Water ingress mystery solved

[FlyingPete]

I think I've figured out why the door bottoms of a defender always go rusty, and why the water always gets in the footwells despite the door seals fitting properly.

What appears to be happening is the water is running off the window and being collected by the rubber strip at the bottom. It then runs forward (my drive is on a very slight slope) and when it gets to the end of the strip where it isn't long enough, runs down the gap and into the door! Hence the steel frame goes rusty at the bottom, and the door finds its way inside.

I'm thinking of filling the gap with some black sealant. Apart from cursing the guy who designed and/or built it, is there any better way of stopping the leak?

 

[Kwakerman]

Park it the other way round on the drive?

 

[Tim4x4]

I think I've figured out why the door bottoms of a defender always go rusty, and why the water always gets in the footwells despite the door seals fitting properly.

What appears to be happening is the water is running off the window and being collected by the rubber strip at the bottom. It then runs forward (my drive is on a very slight slope) and when it gets to the end of the strip where it isn't long enough, runs down the gap and into the door! Hence the steel frame goes rusty at the bottom, and the door finds its way inside.

I'm thinking of filling the gap with some black sealant. Apart from cursing the guy who designed and/or built it, is there any better way of stopping the leak?

Keep the water drain holes in the bottom of the door free of obstruction and make sure the door splash guard is fitted correctly.
Water will always get in to the door you just want to ensure it gets out of the door where it is supposed to from the drain holes so that it runs outside,

 

[lynall]

All car/van/truck doors no matter what make let water into the door itself, aerosol chain spray is very good for this job, easy to apply and as sticky as they come.

 

[zeaphod]

As above, the window seal will always let a little water down into the door. Better to accept it, take the door card off and rustproof the door frame.