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UtilityTruck

Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: Oxford
Posts: 463

Chasing a leak in the footwell

When it rains I've got a fairly decent leak into the RH footwell. The water appears from roughly the area of the arrow, you can see the bracket (circled) is starting to rust. The water then drops down onto the rubber mat in the area shown. I notice it with the vehicle parked up.

Click image to enlarge

I've had a look in the engine bay and the only thing I don't like the look of is the rubber cover over the top of the steering shaft which looks to be perished.. could this be the cause? I can't see that enough water would ever hit this area?

Click image to enlarge

I suspected the seal under the windscreen, it looks OK but I suppose it could be letting water in - I've applied some Captain Tolly's leak sealer to it in the hope this will help. I've also a little corrosion coming back on the windscreen surround, and behind the windscreen seal is a little damp - again I've applied some Captain T's to see if this helps.

Other things I checked -
Hinge blocks, no evidence of leaks on the inside
Roof drip rails - no cracks

It's a 2014 110" USW, I've had it since new and it's only started leaking in the last year.

Has anyone had a similar leak? How did you fix it? 2014 Keswick Utility 2.2

5th May 2020 3:53pm

Vitesse

Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Sussex
Posts: 372

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

Hi. I have exactly the same thing. 2015 model. Does this both sides but only intermittently. Fairly sure it’s through the windscreen Lower seal on mine. I am Considering removing the dash to really identify and work out a fix. 👍 2015 90 XS Santorini Black

6th May 2020 7:18am

Balvaig

Member Since: 19 Feb 2016
Location: Fife
Posts: 719

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Landmark LE Corris Grey

Mine was the door seal which dripped onto the door check strap ( top right in your picture) which then dripped onto the mat at the same place. Was worse when on a slight slope.
Took ages to find, using hose and second person inside with torch.

6th May 2020 8:05am

UtilityTruck

Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: Oxford
Posts: 463

I’ll check the door seal- I hadn’t thought of that. Did you replace the seal to fix it Balvaig?

I’ve put 2 ‘coats’ of captain tollys on the under windscreen seal now. 2014 Keswick Utility 2.2

6th May 2020 9:23am

Balvaig

Member Since: 19 Feb 2016
Location: Fife
Posts: 719

I tried reseating the bend at the waist which had kinked (just above the check strap). Pull it off from the bottom, stretch it straight and reseat. Easier with the check strap detached at the frame too.
Still didn't work, so replaced with LR seal and adjusted the door. This fixed that leak.
LR seals are expensive, but wouldn't recommend aftermarket ones.

6th May 2020 9:40am

Scotm

Member Since: 28 Feb 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 640

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Orkney Grey

Funny I just changed that steering rubber - not due to leak but due to the fact it has been bugging me for a couple of years!

Here are some suggestions to look at:
Try sealing the seal under the windscreen frame with something like tigerseal. This stopped a similar leak to yours that I had.
Check the windscreen blocks. Slacken and reseal with tigerseal.
Check the grommet where the bonnet release cable comes through to the footwell. These move out of position sometimes.
Failing that then door seals as suggested by others.

6th May 2020 2:43pm

UtilityTruck

Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: Oxford
Posts: 463

Was it easy to change Scotm ?

I’ll not rule out the door seals, but looking again at my truck I think the water is entering too high to have dropped from the check strap. 2014 Keswick Utility 2.2

6th May 2020 2:53pm

andydef90

Member Since: 09 Feb 2015
Location: yorkshire
Posts: 617

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

had it on mine was a combination door seal and window blocks both sides plus I found if the defender was not level it leaked more on the door seals i put new window blocks on with new seals . and ran a length of airline from a fish tank on the door seal . worked so far

8th May 2020 12:05pm

Scotm

Member Since: 28 Feb 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 640

UtilityTruck wrote:
Was it easy to change Scotm ?

More fiddly than anything - I needed to change my bonnet switch and paint the bracket anyway so that is what spurred me on a bit further to change the rubber too.

8th May 2020 1:36pm

UtilityTruck

Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: Oxford
Posts: 463

An update.

Window blocks, despite being a bit flakey (only painted 3yrs ago!) are solid.

Door seal is good (checked with a hose pipe)

Bonnet release grommet is good.

So I’ve concluded, as others have suggested, the under windscreen seal is the most likely culprit. I’ve applied several coats of captain tollys along the length. On the far right hand side where the seal comes to the edge of the bulkhead I’ve applied a little bit of dumdum. This was because the seal looks a bit folded-under here. I hosed off the windscreen, roof, door seal area and so far- no leaks

I’ll wait for some heavy rain to be sure I’ve stopped the leak however. 2014 Keswick Utility 2.2

8th May 2020 8:12pm

Yannis

Member Since: 02 Feb 2015
Location: Oxfordshire / Milan
Posts: 402

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Corris Grey

I have the part number LR055345 for the lower windscreen to bulkhead seal.

But can anyone confirm if the Puma version is just straight cut, or does it have little notches etc cut out?

There seems to be 2 versions about under the same part number.

12th Dec 2020 12:46pm

Fat Cog

Member Since: 19 Mar 2012
Location: Oxfordshire & Devon
Posts: 502

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

Over the years, EVERY Defender I've owned (from new) has leaked like a sieve from the bulkhead, door & windscreen; as a matter of course I always conduct the following measures:

Seal the rubber windscreen both on top & underneath
Seal the rubber door seals especially in the area of the windscreen & bulkhead
Seal every single entry on the bulkhead from the engine bay
Seal the foam gasket between the windscreen & bulkhead
Remove blocks & put ACF grease in the holes (not too much though)

The above measures will usually solve any water ingress.

I use Arbormast for the windscreen rubber & put a thin layer on the outer of the foam gasket, for the rest I've found black gutter repair to be the most effective sealant.

Hope this helps! Since 1973...S1, Air Portable's, Defender's, but only my Wolf TUL HS GS remains

12th Dec 2020 1:30pm

Yannis

Member Since: 02 Feb 2015
Location: Oxfordshire / Milan
Posts: 402

I guess it’s possible to get at the windscreen seal by unbolting around the top of the tub and carefully lifting the whole lot up?

12th Dec 2020 1:38pm

Balvaig

Member Since: 19 Feb 2016
Location: Fife
Posts: 719

Yannis,

My 2.2 Puma seal has a notch/gap behind both window blocks.

12th Dec 2020 3:37pm

Siwynne

Member Since: 04 Nov 2016
Location: West lancs
Posts: 559

Mine does this both sides. I know it’s coming in through the alpine windows. Tracking along the inner gutter and roof lining running down behind window pilllar trims and depositing onto the mat from behind the dash. Just need the time and inclination to pull them and reseal

12th Dec 2020 5:19pm

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