Water leak nightmare!

[Derrick]

Have any of you guys had water leaking from under the dash. I've fixed the leaks that were coming from the T-tops with a new weather stripping kit and I've also found / fixed a few cracks in the cowling below the windshield, but water is still coming in from somewhere up front by the windshield.

I also have a very slight antifreeze drip / leak coming from under the passenger side dash.

Help please...

 

[early shark]

The second problem of antifreeze drip, sounds like the start of a heater core going bad.

 

[Rufus1050]

I agree with the shark on the 2nd problem...the 1st could involve your a/c drain. I'd go over the cowling again, particularly where the arms go thru. Leaks can be a bear and it takes some patience to solve them. Good luck! My 85 leaks but I haven't replaced the gaskets yet...at 600 bucks from Ecklers, I think I'm going to wait a while.

 

[Nut]

Derrick.... the drip is the heater core. Get it fixed NOW!!!!! When mine went on my '72 it was a PITA to fix AND...... I ended up replacing all the carpeting because I could never get the anti-freeze smell and slime out of the carpet.

........... Nut

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I've put together some possible sources of leaks and repairs at my web site.

http://home.comcast.net/~chadwick.robert/Water_leaks.htm

 

[81 Corvette]

sounds like heater core. rumor has it, they are a major pita to replace.

 

[jdp6000]

sounds like heater core. rumor has it, they are a major pita to replace.

No really...core is about $75. Time to change is about 3 hours. Easy for a do it your selfer.

 

[Derrick]

Thanks for all the input fellas. I'm slowly but surely eliminating water leaks little by little. I went ahead and took most of the dash out on the passenger side so I could get a better look at where the leaks were coming from. I had a few hair line cracks in the fiberglass and some water coming in around the air vent.

I'm going to look into the driver side leaks next week when I find some free time. Where exactly is the heater core? I'm guessing towards the middle of the dash....

Oh yeah, and my blinkers stopped working last night. The emergency flashers still work, but no turn signals. Is there a fuse that could have gone out?

 

[photovette]

A real sneaky leak I had was when it rained hard, water would pour down past the rear view mirror and onto the passenger seat (and passenger--eeeee!) It took me forever to find it, but I eventually deduced it was coming in at the rear of the stainless T-bar--between the t-tops and all the way at the back--and working it's way forward to the windshield.

 

[jdp6000]

The core is on the passengerside in that plastic cover. You will see a line going to it from your heater/switch. You need to disconnect all these connections. There should be 3 screws holding the plastic cover from the inside. There is a screw most have a hard time finding on the firewall in the engine compartment, its up high. Once you remove all these secrews you will need to remove the two heater hoses, crawl under the car behind the passengerside front wheel to find them. Once you have removed the connections, the screws and the hoses, from the inside you should be able to lift and remove the heater core box. I believe the core on your car is in that box. Open the box and relace the core. Install in the reverse.

email me at jdp6000@yahoo.com and I'll send you detailed step by step instructions.

 

[jdp6000]

There is a blinker relay...easy fix, $5 bucks. Looks similar to the flasher relay.

 

[Derrick]

Put a new blinker relay in last night and they work like a charm.

I've been running the heater every morning for about 15-25 min on the way to work and there hasn't been any coolant drips. Seems like the problem would have gotten worse....not better.

Thanks for the instructions on how to remove/replace the heater core...I'll probably go ahead and replace it when I can find some free time. I also have the driver side water leaks to play with ad , but all of your input is making things go a lot smoother!

 

[80convertible]

Have any of you guys had water leaking from under the dash. I've fixed the leaks that were coming from the T-tops with a new weather stripping kit and I've also found / fixed a few cracks in the cowling below the windshield, but water is still coming in from somewhere up front by the windshield.

I also have a very slight antifreeze drip / leak coming from under the passenger side dash.

Help please...

I'm curious how you repaired the cowl area. I have cracks that are temporarily plugged, but I'm looking for ideas on repairing this area.

 

[Derrick]

I'm curious how you repaired the cowl area. I have cracks that are temporarily plugged, but I'm looking for ideas on repairing this area.

Jim, my fix is probably as temporary as yours. I didn't go to any extremes. I just bought a tube of black silicon (50yr), and smoothed over the cracks. I think the fix will be good for at least a couple of years since silicon is so flexible.

 

[80convertible]

Jim, my fix is probably as temporary as yours. I didn't go to any extremes. I just bought a tube of black silicon (50yr), and smoothed over the cracks. I think the fix will be good for at least a couple of years since silicon is so flexible.

That's exactly how someone fixed my cracks in the cowl area.

 

[zgator]

If you are not going to replace the heater core soon it might be wise to put in a bottle of bars leak in the radiator.When those things go it gets real messy inside.The only other thing is to bypass the core but if it's a driver it will be a cold comute.As for the other leaks,have someone hose the area down while you are inside the car.Might be able to track it down that way.