JamesBB

JamesBB

Active Member
Not in the front foot wells thank god, but the back and under the seats.
I had the rear seat lifted forwards to shift some furniture about and noticed a wet patch on the carpet spreading from one side to the other. Bloody cat I thought, I had caught it running out of there a few times..... :D

No, not this time. Around the spare wheel was about a quarter inch of water.
I dismantled everything, removed the carpets (well the side parts, and folded them forwards), removed the saturated sponge to find the drain pipes blocked, clogged with mud. Cleaned them out and reseated with some GT85.

Fingers crossed now then.
Left a small heater running in the car to dry it out.
 
Iv drilled a hole in my spare wheel compartment floor to let the water out I don't get wet floors under seats tho ..
 
defender300td1 said:
Iv drilled a hole in my spare wheel compartment floor to let the water out I don't get wet floors under seats tho ..
Click to expand...

Maybe worth checking your drain pipes at the black rubber boot/grommet/join to the body to see if they are blocked. They seem to be similar to the aircon drains that open to the tunnel either side of the transmission.

I found that there were water streak marks (muddy/rusty brown) from the drains down to the floorpan and into the wheel compartment, so I am guessing that is were the build up around the wheel comes from.
 
Update: It is all dry in the car. But then it has not rained yet.

Anyway, cleaned up rusted spots, removed loose rust and blisters and primed over. Cleaned out spare wheel compartment and rust treated and primed. Thinking of stone chipping the compartment for the hell of it.
While doing all this decided to clean up as many rust spots and areas that need attention as I could see. Then oooooooooooooooooooh dear.
I found the bolts and fastenings around the lower tail gate's cables had rusted beyond salvage. Could not undo the bolts as soon as I tried the heads stripped. Nasty. Tried cutting a slot in the top and no, will not budge. Tailgate end is fine in that I have removed the bolt.
So I got a bit extreme and cut the bolt head off the car end. Removed the cables and plan to order new ones.
Now how to get the threaded stud that is left in there out?????

Once that is done I will get some gas struts too as they are shot, as in rusted, but strangely still work.
The rest is still drying out. Sound proofing sponge is near dry in the airing cupboard (nobody tell the missus!).

Bolts are worrying. May need to cut a new slot in the top and try again. Or get a new nut welded onto it to spin out.

Hmmm.
 
Last edited:
I had a look can't see any drain tube only tailgate rubber I have no sun roof , where are these drain tubes ??
 
defender300td1 said:
Iv drilled a hole in my spare wheel compartment floor to let the water out I don't get wet floors under seats tho ..
Click to expand...
Why did you drill a hole to let water out of the spare wheel bay? Just south of the spare wheel mount there is a drain plug. I found putting a wooden peg on that from the bottom and tapping upwards with a hammer popped it out. Problem solved. From the bottom it looked like a rusty hole. You could probably pry it out using a screw driver but I didn't want to damage it.
 
Soaking the remainder of the bolts yes :)

The tubes run down (either side) on the inside of the pillar immediately to the rear of the rear doors. If you flip your rear seats up and over, then uncrew the inner panels around the front of wheel arch , you can remove the side panels easier. The pipes run down the pillar and should be visible hanging out under the plastic around the pillar. Easier to see once the side panels are removed. The panels where the CD player/subwoofer lives, and the one on the other side too (sometimes SatNav in here if you are unlucky enough.

Can post pics if you want..... Luckily my paintwork is white and I could see the water marks easily.

Cheers
 
JamesBB said:
Soaking the remainder of the bolts yes :)

The tubes run down (either side) on the inside of the pillar immediately to the rear of the rear doors. If you flip your rear seats up and over, then uncrew the inner panels around the front of wheel arch , you can remove the side panels easier. The pipes run down the pillar and should be visible hanging out under the plastic around the pillar. Easier to see once the side panels are removed. The panels where the CD player/subwoofer lives, and the one on the other side too (sometimes SatNav in here if you are unlucky enough.

Can post pics if you want..... Luckily my paintwork is white and I could see the water marks easily.

Cheers
Click to expand...
perfect thanks
 
Bix said:
Why did you drill a hole to let water out of the spare wheel bay? Just south of the spare wheel mount there is a drain plug. I found putting a wooden peg on that from the bottom and tapping upwards with a hammer popped it out. Problem solved. From the bottom it looked like a rusty hole. You could probably pry it out using a screw driver but I didn't want to damage it.
Click to expand...

