I think I fixed water leakage...
05-Aug-2003, 11:47 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
I think I fixed water leakage...
I am not sure if I solved this problem, but I think I am close.
After I stripped my car, I found out there are 2 ˝ inch transparent rubber hose running down each side of my car, tucked inside the metal panels. Last weekend, when it rained really hard, not only did my trunk got wet, but the hoses were wet, too. There were condensations inside the tubes. Then I thought, maybe they were meant for water to escape? But where did the water go, inside the car? That didn’t make sense, at all. Then I saw these two black plastic openings, like one of those water-drinking cups for birds inside a cage. They are not big enough to fit all palm inside, but you can sort of tip your fingers inside, and little did I know, there is a piece of flat rubber inside it. Like one of those rubber doors for dogs to go in and out the house.
Then I went under the back bumper, look up, and saw the same thing right next to the rebar. On it, it says Air Duct Assem. So I reached my hand up there, then I placed my hand inside the car, and my left fingers were touching my right fingers…. Then I look at the tubes, place them inside the cup, it then made perfect sense to me. The water supposed to escape from the hose then through the air duct then goes right outside the car. But somehow, someone forgot to put them inside the cup but instead, just let them hand so the water runs inside the car and flood the trunk.
I don’t know if anyone has these “tubes” inside their cars. Mine is an EK hatch, and you would have to strip your back panels to see them. They are right next to the back lights. I am taking my car to Honda tonight for engine shampoo so I am gonna ask them what the hell is going on with those….
If the car didn’t come with the tubes from factory, then they must be placed by the sunroof people. If that’s the case, then they know the roof will leak? But all and all, these tubes prove that the car will leak, and water need to escape somehow.
Tubes for water to escape? What the **** eh? Gee…..
After I stripped my car, I found out there are 2 ˝ inch transparent rubber hose running down each side of my car, tucked inside the metal panels. Last weekend, when it rained really hard, not only did my trunk got wet, but the hoses were wet, too. There were condensations inside the tubes. Then I thought, maybe they were meant for water to escape? But where did the water go, inside the car? That didn’t make sense, at all. Then I saw these two black plastic openings, like one of those water-drinking cups for birds inside a cage. They are not big enough to fit all palm inside, but you can sort of tip your fingers inside, and little did I know, there is a piece of flat rubber inside it. Like one of those rubber doors for dogs to go in and out the house.
Then I went under the back bumper, look up, and saw the same thing right next to the rebar. On it, it says Air Duct Assem. So I reached my hand up there, then I placed my hand inside the car, and my left fingers were touching my right fingers…. Then I look at the tubes, place them inside the cup, it then made perfect sense to me. The water supposed to escape from the hose then through the air duct then goes right outside the car. But somehow, someone forgot to put them inside the cup but instead, just let them hand so the water runs inside the car and flood the trunk.
I don’t know if anyone has these “tubes” inside their cars. Mine is an EK hatch, and you would have to strip your back panels to see them. They are right next to the back lights. I am taking my car to Honda tonight for engine shampoo so I am gonna ask them what the hell is going on with those….
If the car didn’t come with the tubes from factory, then they must be placed by the sunroof people. If that’s the case, then they know the roof will leak? But all and all, these tubes prove that the car will leak, and water need to escape somehow.
Tubes for water to escape? What the **** eh? Gee…..
06-Aug-2003, 11:28 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
I asked the Honda guy and he said it is for the sunroof drain cause water will sit around the edge so they use the tubes to drain the water...
So some dumb idoit left the tubes inside the car rather in the air duct... now one of my bolt is rusted... I think it is the bumper rebar bolt...
So some dumb idoit left the tubes inside the car rather in the air duct... now one of my bolt is rusted... I think it is the bumper rebar bolt...
06-Aug-2003, 12:12 PM
#4
The tubes are NOT meant to go through there... that is for when you shut the door that the air pressure inside and outside the car can equalize.
The drainage should be done properly from the sunroof through the a-pillar into the front cowl where it drains down through factory drains. Since the installers were 'tards, you should find a factory rubber grommet, put a hole in it the size of the tube, work the tube through, and use some black silicone to seal it all back up. My saturn wagon was leaking around the rear tail lights, I fixed that isht. Luckily, it hasn't rusted anywhere...
The drainage should be done properly from the sunroof through the a-pillar into the front cowl where it drains down through factory drains. Since the installers were 'tards, you should find a factory rubber grommet, put a hole in it the size of the tube, work the tube through, and use some black silicone to seal it all back up. My saturn wagon was leaking around the rear tail lights, I fixed that isht. Luckily, it hasn't rusted anywhere...
