Water in the footwells

[Steven1995]

Hi folks, this is my first post so please treat me with kid gloves. I've got a 1995 4.0 XJS that has water in the footwells (mainly drivers footwell). I've recently had to get a new windscreen fitted and when the old one came out there was a bit of rot at the bottom of the windscreen surround. I had to make a decision on the spot and decided to have the new screen fitted. The fitter said the rot would have been responsible for water gathering in the footwells before the new screen was fitted and that he would not / could not guarantee that the new screen would not also leak. Since it's been fitted I've carefully sealed the screen both sides of the rubber surround and whilst I'm fairly certain this has stopped any water from ingressing from the windscreen area the drivers footwell is continually puddled. Water seems to drip from the front of the trim panel that comes away to reveal the fuse box under the steering column (drips onto your shins when seated) and I'm now suspicious of the drivers door seal rubber. There's a bit of guttering that sits under the gap at the point where the rear of the front wing overlaps the front of the drivers door. I'm convinced that it's a combination of this gutter and a poorly fitted door seal that is directing water back into the car. Knowing that watery footwells are a common problem has anyone else solved the problem by replacing / refitting door seals or the bit of guttering I refered to? Any advice would be appreciated.

[J44EAG]

I`m not an XJS owner so have no experience with the model, but with another type of car with wet footwells, the cause proved to be a missing internal plastic door membrane.

This should have been fixed to the door pannel with dum dum type sealer to prevent water ingress down the the inside face of the door behind the door card.

Might be worth a look, however I expect other members may perhaps be able to itemise the problem to another well known cause.

Someone will be able to help you.

Welcome to the Club.

Mike Kennedy. S-type Coordinator.

[Occulomency]

When I bought my 6.0 coupe last year it suffered from a similar issue. The leak is almost certainly going to be caused by the screen rot (it is very common on facelifts).

Sadly the only solution is to remove the screen and aggressively attack the rot. A couple of us on here have had this done within the last year and it isn't cheap, but it is worth it.

See:

http://www.jagrestoration.com/phdi/p1.n ... ent&part=5

for more details at Alan Proctor's excellent site.

[rainbowhardy]

Firstly welcome to the forum. I had my windscreen rubber replaced a couple of years ago, due to a small leak. I was surprised there was no rot
underneath, it was just a case of replacing new rubber and sealing as best as I could. I think that you will find with other members experience it does not totally eraticate the problem always. Just on the very odd occasion I have had the smallest amount on the left hand corner, but as you have said problems have been identified to the door rubbers as well.

It sounds that the rot in the window area is your first priority.

Regards

Phil
ps you will always need deep pockets owning an XJS !

[Mr.Ian]

I doubt a leaking door seal (unless leaking above dash height) is going to get water in to drip on your shins, it would create a puddle in the footwells though but so would a leaking 1/4 light glass seal or the lack of inner door moisture splash screen.
If windscreen has been 100% sealed have a look under the bonnet in that area, the accelerator cable pases through the bulkhead and is sealed with a rubber gromet that can rot/split and if water can get to the area it will drip in, also the casting holding the brake servo/pedal assy is just bolted down there maybe loose? can't see it really but worth a look, blocked plenum drain tubes ?? always worth checking if water puddles are found.

[Patfallon]

As others have said, it is probably the screen seal. My car is a 1988 model and I am unsure if it differs in the relevant design elements to yours. However, I had an issue with the AC overflows which should exit under the car, over the exhaust. these blocked up and condensate flowed, unseen, into the footwells. (unblock from under the car with a length of thin metal coat hanger)
Another scenario referred to often on this BB is that of blocked overflow pipes from the area ahead of the screen that houses the wiper motor. Remove the grill at base of windscreen carefully (the nuts can seize to the bolts and shear) and clear debris/leaves.

Good luck

[SimonR]

It might also be worth checking the air conditioning drains. When mine were blocked, water used to run along the back of the dash and deposit on the chrome tread plates by the doors. It could also be seen sometimes coming out of the area where the side dash vent is.

[john@mepal]

My XJS has or had a similar problem, water in the footwell, driver's side and a recent magazine-not JEC- suggested windscreen rubbers or rot. It needed other jobs doing and my local specialist has checked and double checked how water got there. It seems the culprit is not the windscreen rubber/rot but the door seal itself. He has replaced it and soaked the car and it is still dry. If the situation changes, I'll let you know. Hope this helps.

[ptjs1]

Steven,

You haven't put your car details in your sig, but assuming that it's a Coupe rather than a Convertible, you can't seal the windscreen with the chrome surround in place.

On a Coupe, the water drains from the windscreen down a channel behind the chrome and will get in behind the screen if there's any rot as the screen won't have been able to be bonded properly to the body flange.

If you're going to try and seal from the outside, you have to remove the chromes (which is possible, but refitting them properly can be very difficult).

You might also look for blockages in the drain holes in the plenum chamber (where the windscreen motor is located).

As you've probably realised, there are a number of possible causes of leaks, but from what you've said, unfortunately I think it could be the screen flange.

Good luck

Paul

[masterb]

Anyone know where you can get screen seals from?
Mine is a preface lift car and the rubber has gone hard,and is tatty at the top.

Thinking about cutting old one out and removing windscreen, if i can be sure i wont break the screen in the process and that putting the screen back with the new rubber isnt to much of a nightmare.
Anyone done this? I am guessing BB probably has.

[Mr.Ian]

Screen seals are available from David Manners @£35.25 and the seal insert @ £6.40.
A bit of a daunting task refitting a screen, it can be done single handed but help is better and safer. Just fit the new rubber seal to the screen, insert strong string or wire in the outer body slot in the rubber meeting at the top, insert as much of the bottom edge of the seal as poss back onto the car, carefully draw the string/wire out of the seal from inside the car while pressing the screen and seal in to pull the seal lip into place. Washing up liquid on the seal helps a lot and there's always a panic getting the final corner in as it feels really really tight.
Good luck.

Oh yes remove the old seal by cutting.

[ptjs1]

mrb39,

We are at risk of continuing to hijack steven1995's thread here. However, I just wanted to let you know that the Manners part is a repro part. That's not to say that it won't be ok, but there were problems in the past with after-market seals. Genuine ones are available from Jaguar at £41 + vat and a good dealer would probably give you 15% + off that.

You might like to give Alan Proctor a ring and ask him what seals he fits on XJSs.

Good luck

Paul

[paulhutton]

My '96 Celeb had exactly the same as you describe - it was The Rot. The windscreen on the F/L cars was bonded-in, so the chances of leakage through that pretty much zero. I hate to say it, but cut -out-and-weld is the only solution.

[john@mepal]

Hello, my car came back last week after a/c repairs and watery footwell, o/s

It still has watery footwell but it does not appear to be windscreen sealing/rot. The door seal has been replaced, but....There's a rubber weather channel missing from the driver's side wing top where the door extension runs, the door closes against this weather channel. The metal channel is there on both sides, the rubber weather channel which sits just above the metal channel is there passenger side, but missing driver's side. It is channel shaped, about 10" long and it guides away water. Only fitted to very late cars apparently, does anyone know the rubber channel and its part number please? I simply cannot find this item listed anywhere.

[franrca]

The rubber guttering is there on my car, but looks too short, so I get some drips too - I understand from a previous thread that the part number is BEC24888 for the driver side but it is quite elusive.