Water in footwells
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- Junior Poster
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Water in footwells
Even when I cover the car with a car cover, after any rainfall, I find a lot of water in both footwells.
Does anyone know how this is most likely to be getting there?
Does anyone know how this is most likely to be getting there?
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
- MrCoolA
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Re: Water in footwells
How big is your cover, the reason I ask is that if I park my car on a slope i.e. Nose lower I get water in through the windscreen seal if I park nose up I don't. Balsa check the seals in the side roof strips it was getting in there and then running down the door rubbers. One last possibility is the scuttle drain being blocked bmrpmarchant wrote:Even when I cover the car with a car cover, after any rainfall, I find a lot of water in both footwells.
Does anyone know how this is most likely to be getting there?
Previously Jerry (Taylor)
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
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Re: Water in footwells
We found water coming in the footwells not long after we bought the car. Lifted the carpets, which were new (and not the original) and found that the original carpet fixings that went through the floor were missing and water was coming up,through them! They were sealed and we have not had any further problems.
Kerry
Why make it simple when you can make it difficult!
Why make it simple when you can make it difficult!
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Re: Water in footwells
Make sure you check the doorseals. When I had water in my footwell I found it was tracking down the doorseal onto the interior door sill and then into the footwell. A tiny dribble quickly adds up to a pool in the footwell
Kev W no.282
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Re: Water in footwells
Thanks, I am heartened that at least it might be curable!
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
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Re: Water in footwells
I have the same problem with mine. I notice water coming in through the bottom of my screen and tracking across the dash when I drive in the rain
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Re: Water in footwells
When I purchased one of the Excels I didn't notice that it had standard sound deadening and carpet, domestic carpet and finally rubber mat. I did notice a bit of water inside the car and on the window as I powered it up, but accepted that these cars have some water ingress issues at times.
What I didn't realise was that the extra layer was to effectively space the rubber mat over the tide, or at least I didn't realise that until after a decent rainfall. By the time I was using the car for a while I had fixed the ingress, the jobs were: bottom of front screen, top of rear screen (gets beneath the rear seat then evaporation and condensation spreads it around), door seals and hinges (too warn and even a new seal is not enough), wiper gearbox exit washer.
What I didn't realise was that the extra layer was to effectively space the rubber mat over the tide, or at least I didn't realise that until after a decent rainfall. By the time I was using the car for a while I had fixed the ingress, the jobs were: bottom of front screen, top of rear screen (gets beneath the rear seat then evaporation and condensation spreads it around), door seals and hinges (too warn and even a new seal is not enough), wiper gearbox exit washer.
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Re: Water in footwells
Lotusbits say that the doors fill up and their draining holes can block up, and the same for the air plenum.
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
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Re: Water in footwells
I think its sorted now.
The rubber door seals seem to be inside the carpet edges which catch and transmit water into the car from the door opening.
A liberal covering of silicone to seal over this exposure seems to have done the trick.
The door seals are still cantilever (upper edge loose), but if I do get any more water in I will consider masticking that edge back to the shell as well, as that is outside the carpet edges
The rubber door seals seem to be inside the carpet edges which catch and transmit water into the car from the door opening.
A liberal covering of silicone to seal over this exposure seems to have done the trick.
The door seals are still cantilever (upper edge loose), but if I do get any more water in I will consider masticking that edge back to the shell as well, as that is outside the carpet edges
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
- MrCoolA
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Re: Water in footwells
Mine also comes in through the speedo cable grommet
Previously Jerry (Taylor)
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
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- Junior Poster
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:00
- Model: Excel SA
- Colour: Black A2
- Year: 1987
- Location: Tonyrefail, South Wales
Re: Water in footwells
I have sliced my speedo grommet in one position, to get an additional cable through for a starter button (instead of the last key position which stopped working). When putting it back, the slit is vertical on the underside, and no water ingress results =0)
Lotus Excel SA 1987
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
Lotus Elan M100 SE Turbo 1997
BMW M3 2005
Re: Water in footwells
i'm not trying to be funny, but having read your first post surely it would be better to cover the before any rain.
- fueltheburn
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Re: Water in footwells
When I had a leak in mine which I eventually traced and sorted. I pulled up the carpets 9 months later after being in the dry for all this time and the carpets were still heavy with water due to the sponge material used for sound deadening.
There are about 4 layers of sound deadening and the water gets sandwiched between the fibreglass, the vinyl and the sponge material.
Maybe sit a de-humidifier in the car for a couple of days with everything sealed up to make sure the interior is as dry as possible before going undercover and re-opening at a later date to find mould spores
Don't forget to treat any leather and vinyl after this process.
There are about 4 layers of sound deadening and the water gets sandwiched between the fibreglass, the vinyl and the sponge material.
Maybe sit a de-humidifier in the car for a couple of days with everything sealed up to make sure the interior is as dry as possible before going undercover and re-opening at a later date to find mould spores
Don't forget to treat any leather and vinyl after this process.
- MrCoolA
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Re: Water in footwells
mrpmarchant wrote:I have sliced my speedo grommet in one position, to get an additional cable through for a starter button (instead of the last key position which stopped working). When putting it back, the slit is vertical on the underside, and no water ingress results =0)
I found that the water ran along the speedo cable and then ran in through the grommet
Previously Jerry (Taylor)
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
Re: Water in footwells
i use windscreen sealant where any cables or wires etc go into the car. it stays flexible so moves with throttle cables etc.MrCoolA wrote:mrpmarchant wrote:I have sliced my speedo grommet in one position, to get an additional cable through for a starter button (instead of the last key position which stopped working). When putting it back, the slit is vertical on the underside, and no water ingress results =0)
I found that the water ran along the speedo cable and then ran in through the grommet
I REALISED YOU CANT LIVE WITHOUT A LOTUS!!! Until now