The driver's side front carpet gets wet when it rains but never at the powerwash. I have already sealed that left vent thing and im positive it isn't coming from that. The weatherstripping on the door and window is in great condition. Any ideas?!

Duncan Catlett

86' 744ti

1.5" lowering

Bilstiens

IPD sway bars

12 psi

Duncan:

I had a similar problem with my "84 760. Turned out it was an oblong/oval shaped panel, glued on from the outside of the body (during manufacturing) that is found on the side quarter panel. It is inaccessible from the outside--another panel is welded on top of it. Mine appeared to be made of black plexiglas, or some hard plastic. Find it by pulling back the carpet, etc. near the hood release. Rain seeps off the wildshield, down into the drains at the cowl, and then into the front footwell through this leaking seal. I just used caulk around the inside, and all is well several years and 65K miles later.

Have fun. Steve

Duncan,

I had the same problem, and after looking at the sunroof, cowling, and other standard places, decided that the water was coming from one of the drain plugs in the floor (which had rusted out). Water was fluming in whenever I went over a puddle. I hosed the car down and couldn't duplicate the leakk, water only came in when the car moved. Most of the rust was in the back, and under the front passenger seat, where there was a good-sized rust hole.

I removed the rust, polished the metal, and used metal mesh and bondo, paint and tar to complete the job. Hope this helps.

--Dan

daniel.greenspan@jhuapl.edu

Well, i have a 1988 model 740, what you've gotta do is rip up the carpet and underlay from atleast one side of the car in the front, now, near the wheel well there is a black plastic curved square, this piece of plastic must be the stupidest thing i have ever seen volvo do. This plastic is usually sealed on with windscreen type gooee stuff. When the water runs through the gap in the cowling and flows down the inbetween the guards and the interior metal, this piece of plastic is what stops it from coming into the car. I only know this through, unfortunately, experience of getting into my car one morning and having nearly 3 cm deep water in my passenger side!!!! You wouldn't believe how much water those plastic things leak. best way to seal them up, is get some black silastic goo, and use lots of it...........The previous owner of my car thought that blutak was a suitable sealing compound......believe me, it isn't.

When you run a hose, point it down the windscreen, and leave it for 5 minutes, come back, and my guess is thats where the water in comming in from.........

Mine did the same thing. I was going crazy trying to find the leak. I finally replaced the sunroof gasket/seal. The new one has been redesigned and so far keeps the water out. It is nice having a dry car again. I would replace your sunroof seal before you do much else.

Regarding Mr. Brink and the sunroof: This has been my problem and the area I suspected. Did your headliner stay relativly dry during this trouble? Mine feels damp but hardly as wet as the saturated carpets. This is whats puzzles me. Could you descibe how your car got wet overall? Thanks,B Allen

My headliner was either dry or slightly wet when the floor was covered with water. It would happen during some rain storms and not others possibly denpending on the angle of the car. I spent over a year looking for the leak and finally just replaced the seal since I couldn't find anything else. I suggest you replace your seal.

Have you checked the white plugs under the carpet (ie: the ones that line both the driver and passenger door sill areas)? Can you simulate the event? Try pulling the carpets up on both sides-down to bare metal floor-and poor water over the two main areas(the sun roof and the cowl area). When you poor water over the cowl area, you also include the windshield area as well. Has the windshield ever been replaced? I've heard of some bad replacement jobs causing water leaks. The wight plug inspection is the only thing I could think of off the top of my head to explain the reason you don't notice a water leak when going to the carwash as opposed to being rained on.

*NOTE: Don't move on to the next area until you've eliminated the current area of possible leakage.

I still haven't found my water leak :( Mine is so bad that sometimes when it rains long enough (ie: a day or so) it starts getting wet in both the front driver/ passenger side and then it runs all the way to the back seat carpets, too. I've ruled out all my plugs (black/ white) and the cowl (as it pertains to the vent area above the heater fan. I'm beginning to think it is my wind shield that's leaking. I am going to take my brick into a local Volvo only shop that is WELL versed in leak detection. I've done all the easy work for them already. They'll probably find it almost right away.

Until I take it to the shop for this problem, I am periodically pulling the carpets and under padding and drying them out. Can't let it rust under there.

I'll have to admit, this is the first time I ever ran into "leak detection" as a common issue of discussion between so many people.

Do you have a sunroof? Has your cowl leaf screen come unfixed, or do you see crud beneath?