"*. Refer to the illustration above.
* "Mucket" is the term used to refer to each end of the convertible top stowage compartment lid weatherstrip.
The front edge of the stowage lid protector should overhang the stowage lid by approximately 3 mm (0.12 in). That 3 mm (0.12 in) overhang should then firmly contact the bulb seal rear edge of the mucket to complete the seal between the stowage lid and the lower "B" pillar.
Correction
If moving the lid forward or rearward, a 4 mm (0.16 in) gap between the rear of the stowage lid and the front of the trunk lid must be maintained.
Adjust the stowage lid cover downward slightly for more contact. Refer to the illustration above.
Cleaners
Kent Acrosol
3M® General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner, P/N 08984
Dominion Sure Seal, Sure Solve BSS
Sealer
Kent Automotive™, Wet/Dry Re-Sealant P/N 10570 11 fl. oz. cartridge (in Canada P/N 10570, 325 ml)
Kent Wet /Dry Re-Sealant can be purchased by calling 1-800-654-6333 (in Canada, 1-800-563-1717)
GM Weather Strip Adhesive Gel-Black 2 fl. oz tube, P/N 12345096
GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information. WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
General Waterleak Guide #02-08-57-003
General Waterleak Guide
1997-2002 Chevrolet Corvette
Condition 1
Water is dripping on the passenger side transmission tunnel.
Cause
The plentium drain may be plugged or compressed.
Correction
Inspect the drain and unplug, if necessary.
Condition 2
Water is dripping on top of the passenger side carpet.
Cause
A wire harness leading into the passenger side compartment may be mis-routed (bent upward) at the first split in the wire harness. This may allow water to enter the harness and into the passenger side compartment. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Correction
Remove the battery and push the harness downward.
Verify the leak by flooding the front of the dash. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Condition 3
The carpet is wet under the passenger side floor.
Cause
The dash attaching bolts may not be sealed. Refer to the bolts in the illustration.
The lower hinge pillar may not be sealed. Refer to the arrow in the lower right hand corner in the illustration above.
Correction
Verify the leak by flooding the hinge area. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Clean the area with one of the cleaners listed below.
Reseal the area with the Kent™ sealer listed below.
Condition 4
Water is running down the front edge of the door or water is on top of the sill plate.
Cause
The butyl strip under the seal at the base of the "A" pillar may not be sealing properly or the push-in fastener may not be seated.
Correction
Clean the area with one of the cleaners listed below.
Reseal the "A" pillar starting at the bottom of the weatherstrip retainer with the GM sealer listed below. Refer to the dotted line in the illustration for sealing.
Condition 5
Water is running down the front edge of the door or water is on top of the sill plate.
Cause
Water may be leaking around the weatherstrip at the top of the door due to an undesirable nub in the weatherstrip at the top of the door. Refer to the arrow in the illustration .
Two screws may not be sealed under the "A" pillar garnish molding. Refer to the illustration. During water test with the "A" pillar molding off, there may be water coming out of either the garnish molding retaining hole or the wire harness retaining hole. Refer to the arrow in the illustration.
Correction
Replace the weatherstrip.
Seal the two screws with the Kent™ sealer listed below.
Condition 6
The floor is wet behind the seat belts.
Cause
The "B" pillar weatherstrip may not be sealed properly.
Correction
Reseal the weatherstrip with the GM sealer listed below. Refer to the dotted line in the illustration for sealing area.
Condition 7
There may be a leak around the perimeter of the hard top causing water to drip from the garnish molding into the rear compartment.
Cause
There may be a void in the sealer between the body and the hard top.
Correction
Clean the area with one of the cleaners listed below and seal the area shown in the illustration with the Kent™ sealer listed below.
Condition 8
The floor is wet behind the seat belts (Hardtop/ Z06 only).
Cause
The top corner of the weatherstrip may not be sealed properly. Refer to the area shown in the illustration.
Correction
Reseal the weatherstrip with the GM sealer listed below. Refer to the sealer in the illustration.
Condition 9
The floor is wet behind the seat belts or water seems to be entering through the hole in the interior trim panel where the seat belt feeds through.
Cause
The fit where the front edge of the convertible top stowage compartment lid "protector" contacts the rear edge "bulb seal" of the "mucket"*. Refer to the illustration above.
