It has been more than a year since I removed the bad wiper motor and replaced it with a used one. Trouble is, I forgot how the original was sealed up against water leaking into the passenger side. (which it does)

On my '86, it looks like there is a spongy, black sealant under the motor to seal up the shaft hole.

Is this the only area that needs this caulking?

How about the hole inside the cowling where the shaft comes through to attatch to the wiper mechanism? Is this a second place for water to leak inside?

Finally, what are we using as sealant? I have some rope caulk (buytl-rubber)

Zee, I was just there last spring, after gluing the motor magnets, I though it has only been 7 or 8 months, I can't recall either. So I'm going out to take a gander and see if I'm reminded.

Brr, its cold out there. I remember now, after looking at it: the gear box to cowl mounting had a pliable gasket of sticky stuff that was crumbling in places from 275K of use on my '84. I used some "duct sealer" found in the electrical section of a home center store, made by GB Electric. It is like black non-hardening putty -- at least it is still pliable in the frigid air tonight!

OK, so I only need to seal the top of the shaft, not the interior hole?

Oh, that's right, that is the space where all the leaves and seeds go. Well I've forgotten exactly how I did that too, so back out to the '84 for a look-see.

Art Benstein in a Cape Cod near Baltimore

Zee, the shaft housing is surrounded by a tight fitting grommet placed in the interior body skin. There is/was no additional sealant. Of course, if the grommet is dried out it would no longer seal well, or if the grommet is missing, I'd guess something very pliable and sticky might be used around the shaft housing -- say butyl rubber from a windshield job...

Hey, Zee, do you think I could market a moisture detector alarm with sensors placed under the carpets in maybe 4 places?? Are we the only bricksters who hate rust worse than disease?

Art Benstein near Baltimore

> Zee, the shaft housing is surrounded by a tight fitting grommet

> placed in the interior body skin. There is/was no additional sealant.

> Of course, if the grommet is dried out it would no longer seal well,

> or if the grommet is missing, I'd guess something very pliable and

> sticky might be used around the shaft housing -- say butyl rubber

> from a windshield job...

OK, I have that grommet and it is weak. Put some household caulk up inside it as a quick fix before one rain, but it still leaks from the top.

Moisture sendsors under the carpets? GREAT idea! Send my the first prototypes, and I'll test them in the real world.