Thanks to those who replied to my post on leaky windshield a couple of weeks ago: http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=859905&show_all=1

I went ahead and got the Permatex product, as it was the only brand mentioned I found over the counter locally. Well, the can said Loctite 5923, I dunno, it was a brown, tar-like substance, like syrup in consistency.

First I rinsed the gap between glass and trim with alcohol, and dried with compressed air. Then I tried to get the stuff behind the trim with a thin brush. Ha ha. Even wedging a putty knife to get a larger crack did not help much. What a mess. Compressed air turned out to do the job perfectly though. But alas, even if the water flow decreased, I had not managed to stop the leak.

My next move was to get a windshield sealant kit from Hermetite: Clear silicone in a small tube, and a very pointed tip. Ah, finally, no water dripping from the dash! But what the-! There was still a puddle forming on the floor!

Closer examination proved that the water entered via the hood cable – it turned out there was more than the one leak. And no wonder: In the engine bay, Volvo has made a pool for the cable: In heavy rain, the grommet is submersed under water; an accident waiting to happen. Just to be sure, there is a hole for a cable there too.

Now everything is sealed with a serious amount of silicone, the car is watertight (for now, at least) and the carpets and seats are back where they belong. And my back is hurting.

Thanks for listening,
Erling.
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My 240 Page

I have been away from the Brickboard with work related time restraints in the past month or so. I did not see your original post.

I am rehabbing a 90 244 for my son. One of the problems I ran across early on was wet carpet on the driver's side. I removed the interior of the car for rebuilding the seats and cleaning. Each rainfall would produce water in the driver's footwell. I assumed it was a leaking windshield. I purchased a clip set from my local glass shop and went so far as to remove the trim from around the windshield of a parts car to educate myself.

One day while washing another car I had my wife direct the hose at the cowl/windshield area of the leaker. Water ran down the firewall behind some insulating panels. Further investigation showed the water was running in beside an unsealed cruise control hose (in the same area you describe). Silicone proved to seal the area and no more leaks.

I don't understand how this car avoided corrosion damage boards as it had been sitting outside for two years before I purchased it, but evidently the water had found its way in shortly before I acquired it; the floorboards were undamaged.

Randy