Water ingress into the body (Freelander 1)

When water gets into the body, always use a logical approach to the problem of eliminating the leak, using experience, knowledge and intuition. You cannot make a decision based only on what you see, like, for example, if you find water on the floor of the cabin, you cannot immediately decide that the windshield joint is leaking. It can often happen that water is leaking into the cabin from another place. Using the right technique will increase the chances of detecting the place of water penetration into the body, no matter how hidden it is.

Tools and equipment

To detect and eliminate body leaks, it is recommended to use the following tools and equipment:

• 1. Hand-held garden sprayer.
• 2. Vacuum cleaner for dry or wet cleaning.
• 3. Dry, moisture-absorbing cloth.
• 4. Hand torch.
• 5. A small mirror.
• 6. Device for detecting leaks.
• 7. Tool for removing overlay elements.
• 8. Small plastic or wooden wedges.
• 9. Compressed air supply source.
• 10. Hot air supply source.
• 11. Equipment for applying protective composition.
• 12. Ultrasonic leak detector.

When a leak is detected, there are three areas of the vehicle to consider:

• The front interior of the cabin.
• The rear part of the cabin.
• Luggage compartment or trunk.

Examination

Using the information provided by the customer, the technician can determine the location from which to begin detecting the leak. Once the leaking area has been located, the exact location where the water is entering the vehicle body must be determined.



A simple and effective device is, first of all, a regular garden sprayer, equipped with a pump and a spray adjustment mechanism that will allow you to supply water in the form of a wide or narrow stream. Explore dark places with a mirror and a hand torch (DO NOT use a portable lamp powered by the mains).

It is very important to follow the correct search sequence. Start from the lowest point, gradually moving upwards to avoid mistakes in determining the location of the leak. For example, if you start checking in the windshield area, water entering the air intake box may leak through the bulkhead guide bushing onto the floor of the cabin. In this case, you may make the wrong decision that the windshield seal is leaking.

Another important area to check is the door seals, plugs and weather strips, which may be damaged or not sealing properly, just as the doors themselves may not be sealing properly against the seals.

Fixing a leak

Once the leak has been located, it must be cleaned using the following procedure:

• 1. Replace all door seals and weatherstripping that are damaged, warped or loose.
• 2. Check all body sealing elements, making sure that all plugs and strips are properly seated on the body surface. Use a tool to bend the edges if necessary.
• 3. Dry joints before processing, using compressed or heated air if necessary.
• 4. Where possible, apply sealant to the outside of the joint to prevent water ingress.
• 5. When eliminating a leak through the windshield seal (or through the place where the windshield is glued directly into the body opening), avoid dismantling the windshield if possible. Apply the sealant to the required place (for example, between the glass and the seal or between the glass and the body).