Water leak at top of door?

lightning · Apr 6, 2022

So, this leak is really annoying because water seems to gather inside the roof and then (generally when going down hill) rains down from the top front corner of the door onto my missus's left leg.

It's coming from inside and not through the door seal.
l've looked at the roof but can't figure how the water can be getting inside. lt happens if the vehicle is left overnight so it's not just when driving.

The water gathers somewhere then comes out all at once.
Picture is where the water comes from.

saxavordian · Apr 6, 2022

Ah yes the horny olde Water-on-Knee syndrome There still a PDF about water ingress by Landrover Gaveup Scratching head department. The runes on the ground say leaking, from Alpine glass rubber into the channel where the roof carpet sits. The channel is the main route and also, with flux of weather night to day condensation accumulates by hitting the carpet, to trickle into the channel then on to the passenger or drivers Knee

If you did a search many here have similar tale to tell at the campfire, during winter time before christmas as ghost stories to scare the little ones. Many sufferers like myself gain their skills of driving style to avoid the leak.

Hicap phill · Apr 6, 2022

Is it condensation?

saxavordian · Apr 6, 2022

Hicap phill said:
Is it condensation?

Bit surprised the Landover Totally Depressed department for Water Ingress never figured this out or even done a dye test on suspected areas.

lightning · Apr 6, 2022

l don't think it's condensation because it only happens when it's raining or after it's rained

Hub · Apr 6, 2022

I had the same thing and could not work it out as there was no water staining on the roof, or bulge. Also if I turned sharply left (it was drivers side) the water landed on my head, and I took to wearing a large brimmed hat when it rained. But, it stopped as suddenly as it started, and I haven't had any further ingress from there for about 2 years now (got it everywhere else). Water finds a way, and I've just assumed the 'collection' (because that was what it felt like - not a trickle - but a downpour), has found another route?

Hicap phill · Apr 6, 2022

lightning said:
l don't think it's condensation because it only happens when it's raining or after it's rained

A cheat-bodge is to remove door seal & put a micro fibre cloth to absorb any water. Then re fit rubber.

water is travelling down the gutters where the side bolt to the roof. There are not many places for the roof to leak. Little black vents a over door/sun roof?

lightning · Apr 6, 2022

Hub said:
I had the same thing and could not work it out as there was no water staining on the roof, or bulge. Also if I turned sharply left (it was drivers side) the water landed on my head, and I took to wearing a large brimmed hat when it rained. But, it stopped as suddenly as it started, and I haven't had any further ingress from there for about 2 years now (got it everywhere else). Water finds a way, and I've just assumed the 'collection' (because that was what it felt like - not a trickle - but a downpour), has found another route?

That happened on the drivers side, water would pour out like a stream of wee and wet my leg.

Again it just stopped and hasn't happened for a couple of years.

But the passenger side is more tenacious, it's been doing it for years.

Galladog · Apr 6, 2022

I had a leak in the roof of my Double Cab, I found out it was the join in the roof above/behind the front seats.
I got some " Captain Tolleys Creeping Crack Cure" ( I think that's what it's called ", that fixed it.

potus · Apr 6, 2022

That's (another) one of the problems I don't miss from owning a Defender.

lightning · Apr 6, 2022

l've looked at that join and it seems fine.

l've just been out and sealed the Alpine Glass rubber with a wax based sealant. Let's see if that makes any difference.

Galladog · Apr 6, 2022

I didn't see anything wrong with the join, it was the only thing that it could be.
The crack cure is almost like water, it finds its way into the smallest gap, worth a try if you're still getting a leak.

miktdish · Apr 6, 2022

+1 for Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure.
On a dry day apply liberally to the roof joins and gutters, it eruns into any gap and sets, like a wood glue.
Sometimes it takes a couple of attempts, leave a day between applications.

lightning · Apr 6, 2022

okay thanks will order some.

Plus l will check the roof join more carefully when l get the chance. lt's got to be something like that.

Al2O3 · Apr 6, 2022

lightning said:
okay thanks will order some.

Plus l will check the roof join more carefully when l get the chance. lt's got to be something like that.

Even if the roof join looks ok it's well worth applying the Captain Tolley's as Galladog suggests. It gets drawn in via capillary action, so will fill gaps that can't be seen with the eye. Nothing to lose.
The Captain Tolley's would work invisibly on your alpine windows too.

lightning · Apr 7, 2022

Last night l sealed around the inside of the Alpine Window seal where the glass is fitted, haven't received the leak sealer yet so used some wax based rustproofing spray.
Torrential rain this morning, still raining, and so far, dry as a bone

Note the Alpine Window seals are new ones fitted last year, genuine LR parts, because the originals were cracked and perished.

slomofo · Apr 7, 2022

Gotta love that Captain Tolleys - it’s sealed leaks on every Land Rover I’ve ever owned including the Two sieves I have on the drive at the mo!

Al2O3 · Apr 7, 2022

I've found a few pictures from when I took mine apart for the rebuild.
You can see that the roof curves around then goes flat, to sit on top of the side panels, then there's a lip up.
This forms a channel for the water to collect in and then run along. Not sure what the little hole is that it runs out of at the front.

doriz · Apr 7, 2022

lightning said:
l don't think it's condensation because it only happens when it's raining or after it's rained

It comes in via the alpine window seals and sits in the pressing where the fixings meet the body. Complete pita

lightning · Apr 7, 2022

Looks like you are absolutely correct, l've sealed the Alpine Window and the leak has stopped.

Looking at the seal, it has a join at the lower centre, so water is going to run down the glass, down between the seal and glass, and straight through the small gap where the seal joins.

Water leak at top of door?

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