Author Topic: Water leaking in cab  (Read 480 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline cazman

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Nov 2021
  • Location: Upstate NY
  • Posts: 257
Water leaking in cab
« 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?
1973 Europa TCS

Offline jbcollier

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Posts: 5,962
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #1 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.

Offline cazman

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Nov 2021
  • Location: Upstate NY
  • Posts: 257
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #2 on: Monday,September 09, 2024, 04:48:30 AM »
Thanks. Interesting on the latch.
1973 Europa TCS

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,734
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #3 on: Monday,September 09, 2024, 05:52:06 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.

Offline Pfreen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Apr 2016
  • Location: Orlando, Florida
  • Posts: 725
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #4 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.

Offline cazman

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Nov 2021
  • Location: Upstate NY
  • Posts: 257
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #5 on: Monday,September 09, 2024, 04:45:36 PM »
Thanks Paul. I will look there too.
1973 Europa TCS

Offline kram350kram

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Dec 2019
  • Location: Georgia
  • Posts: 470
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #6 on: Monday,September 09, 2024, 06:06:40 PM »
Picture of the latch seal components, the chrome plate is not stock.

Offline EuropaTC

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Location: Lincolnshire, UK
  • Posts: 3,131
    • LotusLand
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #7 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.

Offline GavinT

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Oct 2016
  • Location: Queensland, Oz
  • Posts: 1,224
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #8 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.

Offline cazman

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Nov 2021
  • Location: Upstate NY
  • Posts: 257
Re: Water leaking in cab
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday,September 11, 2024, 05:38:02 PM »
Lots of places to look.
1973 Europa TCS