Fattylewis

Active Member

• Nov 2, 2015

• #1

Hi, I have a 1988 90 with a leaking roof. I have spent ages trying to find the ingress point, the water just runs out of the inner sill that runs along the bottom of the roof to the rear and into front foot well, soaks you flipping knees! It is not due to condensation and it does not seem to be coming in through the main roof panel. I cleared the outer sills and sealed any apparent metal spaces in the summer but it is still leaking.
Has anyone had this problem? Does anyone have any ideas for fixes?
By the way it is both sides !
Cheers

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2015

Flossie

Well-Known Member

• Nov 2, 2015

• #2

It's getting under the rivit heads and/ or roof skin.
It's a long winded job to do it right involving cleaning all the old paint and sealent off all round down to bare metal.
You will find loose rivits, hard broken sealant and gaps between the roof skin and gutter.
Then the roof needs re painting.
It's not the time of year to do it now either.

 

Fattylewis

Active Member

• Nov 2, 2015

• #3

Flossie said:

It's getting under the rivit heads and/ or roof skin.
It's a long winded job to do it right involving cleaning all the old paint and sealent off all round down to bare metal.
You will find loose rivits, hard broken sealant and gaps between the roof skin and gutter.
Then the roof needs re painting.
It's not the time of year to do it now either.

Click to expand...

Cheers for that, another jobs for the summer then ?

 

Flossie

Well-Known Member

• Nov 2, 2015

• #4

Also, you could use a mirror and a torch shinning at the mirror whilst someone plays a hose pipe over the roof. You may have to drop the headliner and any trim off to see properly.

 

Kwakerman

Well-Known Member

• Nov 2, 2015

• #5

I cured mine by resealing the join where the driver compartment roof panel and cabin roof panel join (the one that goes across left to fight). On mine the cabin roof piece is attached on to the driver compartment so the joint faces forward and rain is forced in as you drive, it should have been designed/built the other way round by LR. Also check there is no cracks in the sealant in the outer gutter rail as that can let water in too.

 

S

steveyorks

Well-Known Member

• Nov 2, 2015

• #6

I have spent half my life it seems chasing leaks in the various Defenders I have had over the years. I don't think you ever get them completely watertight; I have had the leak that pours water on your right knee as soon as you turn !

 

owl

Well-Known Member

• Nov 3, 2015

• #7

This may help. http://www.landroverweb.com/Pdf-files/Manuals/Land_Rover_Defender_Water_Ingress_Manual.pdf

 

Fattylewis

Active Member

• Nov 4, 2015

• #8

owl said:

This may help. http://www.landroverweb.com/Pdf-files/Manuals/Land_Rover_Defender_Water_Ingress_Manual.pdf

Click to expand...

Thanks so much for that a great help!