I know what a grommet is , because the shallow water sat at the opposte side of it when the car sat level
 
JamesBB said:
Update: It is all dry in the car. But then it has not rained yet.

Anyway, cleaned up rusted spots, removed loose rust and blisters and primed over. Cleaned out spare wheel compartment and rust treated and primed. Thinking of stone chipping the compartment for the hell of it.
While doing all this decided to clean up as many rust spots and areas that need attention as I could see. Then oooooooooooooooooooh dear.
I found the bolts and fastenings around the lower tail gate's cables had rusted beyond salvage. Could not undo the bolts as soon as I tried the heads stripped. Nasty. Tried cutting a slot in the top and no, will not budge. Tailgate end is fine in that I have removed the bolt.
So I got a bit extreme and cut the bolt head off the car end. Removed the cables and plan to order new ones.
Now how to get the threaded stud that is left in there out?????

Once that is done I will get some gas struts too as they are shot, as in rusted, but strangely still work.
The rest is still drying out. Sound proofing sponge is near dry in the airing cupboard (nobody tell the missus!).

Bolts are worrying. May need to cut a new slot in the top and try again. Or get a new nut welded onto it to spin out.

Hmmm.
Click to expand...
with really good drill bits ! 1 mm smaller drill out retap threads IMO
 
On the down side, the spare wheel compartment is wet again.
I fixed 1 pair of leaks on the blocked drains and now I have another.
The carpets are dry only because I have not put them back.
This time the water has collected on the left side around a metal disc that has the thread of a bolt coming through the top. What is this?
The head of the bolt is under the car near the tow bar cross member.

I popped the light out and under it on the inside was really wet. popped grommet out of the bottom of the panel in that rear corner and drained. The thing is water is not coming in from the light fitting, the light seal is dry.

I am not sure but I think it must be coming from the main tailgate seal. The metal lip the seal goes on is not great but not really corroded.
I am going to clean it up with an old toothbrush and dishwashing liquid, probably the rubber seal too.

The good news is taking the light out shows the cable bolts I cut off the other day. 2 angles to drill from now incase.....
 
JamesBB said:
On the down side, the spare wheel compartment is wet again.
I fixed 1 pair of leaks on the blocked drains and now I have another.
The carpets are dry only because I have not put them back.
This time the water has collected on the left side around a metal disc that has the thread of a bolt coming through the top. What is this?
The head of the bolt is under the car near the tow bar cross member.

I popped the light out and under it on the inside was really wet. popped grommet out of the bottom of the panel in that rear corner and drained. The thing is water is not coming in from the light fitting, the light seal is dry.

I am not sure but I think it must be coming from the main tailgate seal. The metal lip the seal goes on is not great but not really corroded.
I am going to clean it up with an old toothbrush and dishwashing liquid, probably the rubber seal too.

The good news is taking the light out shows the cable bolts I cut off the other day. 2 angles to drill from now incase.....
Click to expand...

I had the problem with the tailgate seal, I adjusted the metal lip and applied silicone grease to the seal and it has cured the problem:)
 
JamesBB said:
On the down side, the spare wheel compartment is wet again.
I fixed 1 pair of leaks on the blocked drains and now I have another.
The carpets are dry only because I have not put them back.
This time the water has collected on the left side around a metal disc that has the thread of a bolt coming through the top. What is this?
The head of the bolt is under the car near the tow bar cross member.

I popped the light out and under it on the inside was really wet. popped grommet out of the bottom of the panel in that rear corner and drained. The thing is water is not coming in from the light fitting, the light seal is dry.

I am not sure but I think it must be coming from the main tailgate seal. The metal lip the seal goes on is not great but not really corroded.
I am going to clean it up with an old toothbrush and dishwashing liquid, probably the rubber seal too.

The good news is taking the light out shows the cable bolts I cut off the other day. 2 angles to drill from now incase.....
Click to expand...
Dish washing liquid contains salt that is Corrosive to metal :eek:
 
I notice on the tailgate rubber, there are 2 "cuts" in the softer outer seal. Where should these be orientated? Top or bottom?

Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
2019 Discovery HSE TD6
Replies
0
Views
447
mapen100
M
Nick bw
2x Defender beds for sale.
Replies
5
Views
2K
dag019
dag019
ar1g3
P38A Weird antenna
Replies
7
Views
1K
ar1g3
ar1g3
S
Classic 1987 Range Rover Vogue SE auto 3.5L fitted with LPG Park safety
Replies
11
Views
1K
norseman
norseman
Flossie
P38A Eas issues
2
Replies
22
Views
2K
Datatek
Datatek