So, I attempted to figure out where my water intrusion issue was coming from today with my Civic. As stated in an earlier post, I was confident it was not the sunroof drains as I verified they were clear and draining. So, I pulled the front cowling to look for possible problems and sources of water. Since it was tight back there, and I couldn’t really see anything, I decided to look inside the cabin. Again, not much could be seen, but, if I pulled the dash, I’d get a better view. So, that’s what I did (what a pain).
Anyhow, I wasn’t able to get the dash completely out because of the electrical, but enough to look entirely behind the dash as a way to see what was wet/rusted. The footwell was wet, but the carpet up behind the pedals and firewall insulation were all dry, so it was even more irritating to narrow down (although, I hadn’t driven the car in a couple of days). But, this bracket looks more corroded than the others, and right on that ledge.
And, when I looked at the ledge, it looks wet (so, it has to be coming from above it, right?).
So, I think it is sunroof drains now. But, not in the way you think. I had previously tested them and verified they were clear. And, when I drove in the rain or when I was testing them, I didn’t get any water in the cabin. It was only when I’d make that first turn while driving after the car would get wet. I’d make that turn, like when leaving in the morning, and I’d hear sloshing from in front of the dash and then a bunch of water would run down the back of the dash and my dead pedal would get wet. And, the carpet, particularly the driver’s footwell is constantly wet. And, now that I have the dash removed, and I can see where rust is accumulating on brackets, I think it is leaking from the seam where the 2 parts of the sunroof drain come together.
I think water is seeping out of there, resting on a ledge on the firewall, and then dumping in the car after I turn. At least that is what is making sense at the moment. To test this, I plugged the drain and filled it with water, sure enough, seeping out at the seam between the parts.
Does this seem logical? Should I be looking elsewhere like a body seam (which is kinda what I expected to find) but I’m not seeing anything like that?