06-Aug-2003, 12:18 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
So B, I have to take out my ceiling so I can examine this problem right? Will the sunroof glass still stay in place if the ceiling is off? Cause I want to strip the ceiling to look at the problem more clearly.
06-Aug-2003, 12:37 PM
#6
That won't help you... if the headliner is not getting wet, it's really not worth taking out the headliner so you can get a better view 
If it is getting wet, you have a problem, and need to take it back for warranty work. Otherwise, I'd leave it be, and focus on correctly terminating the clear drain hoses. You can stick them in your rear washer fluid bottle, so you can wash your rear window with that water LOL j/k... don't do that, it'll freeze in the winter and crack the water canister.
If it is getting wet, you have a problem, and need to take it back for warranty work. Otherwise, I'd leave it be, and focus on correctly terminating the clear drain hoses. You can stick them in your rear washer fluid bottle, so you can wash your rear window with that water LOL j/k... don't do that, it'll freeze in the winter and crack the water canister.
06-Aug-2003, 01:55 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
The headliner got really wet one time it was dripping water (towards the turnk door area). But that's before they fixed sunroof rail.
Lately, it seems fine. And it is over warranty period but this problem has been brought up 2 years ago so it is all on file.
It is really giving me the headache.... I just want to ******* seal it off.
Lately, it seems fine. And it is over warranty period but this problem has been brought up 2 years ago so it is all on file.
It is really giving me the headache.... I just want to ******* seal it off.
06-Aug-2003, 04:50 PM
#12
no, definitely not... check the manual for exact instructions, I've been fortunate enough to never have to take the headliner out in my Civic, but headliners are EXTREMELY fragile!!! And they look like crap when damaged... VERY CAREFUL!!!
07-Aug-2003, 10:28 AM
#16
the headliner is a moulded one piece thing... it comes out as one, DO NOT pull the fabric off unless you will be redoing it in vinyl.
You have to pull all the plastic trim around the headliner, then get those two push clips out from above the rear seats, and then there MAY be velcro holding it up still. Be patient and careful, cuz if you crease it there is no fixing it.
You have to pull all the plastic trim around the headliner, then get those two push clips out from above the rear seats, and then there MAY be velcro holding it up still. Be patient and careful, cuz if you crease it there is no fixing it.
07-Aug-2003, 11:38 AM
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
I see, thanks B.
The plastic trims are all off except the one by the hatch door, and the other 2 piece that goes along the front windshield which I now know how to take off.
I will try to take the ceiling off tonight.
The plastic trims are all off except the one by the hatch door, and the other 2 piece that goes along the front windshield which I now know how to take off.
I will try to take the ceiling off tonight.
07-Aug-2003, 03:11 PM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Montreal
Posts: 4,508
I had the same problem with my after market sunroof...I hate the thing...it leaked like a biatch..like bbarbulo said, there should be drains that run down the pillers beside the windshild...I removed my whole sunroof and re sealed it with aviation window sealent, used in pressurized cabins...it hasnt let one bit of moisture in since...and I also vinyled my celing...to remove head liner you have to remove the interior center light, bithe sunvisors rear view mirror, holyshit handels/hangers, door trim, rear window trim, and then the two stubborn *** buttons up top rear seats(they can be a real bitch, might be a good idea to buy new ones first, incase you trash them)
and vinyl is really heavy so make sure to buy industrial automotive trim spray glue...you wont find this at CT or Fabricland(this stuff will let loose/fall down as soon as your car gets hot)... go to an interior shop, or automotive paint shop...
and vinyl is really heavy so make sure to buy industrial automotive trim spray glue...you wont find this at CT or Fabricland(this stuff will let loose/fall down as soon as your car gets hot)... go to an interior shop, or automotive paint shop...
07-Aug-2003, 03:27 PM
#19
Home Depot carries the industrial strength isth... key is... dry, cool weather, and don't be shy with the glue... give it a few coats. Don't use the spray stuff neither... use the brush on milky white stuff
07-Aug-2003, 03:32 PM
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
mmm... Drains running down windshield pillars? You mean some kind of tube that's hidden inside the light grey colour trim? I don't see any when I took one side off... I only saw wires inside it.
If vinyl is heavy, I might go back to cloth then... but it is a little piece... should be ok, no?
If vinyl is heavy, I might go back to cloth then... but it is a little piece... should be ok, no?
