New concerns on Lifeliner

Richard Vyse

Richard Vyse

Tell me more about that space between the firewall and the dash. It has a grill on top allowing water to seep into it then drain out the sides. Is that all this area is used for?

The reason I ask is I tracked down a water leak that is coming from this area. The issue is repairing it which is not accessible from the firewall. I can just about see the leak looking up from under the dash but in order to get to it the entire dash needs to be removed. Not a real big leak and only does it when raining. :smiley3:

If this basin is only used as a drain for rain water and not for fresh air for the A/C or into the cab, then I'm thinking if I were to make a tin cover to seal it up until such time the dash can come out and the repair can be made this would not harm anything.

Thoughts and "yes" I do have a repair manual but nothing showing this area.
 
Your cowl vent is used for taking in cool fresh air into the passenger cabin. I'm not sure of the specifics on Cadillac, but I think most older cars are of a similar design, and what happens is the drain tubes get clogged up over time, and the water that gets in there finds other ways to dissapate, like draining through holes in the firewall into the passenger cabin.

Again, I don't know exactly how it works on a Cadillac, but there should be some sort of tube or tubes that exit near the bottom of the car that water should drain out of. Sometimes you can blow some compressed air up into them to get them unclogged, but that doesn't get rid of the debris. Pour a cup of water in the cowl, and if they are working at all you should see some water drip onto the pavement.
 
When pouring water into this vented area water runs does out from under the fenders in front of the doors but also on the driver's side into the cab by the emergency brake pedal.

It's an impossible area to actually see and figure out how to correct. If this area needs to be open for fresh air and the A/C will need it to operate correctly, I will need to remove my tin cover.

A side effect also is the amount of hot air entering the cab from the vented cowl. Looks like I'm just stuck with it until I can rip the dash out for the repair.

Thanks Todd.

Todd Merrifield said:
Your cowl vent is used for taking in cool fresh air into the passenger cabin. I'm not sure of the specifics on Cadillac, but I think most older cars are of a similar design, and what happens is the drain tubes get clogged up over time, and the water that gets in there finds other ways to dissapate, like draining through holes in the firewall into the passenger cabin.

Again, I don't know exactly how it works on a Cadillac, but there should be some sort of tube or tubes that exit near the bottom of the car that water should drain out of. Sometimes you can blow some compressed air up into them to get them unclogged, but that doesn't get rid of the debris. Pour a cup of water in the cowl, and if they are working at all you should see some water drip onto the pavement.
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Go to Home Depot, or a store that makes magnetic signs, and get a section of magnetic vinyl that will cover the vents (Home Depot sells it to cover your home air vents in the winter, a sign shop would be more likely to get you something that would fit more precisely). Keep it in the car for when it rains, or for when you park it overnight and are expecting rain. Should stay on at highway speeds, and you won't be stuck with something that is hard to remove when you want air.
 
Todd Merrifield said:
Go to Home Depot, or a store that makes magnetic signs, and get a section of magnetic vinyl that will cover the vents (Home Depot sells it to cover your home air vents in the winter, a sign shop would be more likely to get you something that would fit more precisely). Keep it in the car for when it rains, or for when you park it overnight and are expecting rain. Should stay on at highway speeds, and you won't be stuck with something that is hard to remove when you want air.
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Great idea Todd. TKS!
 
first off is it coming out of under the kick panel or running down on the
inside and coming out there. what you got a pro car or something.

lay under the dash with a flash light and look up while terry sprays the windshield area with a heavy spray and see if you can see were the seam is leaking. dont forget to check the glass to as it could be comming fron there. if it on top you can get it from threw the vent if it's coming from one of the seams behind the kick panel its a little more of a challenge. as yours was a AC car you have no way to reach in there and you stuck making a try to patch on the outer side.
 
Oh sure, lay under the dash and let Saint Terri throw water in my face. It is leaking directly over the emergency brake pedal. I mounted the tin cover over the cowl vent but after going home for lunch and starting the car, started right up again, the air flow through the dash vents was restricted. So the cover is coming off and will do the magnetic covers for now.

I did purchase a spray can of sealant not spray foam, used for something like this and may try to get in there and just spray the hell out of it. Probably will clogged the vent on that side so water will either sit or flow to the passenger side to exit.

Oh the drama!!!!
 
Richard Vyse said:
I did purchase a spray can of sealant not spray foam, used for something like this and may try to get in there and just spray the hell out of it. Probably will clogged the vent on that side so water will either sit or flow to the passenger side to exit.
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A lot of that stuff retains water. Spray enough of it in there and in the spring you'll be missing the lower rear section of your fenders....
 
Take the vent cowl off and use auto body seal sealer. The seams are sealed with this stuff, and you probably have a leak at a seam. For gods sake, dont use a magnet.
 
Russ Austin said:
Take the vent cowl off and use auto body seal sealer. The seams are sealed with this stuff, and you probably have a leak at a seam. For gods sake, dont use a magnet.
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The magnet was suggested as a temporary fix to keep the rain out, not a permanent fix, as Richard is getting ready to drive the car north for the PCS meet soon and is likely not interested in tearing into it at this point.
 
till you know the vary spot to put anything it not worth it. let it go fix it when you get home. coming down from on top of the e brake sounds to me to be the windshield. that lower corner or side will leak and there is a hole that will funnel the water down there. i did find a mouse nest in the 73 up tight in the vent that gathered enough water to rust threw . it was right over the brake. we were able to get it threw the vent. but you have to know were it is. you end up filling in a lot of stuff that gives you problems later.
 
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