wheres the f***** leak???

I have 72 skylark custom...cars from California now lives in pa...I guess it doesn't rain there much because the original paint tar like (sound deadener) substance and padding it fine as well as under the car no holes/ must rust but slight surface evident...but theres puddles literally an inch deep on both pass and driver floors...where are these cars prone to leak?? Obviously above but where??? Please help

 

Probably around the lower windshield corners. Or even above. Try using a hose along the top and sides and see when water enters...

Edit: Welcome aboard!!!!
How about a sig. We're a friendly and helpful bunch....

 

Its winter time so I can't use a hose...and I have skating rinks in the car from the snow on the car

 

These critters leak around the rear window. The vinyl top traps water and the tulip panel rusts is usually the case, but in mine, the back glass isn't sealed. Mine leaked like that and if I hadn't been parked on a sloped driveway, I'd've had water all the way to the front floor. As it was, there was a puddle under the rear seat and the back carpet was about an inch deep in water. I'm in California; it pretty much doesn't rain here like a lot of places.

 

Yea my car had a vinyl top but upon removal I discovered that same problem so I bought and installed the rear deck filler panel but now the leaks in the firewall/cowl??

 

I have a 65 skylark with the same problem. As far as i can tell its coming in throught the winshield as well.

 

Check to make sure the drains on the doors are clear..........

 

Check behind the right kick panel- where the metal A/C duct passes through- it has a gooey gasket that dries out and when you get water in the fresh air intake grill behind the hood, the water flows down into the duct and leaks onto the passenger side floor from there.... use 3M strip caulk to re-seal it.

 

I brought mine up from Texas and it had a bare floor when I got it. There was a light rust residue that looked like water had gotten in at one time and sat. About a week later we got a heavy rain and I noticed both front and rear floorboards filled with water, which I ended up shop-vacing out.

Although both the front and rear window channels looked cherry and had not aspot of rust in them, the seals themselves had shrunk to the point that I could blow air past the glass at the seal. I also had a spot where at the center of the windshield up top, that the water would run in and go down either a-pillar and onto the floor, as well as spots under the hood that contributed to the leaks.

I ended up pulling all the window trim, cleaning the channels, and sealing them in with black silicone outdoor window caulking. I took my time and made several passes, and left just enough space so I could either finish it in black flush trim or go back to stainless. Not long after I finished the work on the windows (maybe an hour or two) we had a good rainfall and I had no leaks. So even if your window seals appear good, I'm betting they're not.

 

Pretty much the main areas to check have been covered, but look real close through the windshield at the base of the glass.
Look for any rusty crust there, especialy in the corners.
That's where the windshield rust seems to show it's ugly head best.

 

Read my article...will identify your problem and how to fix it.

http://www.buickperformance.com/CowlLeaks.htm

90% of the time, it is the cowl seams leaking.

 

I'd go with the kick panels. Wait until it warms up. If you have the namual vent, be careful not to break that while removing the panel. My '71 leaked there. I cleaned up the old sealer, put a ribbon of new seal around the vent, and NO MORE LEAK. Good luck!

 

George's article is what helped me locate the under-hood leaks. :TU:

 

I also appreciated his article, this spring I will be tackling the seems myself. It seems to be a logical cause if you can't find any visible rust holes. For me the car only starts leaking when i start driving in the rain. If I let it sit or wash it at a car wash there is nothing! Go figure

 

Boy am I having this problem big time. (71 Skylark) Passenger side fills with water. What happens is i stick the hose into the cowl. (not a windshield leak... besides had that replaced two days ago..) Anyway, with the hose in the cowl about where the wiper is... I turn it on and it pours in. The kicker is, the seams are sealed tight. However (look at the photo (borrowed George's and edited with red lines) Mine is dry along the seams but fills the cup area with water... so high it over flows. I've pulled the fender to gain access and it did nothing. There is an out shell to the cowl.. so I can't see in there. Looks like the AC is in the way. Please oh please tell me I don't have to pull all of that.

What I want to know is where is the water supposed to go? It's like mine is sealed with no way for the water to exit.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

The water is backing up inside the rocker and overflowing inside.

Just in front of the rear tire about 3-4" on the bottom of the rocker is a small opening, about the size of nickel...that is the drain for the water to exit...I bet you have a mouse that made nest inside it or it got full of dirt/mud.

Once you clean that, it should drain water.

 

I am looking and looking and I don't see a hole. See attached images.
(All issues with passenger side)

Bottom Look Up = Under car between door and fender.

Fender = Between inner fender and frame. Looks to be a very large opening guessing for a bolt to the frame.

Fender1 = Again between inner fender and cowl but more of an angle shot. It's solid with no openings.

Where should the hole be located? (ps... On the inside of the car where the kick panel goes (the cup that is overflowing) the floor of that cup appears solid too. No holes.

(Update)
I crawled back under the car and did find a small hole, about the size of a nickle and poked a screw driver into it. I did not feel anything blocking it. I want to know if I drill about 3 new holes, aside from rust in a few years what are the other implications. I'm tired of this nightmare and really need a way to fix this. I also used a vacuum and suctioned out the cowl. Nothing came out. What woud you do?

 

The drain hole is on the inside of the rocker....facing the transmission......you will see it if you look between the frame rail and the inner face of the rocker panel.


Here is a pic of the rear drain hole just in front of the rear tire....make sure it is clear...if not, get a vacuum and suck all the dirt out of there and use a coat hanger to bring the dirt to the hole to clean it out.

Then, use compressed air to blow inside the rocker and you will find the other drain hole on the inner side of the rocker, closer to the front fender.

 

Thanks, but the rear area is fine... It's the front rocker that's leaking. What about this.. How do I remove the assembly from the kick panel area. A/C related vent. I removed all the bolts, removed the screw attaching the diaphram and a sping... but it's still not coming out. Something towards the top is holding it in place.