Thema Torrents

[Angle Grinder]

I’m throwing this out there in case any of you have experienced similar and can advise…

I’ve had a pain in the butt water leak that drips into my boot and also soaks the NSR passenger seat.

This winter I’ve been attempting to stop the leak by injecting malleable screen sealant into all the likely corners/crevices. I’ve slowly been able to narrow down the sources of the water and have now managed to identify that the water leak is probably not coming from a screen to body shell bond.

Why do I say this, well with the roof lining dropped in the NSR corner I can see a drip of water accumulating underneath the “channel” where the little clip-in roof section sits. By that I mean the piece of trim that covers the join between the roof and wing.

Water is also running down inside the C-pillar and dripping out at the cut-out opening in the panel just below the position of the seat belt reel.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? I’m wondering if the problem lies with the join between the wing/roof or with the fixtures that the small trim piece clips into. Of course water will go anywhere it can find a route and the problem may yet be related to the screen, but I don’t see how a screen seal could leak into the box section of the c-pillar and in at the top of the pillar. 

Maybe I should just go the full hog and make it a convertible?   

[fay66]

Hi Mike,
Have a look under the painted mouldings that infill between top of rear door and C pillars, there are clips under there with fixing holes and a gasket, I think it's a possible and there high enough to give the problem you are getting.
If you need new clips I might be able to help as I bought some for my last Thema but never used them, but without looking I'm not sure what I have, I do know that it's a specialised fixing you need at that point.

Brian
8227

[HF_Dave]

Dificult one to trace. I had a similar problem, with the aid of a power washer forcing water  at different points around the rear screen I found the leak, there was a small gap in the sealer that was missed when the screen was replaced . I brought it to the windscreen  to the repair center and they re-sealed it very successfully. I reckon the only way to trace it is with the power washer. As for the joint at the roof and the C pillar this area is very well bonded with screw threads protuding from the join to locate and fix the clips that hold the cover trim. I think it's un likely that the trouble is here, but you know "famous last words" it could be there. Thanks. David.  

[thecolonel]

In the bodyshop I used to be in we used
Fairy liquid outside and an airline inside
easy to spot bubbles.

* other liquid soaps are available

[fay66]

In the bodyshop I used to be in we used
Fairy liquid outside and an airline inside
easy to spot bubbles.

* other liquid soaps are available

good one that Geoff, can't say I've heard of that variation on a theme before, at Vauxhall all cars used to go through a water tunnel and sprayed from all directions with a green liquid that showed up under UV light, and any leak was easily traced back to it's source.

Brian
8227

[Angle Grinder]

Haven't had any heavy rain to test it yet, but I may have traced the problem. It was at the metal fold where the bent over lip at the top of the wing panel fits in under the roof panel. A small section between the 2 clips had not been properly sealed and it was possible to insert a thin piece of fuse wire in through the gap and then poke about. I've sealed the gap with Abromast non-setting screen sealant and await another Autumnal down pour to see if the leak has been fixed.

Wish me luck!

[HF_Dave]

Do you think that the joints open up with use after a few years ? You would think it would be well welded at this point.

[Angle Grinder]

I think that this may have been a problem since the day it left the factory. There's no sign of damage or repair and it simply looks like the sealant wasn't applied to one small section ofthe seam.

The car came from Geneva and was garaged most of its life so the problem was probably not severe and has also provem to be very hard to trace. Took me ~3 years!

[HF_Dave]

Well I don't have a problem with a water leak, but I think I will take off the metal cover at the roof and have a look, just to check ! Now you have me wondering , it could open when the body shell gets stressed. Thanks, david.