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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: cazman on Sunday,September 08, 2024, 04:53:09 AM

Title: Water leaking in cab
Post by: cazman on Sunday,September 08, 2024, 04:53:09 AM

I went to the annual Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival this weekend and drove in heavy rain all the way back home. I had leaking from under the dash. I believe possibly from the vent ducting, as it was both sides. My foam gaskets for the front bonnet seem to look good.

Questions:

1. The center hole in the picture under the wipers. Is that supposed to be covered?
2. In the bottom where the spare tire goes, there is a drain hole that is not draining because the closing plate underneath is tight against the hole. Should there be a hole in the closing plate?

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: jbcollier on Sunday,September 08, 2024, 06:19:00 AM

That big hole is the air intake for your heater.  Space out the closing plate so the drain hole is not blocked.

The most common leak is the slot in the body for the bonnet latch.  Sealing that off can be tricky.  Some had boots.  I just sealed it off from the inside when I had it all apart.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: cazman on Monday,September 09, 2024, 04:48:30 AM

Thanks. Interesting on the latch.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: 4129R on Monday,September 09, 2024, 05:52:06 AM

Quote from: cazman on Monday,September 09, 2024, 04:48:30 AM

Thanks. Interesting on the latch.

There was a black rubber thingy that was behind the plate that the lock engages in, which prevented water getting through the letterbox opening the latch engages with.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: Pfreen on Monday,September 09, 2024, 02:55:08 PM

Mine leaked through the windshield wipers.  The wiper bezel does not lay flat.  Thicker rubber and sealant fixed it.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: cazman on Monday,September 09, 2024, 04:45:36 PM

Thanks Paul. I will look there too.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: kram350kram on Monday,September 09, 2024, 06:06:40 PM

Picture of the latch seal components, the chrome plate is not stock.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: EuropaTC on Monday,September 09, 2024, 10:32:24 PM

The catch is the one most folks overlook, followed by the windscreen wiper bezels. If it's both sides then the wipers or lower screen seal would be my starting point. I've never had a problem with vents or heater intake from the front chamber, the lip around the front seems to keep the water out even if the foam seal is old/not so flexible.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: GavinT on Tuesday,September 10, 2024, 09:18:10 AM

Unless you've definitely narrowed down the culprit to the dash area, there are other potential ingress points.

There's the steering column which isn't usually a brilliant seal especially if you've spent some time in heavy rain. Same goes for the brake / master cylinder pushrod. There's a lot of water flying around in those wheel wells.

The closing plate on my S2 has a large-ish drainage hole.

Title: Re: Water leaking in cab
Post by: cazman on Wednesday,September 11, 2024, 05:38:02 PM

Lots of places to look.