P38A Sprung a leak when in car wash!

sjp873 · Nov 14, 2020

P38, 1999 (T) 4.0L auto 140k

So, having sorted my EAS issues, I'm now looking at replacing the headlining. I can get a new one fitted for a price I'm happy to pay but first I need to sort out a leak.

I think its coming in from the plastic strip that the roof rack attaches too running towards the front of the car and comes in between the windscreen and the roof above the drivers side. I have water marks on the headling and pillars as it spreads across the headling across the front above the windscreen.

the headling has been drooping for years so am happy to replace it but what I'd like to know is this...

How easy is it to take the headling off?
can the plastic strips be removed without bending and breaking and be re-sealed?
has anybody else had a leak in a similar place?

Once again, cheers in advance.

Of course, it might not be that's where the leak is!

pete12345 · Nov 14, 2020

Look in the tec advice at the top of the page there’s a good right up there and where to get the new cover from also the leak could be your sun roof drains I’ve you have one

sjp873 · Nov 14, 2020

pete12345 said:
Look in the tec advice at the top of the page there’s a good right up there and where to get the new cover from also the leak could be your sun roof drains I’ve you have one

I don't have a sunroof but will check out tec page.

pete12345 · Nov 14, 2020

All the plastic bits can come out I would try and warm up inside the car a bit because when there cold they will be brittle and could break

sjp873 · Nov 14, 2020

pete12345 said:
All the plastic bits can come out I would try and warm up inside the car a bit because when there cold they will be brittle and could break

good advice!

pete12345 · Nov 14, 2020

I pinched it from someone else’s old post

sjp873 · Nov 14, 2020

pete12345 said:
I pinched it from someone else’s old post

and that's how the world works...every little helps!

RangeRoller dt · Nov 14, 2020

Do you have a roof rack?
No sunroof makes headlining much easier. Trim on the pillars has to come off as the backing board only fits through the boot so you’ll need locktite for the seatbelts. All the front visors, Unclip all the lights etc. Not too bad having 2nd set of hands is probably better.

With headlining out you should be able to see any holes you may have in the roof.

kermit_rr · Nov 14, 2020

RangeRoller dt said:
Do you have a roof rack?
No sunroof makes headlining much easier. Trim on the pillars has to come off as the backing board only fits through the boot so you’ll need locktite for the seatbelts. All the front visors, Unclip all the lights etc. Not too bad having 2nd set of hands is probably better.
View attachment 223229
With headlining out you should be able to see any holes you may have in the roof.

I need to do mine, lockdown seems like a good time to do it, winter not so much

sjp873 · Nov 14, 2020

no roof rack.

Grrrrrr · Nov 14, 2020

sjp873 said:
P38, 1999 (T) 4.0L auto 140k

So, having sorted my EAS issues, I'm now looking at replacing the headlining. I can get a new one fitted for a price I'm happy to pay but first I need to sort out a leak.

I think its coming in from the plastic strip that the roof rack attaches too running towards the front of the car and comes in between the windscreen and the roof above the drivers side. I have water marks on the headling and pillars as it spreads across the headling across the front above the windscreen.

the headling has been drooping for years so am happy to replace it but what I'd like to know is this...

How easy is it to take the headling off?
can the plastic strips be removed without bending and breaking and be re-sealed?
has anybody else had a leak in a similar place?

Once again, cheers in advance.

Of course, it might not be that's where the leak is!

That strip pops out but doubt it is leaking as there is no hole underneath, unless it has rotted through. Someone did have a pinhole in a weld that was leaking. I'd start by the windscreen surround.

RangeRoller dt · Nov 14, 2020

There are little shutters that open and close on the attachment points. Still shouldn’t leak but atleast we rule out someone putting self tappers/mastik on a rack

@kermit_rr Only because of lockdown and Kev12 giving me ~~inspiration~~ crazy ideas I did it.
You’ll need cover. Don’t want to get it wet or blown away. Is the board intact?
Martrim is the way to go

kermit_rr · Nov 14, 2020

RangeRoller dt said:
There are little shutters that open and close on the attachment points. Still shouldn’t leak but atleast we rule out someone putting self tappers/mastik on a rack

@kermit_rr Only because of lockdown and Kev12 giving me ~~inspiration~~ crazy ideas I did it.
You’ll need cover. Don’t want to get it wet or blown away. Is the board intact?
Martrim is the way to go

PO has made a right mess, sealing them up with black mastic, can't open it close them

I don't have cover for the headliner job. I would assume it's intact, why shouldn't it be?

RangeRoller dt · Nov 14, 2020

Because they often are broken or distorted. Put your hand on it and see if you can push it up gently in the middle. A little play is okay

Ratae · Nov 14, 2020

RangeRoller dt said:
There are little shutters that open and close on the attachment points. Still shouldn’t leak but atleast we rule out someone putting self tappers/mastik on a rack

@kermit_rr Only because of lockdown and Kev12 giving me ~~inspiration~~ crazy ideas I did it.
You’ll need cover. Don’t want to get it wet or blown away. Is the board intact?
Martrim is the way to go

Yes. Used them for the material & glue when I did my Classic.
Be sure to remove all the old headlining foam from the headlining.
Use the Martrim very high temperature adhesive.
Have a helper to hold the material up from the backer as you smooth it down as the glue grab is instant & once it's touched you have NO chance to make any adjustment.
I did it in 18" ish sections - glue applied to lining & backer then smoothed down - & it went fine. I could see trying to cover the lot in glue in one go being a nightmare. YMMV!
Cleanliness is a must, I wore nitrile gloves, & old sheets come in very handy to cover stuff you don't want the glue overspray on.

Dippypud · Nov 14, 2020

sjp873 said:
I don't have a sunroof but will check out tec page.

Could be just a panel join, roof to gutter/pillar ...

As said read the write up, very informative ...

kermit_rr · Nov 14, 2020

Ratae said:
Have a helper to hold the material up

That's a showstopper right there

RangeRoller dt · Nov 14, 2020

I managed on my own. Lie on your back and hold it up with your (clean) feet then you hands are free to fit it.

Ratae said:
I wore nitrile gloves, & old sheets come in very handy to cover stuff you don't want the glue overspray on.

I used emulsion, Orange emulsion, and lay it on a bed of grass and dandelions to do edges good

as per @Kev12 s writeup.
Other methods are available

Looks damn good

Removing the foam is the worst. Get good dust mask and just keep going over it until it’s 110% off

RangeRoller dt · Nov 14, 2020

Dippypud · Nov 14, 2020

kermit_rr said:
That's a showstopper right there

Cheated when we did our old 200TDi, used one of those garden airer things to hold up one side, clipped it to the airer with tarp clips and bulldog clips, clothes pegs were never gonna hold it tight enough ...

P38A Sprung a leak when in car wash!

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