New Member

Hi everyone, Gary here. Just purchased my first Defender and hopefully my Defender for life, well thats the idea!

I have a 12 plate 110 Utility in black. 91k on the clock.

Just had the chassis sealed, engine remapped and a few bits sorted. All was going well but.......then it rained, hard!! I'm sure you can guess what's coming next but that's for another thread. Looking forward to chatting and sharing stories and picking your brains. Cheers for now, G

Welcome to the forum

We like piccies

Welcome to Lz matey

Cheers Kev

Did the doors fall oft when it rained?

And the roof leaked?

Welcome to the forum

Hippo said:

Did the doors fall oft when it rained?

And the roof leaked?

Welcome to the forum

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Haha, fortunately not quite as bad as that but you're on the right track!! Puddles in both footwells!!

Vent or door seals usually, if you have vents of course.
Hello and welcome from me too

garyjd said:

Haha, fortunately not quite as bad as that but you're on the right track!! Puddles in both footwells!!

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Well thats kind of good news as this means the seals are working holding the water. Its when it goes straight through.

saxavordian said:

Well thats kind of good news as this means the seals are working holding the water. Its when it goes straight through.

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Ok I think the water may be sneaking in via the small joints on the gutter area under the windscreen. Is that common? The seals seem in good condition. I've purchased some sealant to hopefully help. CT-1. It was recommended from a few folk.

There's loads of places it can come in and not always where the drips show unfortunately.
There is an internal gutter, it's an inverted |_| shape, half is the gutter you can see outside, the other half is inside hidden by the headliner at the front.. the roof skin is rivited to this channel and is sealed with mastic outside. If water gets in at, say the back end it can run all along and drip out anywhere along that gutter.
If nowt is obvious then head liner out and whilst someone plays a hose over the roof use a torch and a mirror to reflect the beam down and you will see any leak coming in at the gutter.

garyjd said:

Haha, fortunately not quite as bad as that but you're on the right track!! Puddles in both footwells!!

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It's times like this a few rust holes int floor can help the carpet dry out.

garyjd said:

Ok I think the water may be sneaking in via the small joints on the gutter area under the windscreen. Is that common? The seals seem in good condition. I've purchased some sealant to hopefully help. CT-1. It was recommended from a few folk.

Click to expand...

Ah! the thorny old tale of Defenders search for the elusive leaks. Think Scarlett Pimpernel Like many here with solutions to this problem when winter arrives the driver accelerator knee joint moisten up as the leak appears. If we wrote down where this can be solved LR would have found another way to create it.
Once the leak starts bung a load of kitchen rolls in the back as this will do yah nut trying to solve.
To get the ball rolling the channel that keeps the roof lining in allows the condensation drain down if the defender in is slightly facing downwards.
Another if your from Ireland there's a tale of Leprechauns standing the roof widdling as you drive. Hope this help in your adventure to find the golden ticket.