After each of last several rains, noticed a dripping that lasted days & eventually a little rusting going on behind my driver side rear wheel mud flap. Somehow water gets into the body panel and was slowly seeping out.
Today went under there with drill in hand to make a hole to let it out, and saw an interesting looking void in the seam where the outside & underside body sheet metal join. Decided before drilling to poke in there with a length of bailing wire... which opened the floodgates. Dumped a solid 1/2 gallon of water out that one hole. Poured long enough that had I been on my toes (instead of my back) I could have video'd it.
Made a decent clean-out effort with that wire, and discovered a bunch more of those drainage holes (I assume that's what they are) all around the underside perimeter of the van. Poked 'em all but that was the only one that was holding any water.
Here's a crummy photo of me poking. You can see some of the water that came out on the pavement & the gunk that followed it on my mudflap.
Anyone got thoughts on how that much water is getting in there? Is it supposed to flow in & then drain, or is it unusual to have water getting in there at all? I'd have guessed the latter.
While we're on the topic...
My front door sills usually have standing water & dirt in them under the plastic step. After a rain or a car wash... whenever I look. I don't even screw the plastic covers down anymore since it doesn't seem to help keep stuff out. In the area described by these threads:
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3809
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6133
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542
Today I drilled a small hole in the floor of the passenger side since up to now there's been no way for the water to drain out. Hoping that'll make it better... but could be worse, we'll see.
Thought I'd seen discussion some time back about the weatherstripping around the front doors possibly letting this in. If anyone is aware of what I'm talking about, please post a link since I couldn't find it.
--Ben
Today went under there with drill in hand to make a hole to let it out, and saw an interesting looking void in the seam where the outside & underside body sheet metal join. Decided before drilling to poke in there with a length of bailing wire... which opened the floodgates. Dumped a solid 1/2 gallon of water out that one hole. Poured long enough that had I been on my toes (instead of my back) I could have video'd it.
Made a decent clean-out effort with that wire, and discovered a bunch more of those drainage holes (I assume that's what they are) all around the underside perimeter of the van. Poked 'em all but that was the only one that was holding any water.
Here's a crummy photo of me poking. You can see some of the water that came out on the pavement & the gunk that followed it on my mudflap.
Anyone got thoughts on how that much water is getting in there? Is it supposed to flow in & then drain, or is it unusual to have water getting in there at all? I'd have guessed the latter.
While we're on the topic...
My front door sills usually have standing water & dirt in them under the plastic step. After a rain or a car wash... whenever I look. I don't even screw the plastic covers down anymore since it doesn't seem to help keep stuff out. In the area described by these threads:
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3809
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6133
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542
Today I drilled a small hole in the floor of the passenger side since up to now there's been no way for the water to drain out. Hoping that'll make it better... but could be worse, we'll see.
Thought I'd seen discussion some time back about the weatherstripping around the front doors possibly letting this in. If anyone is aware of what I'm talking about, please post a link since I couldn't find it.
--Ben