Splish Splosh

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

Well, we have had some very heavy rain here the past couple of days on the welsh border.

Took off in my car for work today, junction, brakes on. . . . slosh.
Pull away. . . slosh

I seem to have taken on a large amount of water that is now sitting in my sills.

For those who dont know, it's a clio 16v

Firstly, where could this be getting in?
I would say the sun roof, but it is a large amount of water and it usually comes through the light fitting if it has come in there Confused

Secondly, how the hell can i get it out and what can i do to stop it causing some serious rust?
Should there be drain plugs anywhere or is it fully sealed?
Dont want to be drilling through the sills Sad

Any ideas??

Cheers!
Tom

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

how can you know there is water inside the sills if you cant see it ?

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

Believe me, you can hear it clear as anything.
There must be about 4 litres in each sill.

When you brake you hear it slosh up to the front, and when you accelerate you hear it slosh to the back.

Passengers in the back vouch for it aswell, no mistaking.

You can even hear from outside of the car.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

not sure what a clio looks like but i am guessing its the same sort of set up with the 19s thus the water must be coming through the holes under the skirts which means you will have to get the skirts out and face with the naked truth .
have a look at jonnyboys report,there are pictures of the rusted sills there

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Surely a couple of small holes drilled in the underside of the sills has got to be better than the sills rusting away to nothing? Think of it logically, the rain is coming in from above somewhere so unless your planning to turn the car upside down it's going nowhere!

The Fiat Regatta that we had years ago had a leak and we could not find it, tried for months, had the window taken out and put back etc, just couldn't figure out where the water was getting in. In the end the recess in the boot for the spare wheel was full of water so, we drilled a little hole in the bottom of it to let the water out and stop it rusting!

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

Lindsey wrote:

Surely a couple of small holes drilled in the underside of the sills has got to be better than the sills rusting away to nothing? Think of it logically, the rain is coming in from above somewhere so unless your planning to turn the car upside down it's going nowhere!

The Fiat Regatta that we had years ago had a leak and we could not find it, tried for months, had the window taken out and put back etc, just couldn't figure out where the water was getting in. In the end the recess in the boot for the spare wheel was full of water so, we drilled a little hole in the bottom of it to let the water out and stop it rusting!

i had the same sort of adventure with a rover 214 (bubble shape) hatchback once ,water was leaking into the boot . took me 2 months but i found what it was in the end

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

No skirts on the 16v's, think it's only the RSI's that had them so no joy there.

Sills are completely rust free, but they are going to rot from the inside out if i dont sort this soon.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

hmm
are there any liners on top of the roof ??? you know those plastic thingies that go from back of the roof to the front ???

somebody post a pic of a clio please Laughing

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

Yep, it's got them, but i think they just cover up a seam, theres no entry point to the shell.

Realistically i think it's got to be either the sunroof, windscreen or somwehere around the tailgate.

Investigations begin tomorrow morning.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

dont want to be so cocky but i think i found your problem mate Laughing

get them liners out and inspect the underneath

thats what i found out on the rover ,the water was coming from a little hole from underneath the liners (on the roof)
that hole was meant to be the mounting for the plastic liner by the way but corroded away after years Wink

dont know how sunroof drains work on the clio though Rolling Eyes

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

you are certain its not the fuel in the tank sloshing about, i can hear that in my clio.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

there should be drain holes int eh sills but they are normally sealed up. They are small slots.

Water is either getting in through the rear arches, the scuttle or the tailgate.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

also make sure the doors are not full of water as well.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

Right, i checked the points you suggested chris and shaks and i have noticed the scuttle is sitting about 1mm away from the windcreen.

Took the panels off, gave the seal a good clean and a spray with some silicone ptfe and tried to refit them tight to the screen.

Proving more tricky than i thought, theres still a tiny bit of play in the panel and seal before it meets the screen.

Might get the old silicone sealant out lol

But before i resort to my cowboy ways i'll try adjusting the screw slots and see if i can get it tighter. Just need to stretch it out a bit, stop it from bowing.

Dont suppose you know where those drain slots are in the sills are chris?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

the slots are ont he back face of the sil, jack it up and they are on the edge.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

Nice one!

Cheers for your help.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

my typing really is getting worse! lol

everyone still understands me though!