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MG MGF Technical - Wet boot

Winter's here again. I've had no trouble with this since February/March.

My boot liner is now dripping into the bath.

I have one of the dinky little toolkits that sit in the central well ( now I know why it's called that ) of the boot. I found the underside of it completely soaked and a bit of green mould starting.
I replaces the seals aroung the light clusters last year. I also sealed all the likely spots with rubber sealant ( the black stuff ) The dust around the inside of the light clusters seems to indicate that it's not coming in there.......could it be condensation ?

Or is it coming in through the bottom rubber grommety things ?

Grahame ( bit grumpy )
Grahame

If it's the underside of the bootliner,then it suggest that the moisture is coming from beneath...therefore you might be right about the floor grommets:they're cheap enough to change and it can't do any harm...
Blue Max

Are you parking up or down hill? See http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/water_leaks/leaking_firewall.htm
Rob Bell

Had my 96 VVC for 20 months and boot has been driza. Yesterday noticed lining was wet - must be connected to when the body shop removed the light to knock out a small dent and respray. As soon as we get daylight and no work I will have a look, also check the grommets.
JohnP

Rob

I have one of the few flat parking spots in Sheffield.
I have been heavy handed with the wax though...maybe the morning dew is running off it so fast it's defying gravity !

Not sure about it coming up..would it be thrown op from the road ?

What about the theory of the hot engine sucking in cold damp air ?
Grahame

<Not sure about it coming up..would it be thrown op from the road >
This is a real possibility...some time ago I had an MGB, that constantly had a damp passenger footwell carpet.After checking no end of door seals,heater boxes,etc, I discovered a small (less than a new penny) sized hole in the floor...sealed this up and problem solved.
Blue Max

I think that road spray is unlikely - especially if it is collected over night. I'd suspect the rear light gaskets, a leak through the 'lid or via the fire wall.

I find these kinds of leaks very frustrating. Might be a question of removing the boot carpet and attempting to identify where, exactly, the water is entering the boot.
Rob Bell

Carpet is in the bath

The boot is lined with newspaper. I'll keep you posted.

I'm not sure that it happened overnight. I only noticed because I got wet opening the tool box which had been in place for a couple of weeks...
The wet bit was under the box in the centre well.
Both the carpet at the sides and the area around the inner light clusters was dry.
Grahame

Have a look along each drainage channel either side of the lid. There are two joins within each channel - one higher up near the boot lid hinge and another about 1/3 of the way up from the top of the rear light cluster. Both joins 're-appear' on the 'underside' of the skin within the boot.

Gaz
Gaz R

On mine there was a fault in the shape of the steel, right under the seal, and one of the grommets was faulty.

I found this while pouring cups of water through the channels having taken the liner out. Stuffed it with silicone and it has been dry ever since.

Johan
Johan Slagter

Rob

Can't get the following pages to load on your site - any clues?

http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/water_leaks/wet_seats.htm

http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/water_leaks/water_pooling.htm

http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/water_leaks/leaking_panel_seams.htm

I fixed the 'cheater' problem using 8mm plastic tubing as suggested in archives but this morning the driver's footwell and seat were sodden - checked the boot at lunchtime, that too was flooded. First time this has happened - Grahame, share your mood.
Pretty heavy rainfall this weekend. Usually park nose-up on steep driveway, will try nose-down for a while see if that helps.

Paul
Paul Bevan

Paul

If you get the 'mini site' with no picture then just click on the X and the main site loads OK.

Ted
Ted Newman

Thanks Ted - still no joy. Get the pics but no text on how to deal with problem, eg Wet Seats page simply has title "Wet Seats" on an otherwise blank page!

Is it me??!
Paul Bevan

Paul, normally I access Rob's site without problem. Noticed yesterday (prompted by you) that the pages only complete loading if I click the red X as Ted suggested - all then OK.

I assume you are Windows & Internet Explorer? BTW also works with MyIE2.

Have you changed any IE options recently and/or downloaded any MS Security updates to either Windows or IE?
JohnP

John, tried at home last night and today at work with same results - I can get into the other pages... if I click on the red x I get:
"Sorry - I just couldn't resist the pun!
But if you have leaks into your car, then you'll know that this is no laughing matter."

Any chance you could copy and paste the text on Rob's 'wet seats' page onto the thread?

yours desperately...

Paul Bevan

Robs site doesn't work for me either ...

Gaz R

paul

Mine's not working either now.

Have to hope that Rob goes on line soon.

JohnP

Crikey Paul

You haven't got leaks, you've got a flood.

Mine's annoying, but you must be going mad.

Re the wet seats. Is it both seats and both footwells.

If so, it may be the windscreen/roof seal. If it's one seat and footwell it could be the window adjustment is 'out'

I'll check the other sites, have you tried the archives ?

Grahame
Grahame

BTW just noticed site was updated 24 November 2003 - just when problems started. I've been in IT too long to assume there is any connection but ...
JohnP

Most of the site seems to be working okay - but a couple of the pages has some missing data. Bum. Not sure what's happened there, but will try and sort it soon.

Thanks
Rob Bell

If the seats are getting wet then I suggest the leak is coming through the join of the header rail, the cantrail seal and the window. That is, the corner at the top front. If there is a slight gap then water can leak in there and drip directly onto the front corner of the seat. Also ensure the window makes a seal with the cantrail seal. (The cantrail seal is the seal along the top of the window.) Place tissues, newspaper etc over the floor area to detect where the leaks are. Go out to your car if it is raining and check the paper for leaks without opening the doors. Use the same technique for the boot area. I found my central well in the boot was wet but the leak was coming through the firewall bulkhead just behind the bonnet release lever. Ended up sealing all openings with mastic.

Good luck

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Grahame/Bruce - thanks for advice. The cabin leak seems to have started since I put 8mm plastic tubing in the cantrail seal to cure the door mirror leak problem (which is cured, ironically!).
Passenger seat/footwell are dry, just the driver side that had the wet seat yesterday and on closer inspection wet carpet/insulation material in the footwell. I've shortened the length of plastic tubing in the driver-side cantrail seal to match passenger side and await further downpours to see if that cures the problem (sprayed the car with water this lunchtime on local forecourt and it appeared to be leak-free).

The boot may have been leaky for a while as there are small patches of mould on the tonneau cover I keep in there. Will strip out the carpet and check meticulously for signs of where the water's entering based on your and archives' advice. Gravity effect from parking on my steep driveway doesn't help - next step is to check for gaps between window & cantrail seal... maybe 8mm plastic tubing is too thick.

thanks again to all
Paul
Paul Bevan

This thread was discussed between 24/11/2003 and 25/11/2003

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