No matter how much we care for our vehicles, time and again we tend to ignore certain hints our car gives us just because we wish to ignore the massive repair bills. But water leakage in cars is one problem that should be diagnosed and attended to at the earliest. Here are some DIY tips on diagnosing water leaks in your vehicle.
Water leaks in vehicles are pains that span almost every make and model of automobile on the planet and if left uncorrected, they can lead to electrical issues, not to mention unpleasant odours and interior fabric stains and deterioration. Other problems can include corrosion of pin connectors, computer failures, sensor failures, rust, and high humidity inside the car causing your windows to fog up.
Fortunately, if we are an attentive driver and care-taker, we tend to identify the water leaks and get them fixed when our vehicles are still covered by the factory warranty. But when that plan runs out, it can be expensive to locate and repair an annoying drip.
- If you have no idea of where the water is getting into the car, check for water marks, stains, or even signs of rust. Take a close look at connectors for corrosion and check brackets for rust spots.
- Next, simply hose the exterior of your car down to find the area of concern. At times, removal of interior trim panels may be required to pinpoint the actual cause, but with a garden hose and a helper, you can save yourself a lot of diagnostic time and fees without leaving your own driveway.
- If this also doesn’t work, try and locate if the leak occurs when your vehicle is stationary or does it happen only when driving. If it’s on the road, it involves lower body panels.
- A foul, mouldy smell in the trunk may result from water getting in around the taillights or the trunk lid. If you can identify these leaks you can get them fixed.
- Anything from a sunroof to a roof rack system, if not installed properly with the right sealer, will also cause a water leak in a car. As a step by step process keep ruling out the areas of leaks and move to next.
- Another possible cause of wet carpet, especially in the front of the car, when it hasn’t been raining, is a leak from the heater core. Car heaters circulate coolant through the dashboard area to heat the car, and if the heater core springs a leak, coolant can drip onto the floor.
- Body seams are another major cause of water leaking. Seams that weren’t properly sealed at the factory, or seams that were broken open by a car accident, will usually cause the mystery water leak.
- Lastly, once the leak has been figured out, you can mask it with a tape on the inside before making your garage appointment.
Before taking your ride in for your water leak repair visit, completely clear out your essentials and hand over your car to an authentic garage so that you are sure of getting your car back in one piece. In case you don’t know a listed and acclaimed garage near you, find one via MechaniCar and book your free pick and drop service from your seat.