Questions and Answers

Buick Skylark Taking On Water Q. Hi Vincent, I recently found your ever so helpful advice on car information, repair etc. on About.com. Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your good works, it's much appreciated and sure helps those of us who don't know much about cars. :) So a big Thank You Vince!

I recently bought a 1989 Buick Skylark, it needed some minor repairs and all in all I was happy with the buy. Then came (what I have now begun to view as), the dreaded 'rainstorm' *smile*. I say dreaded because I came to find the back and front passenger side carpets soaked with water after a storm.

This doesn't happen if the car sits during rain, or if it is hosed down, but once I begin to drive it, the water will start to seep in, from where, I have no clue! I called around and was told the drainage holes may be blocked. They aren't, not that anyone can see that is. Tonight, after another few days of rain in Montreal, they are soaked again.

I stopped at a body shop and was told by someone who had a similar problem with their Pontiac Grand Am, that it could be the call dash or firewall (spelling), is badly rusted and the water was getting in that way. He said it was near the heater and one had to remove the dash to get to it, and a welded piece of metal or tin could be used to patch it. There is also a little water on the driver's side carpet, but not much. Since he was closing and told me they didn't do that type of work I didn't press him further.

The car has a sunroof, but it doesn't seem to be coming in from there, and the water is only in the carpet, not the hump in the middle of the carpets or anywhere else. Very bizarre indeed. Would you have any idea if his diagnosis could be right? Do you have any other ideas, and if so how to go about repairing it. The floor is not rusted and appears to be fine. Does the water get in because once the tires are moving it throws water up and into this hole?

Sorry if this is confusing, as you can tell, it has me confused.. lol! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sharon

A. I'm sorry Sharon. I have no clue where it's coming in from. How about a dealer? Yours can't be the only one leaking. I'm sure they will know where it's leaking or can "water test" it to see. In my area, we have a glass company that installs windshields come to our shop and will repair water leaks. The trick is to find someone willing to take on this job. Sometimes you will need to "gut" the interior of the car to see where the water comes in and repair it. If this is the case, have them replace the padding under the rug or it will smell moldy all the time.