* "Mucket" is the term used to refer to each end of the convertible top stowage compartment lid weatherstrip.
The front edge of the stowage lid protector should overhang the stowage lid by approximately 3 mm (0.12 in). That 3 mm (0.12 in) overhang should then firmly contact the bulb seal rear edge of the mucket to complete the seal between the stowage lid and the lower "B" pillar.
Correction
If moving the lid forward or rearward, a 4 mm (0.16 in) gap between the rear of the stowage lid and the front of the trunk lid must be maintained.
Adjust the stowage lid cover downward slightly for more contact. Refer to the illustration above.
Cleaners
Kent Acrosol
3M® General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner, P/N 08984
Dominion Sure Seal, Sure Solve BSS
Sealer
Kent Automotive™, Wet/Dry Re-Sealant P/N 10570 11 fl. oz. cartridge (in Canada P/N 10570, 325 ml)
Kent Wet /Dry Re-Sealant can be purchased by calling 1-800-654-6333 (in Canada, 1-800-563-1717)
GM Weather Strip Adhesive Gel-Black 2 fl. oz tube, P/N 12345096
GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information. WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
12-23-2002, 07:48 PM
#5
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (C5Noir)
C5Noir
When my 98 was new I had a sieve. The passengers side leaked water all over the seat. It took them 2 new weather strips before they figured out that the problem was a bad seal on the clear top!! Got a new top (warrenty) and problem solved. Check the seals on the glass top (if you have one). The dealer removed the trim on the top and saw that the water was leaking around the lexan into the car. It was a factory defect and could not be fixed without gooping sealer all over the lexan and frame. Boy,, am I glad they fixed it under warrenty
My 85 has a bad leak and I found that one by removing all of the trim from around the window. The seal around the windshield was bad (common problem). Maybe you can remove sone trim and narrow it down to a specific area.
Bill C
When my 98 was new I had a sieve. The passengers side leaked water all over the seat. It took them 2 new weather strips before they figured out that the problem was a bad seal on the clear top!! Got a new top (warrenty) and problem solved. Check the seals on the glass top (if you have one). The dealer removed the trim on the top and saw that the water was leaking around the lexan into the car. It was a factory defect and could not be fixed without gooping sealer all over the lexan and frame. Boy,, am I glad they fixed it under warrenty
My 85 has a bad leak and I found that one by removing all of the trim from around the window. The seal around the windshield was bad (common problem). Maybe you can remove sone trim and narrow it down to a specific area.
Bill C
12-23-2002, 11:53 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (Bill Curlee)
Does anyone have the pictures of the diagrams they refer to in the document that Ed so graciously posted? Thanks.
12-29-2002, 12:46 AM
#7
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (C5Noir)
I checked the A/C drain and it was not clogged with leaves, etc and I did enlarge that puny hole so it doesn't get clogged in the future. Any other ideas as to where the water on the floor is coming from? Thanks.
12-29-2002, 12:49 AM
#8
Team Owner
Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (cscollis)
This one is easy. Dont drive in the rain. :jester
[Modified by cscollis, 6:05 PM 12/23/2002]
[Modified by cscollis, 6:05 PM 12/23/2002]
12-29-2002, 04:14 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (AP)
Give Fitchner a call. They were nice enough to fax me the water leak TSB above. I am pretty sure my floor board is getting wet from the dash mount bolts or the hinge seal area. Debating now whether to tackle it myself or let the dealer hack on it.
12-29-2002, 05:09 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (bk)
Can someone post the pictures of the dash mount bolts location that comes with the TSB? Thanks.
12-29-2002, 10:06 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (Patches)
Check for small tears in the weatherstrip. I've got one I repaired with a little silicone sealer and it is fine. If it comes loose I'll take it to the dealer for a replacement. If you use sealer, preclean the area well with a little rubbing alcohol.
Best of luck. :yesnod:
Best of luck. :yesnod:
12-30-2002, 06:06 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (C5Noir)
Here's a pic of the carpet wetness. Do ya'll think it's from the dash mount bolts not being sealed?
12-30-2002, 07:04 PM
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Re: How to turn my sieve of a C5 into a water tight drum? (C5Noir)
I have similar symptoms and that is what I am betting on. If I let it rain on the car, it stays dry. Only when driving in water do I see it get wet.
