windscreen water leak

[chalkie]

The good news is that it's been raining on the garden.
The bad news is that it's raining into the car (93 L series sportwagon).
I've had a squiz at the archives but haven't found the exact same thing...
I've put it down to water running into the footwells via the fresh air ducts as I have removed the plastic windscreen trim while eradicating some minor-ish surface rust (no holes or thinning of metal to speak of) and repainting (which is another story - matching old faded paint! ).
Today I removed the plastic trim under the wipers to check for any rust behind the bottom of the windscreen - all good.
The drain holes in the panel by the bonnet hinges work well, directing water out of the bottom rear of the wheel arch.
I noticed two holes which appear to be original equipment in the panel where the screen is stuck on, just below the edge of the windscreen glass about 120mm from the bottom corners. These seem to be directly above what I assume to be the fresh air intakes (there's a (wet) foam covered flap in them).
These holes are probably covered by the windscreen trim and sealant when it's in place which hopefully accounts for my leaks.
The holes seem to serve no purpose other than to annoy me.
Is there a good reason for their existance?
If I can't get the trim reinstalled when the windscreen is replaced can I just bung them up with black silicone or whatever is used?
Anybody else found this?
As I've said, it does not appear to be a rust problem.
Thanks

[guyph_01]

Since you look everywhere and can't seem to find the source of the leak, Sometimes water in the front footwells means that your heater core is leaking. This is a very common thing with those cars. Is your heater water hoses still connected to the engine? Check your coolant level. If you use green coolant you should see the colour.
Easily fixed by using a u shape hose that will bypass the heater core. Only thing you heater won't work.

I've also noticed those holes when I had my windscreen out. I don't think they would cause leaking issues. I think they may be drains for water accumulated around the windscreen.

Your leak could maybe come from the top of the windscreen.

[AndrewT]

If it was coolant you'd know about it from the smell, quite distinctive.

Plenty of guesses and conjecture can be had on the keyboards here, but your best bet is to rig up a garden hose or two to gush water all over the car, get inside with a powerful torch and physically look for the source.

(could be the rubber door seals).

[chalkie]

Thanks for the help, guys.
It's not coolant.
I'll get dash off to find the source but I still think it's those pesky holes as they are directly above the fresh air intakes. They do seem to be a drainage feature but they seem to drain into the wrong place.Ive taped them off temporarily and will get the garden hose out at the weekend.
Cheers

[tony]

my L never used to leak, but the windscreen cracked so I had it replaced. there was no rust at all in the frame.
when the repairer took the old windscreen out he cut the locking strip instead of just pulling it out. I complained to my insurance co and he came out and gave me a couple of new bits. they were about $50 each. I never got around to actually replacing them.
a couple of days later it rained and I found about 20mm of water in the front floor.
I complained to the repairer and he reckoned there was rust.
I never did anything about it, and had a couple of occasions with water coming in, then it stopped leaking.
I do get a noise of water sloshing around under the dash somewhere so something is going to give me grief.

[chalkie]

Tried the hose routine today with a small modification which involved emptying several stubbies until I found the right one which was used to carefully pour water onto selected areas of the windscreen and surrounds.
I removed the plastic grill on the cowling? and watched as the water dripped through the windsreen drain hole, ran along the underside of the panel and dripped straight into the fresh air intake.
Just to check, I also poured water through the drain hole in the cowling next to the wiper arm shaft (driver's side). It dripped through the drain and ran to the outside through the interior drain holes leading to the wheel arch without going anywhere near the fresh air inlet.
I guess that when the windscreen rim is installed it blocks up these drain holes to prevent water going through. Maybe on new cars the water does not track along the underside of the panel. It just seems a poor place to site a drain hole.
I'll get the windsreen installer to make sure that the drain hole is bunged up with urethane. Apparently silicone is a no-no, accirding to other threads on the USMB.
I've been learning o post photos so there might be some below
Windscreen drain
http://www.ausubaru.com/coppermine/disp ... =119&pos=2


Cowling - is that the correct term - drain
http://www.ausubaru.com/coppermine/disp ... =119&pos=1

The view underneath looking acrosss the air intake - see the drips?
http://www.ausubaru.com/coppermine/disp ... =119&pos=4
Same view with shaft of screwdriver through windscreen drain hole
http://www.ausubaru.com/coppermine/disp ... =119&pos=0
This is where any water that gets into the cowling gets out via the wheel arch
http://www.ausubaru.com/coppermine/disp ... =119&pos=3

Cheers

[chalkie]

Well that almost worked.
Can anybody tell me if I can embed an image into the body of the message instead of pasting a link?
Cheers

[tony]

silicone is ok as long as you use the neutral cure silicone. but is better to use one of the bituminous types of sealer because it is easier to remove it if you need to.

[wrxer]

the drain maybe there to drain the water from the window seal area, if you block it the water may build up and rust the Apillar.
maybe where the water runs the underside of the panel, you could put a line of silicone to make the water drop instead of run

[chalkie]

Good point wrxer.
I'm thinking of siliconing a small diameter tube into the drain hole so that any water is directed into the under-panel vent instead of the fresh air inlet.
I'm thinking that in a newer car the new paint surface would shed water rather than allowing it to track along and drip into the inlet.
I'll let you know the results. Naturally it will involve finding another suitable stubbie
Cheers