General Water Leak Guide
| Subject: | General Waterleak Guide |
| Models: | 2006 Pontiac Solstice |
This bulletin is being revised to include additional waterleak conditions. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 05-08-67-011 (Section 08 - Body and Accessories).
Leak Location Index
Condition | Best Described In |
|---|---|
Waterleak Along Top of Windshield | #1 |
Front Floor Carpet Wet | #s, 2, 3, |
Front Floor Carpet Wet by Bottom of "A" Pillar | #s 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Waterleak From #1 Weatherstrip Joint | #s 9, 10 |
Waterleak Running Down "A" Pillar | #11 |
Waterleak From #2 Weatherstrip Joint. | #s 12, 13,14 |
Inside "B" Pillar or Rear Carpet Wet | #s 15, 16 |
Waterleak at Front of Trunk | #s 17,18 |
Water on Sides of Trunk Carpet | #19 |
Waterleak at Rear of Trunk | #s 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 |
Condition #1
The customer may comment of water anywhere across the top of the windshield.
Cause
During a torrential rain storm, the drain hole in the weatherstrip may not be large enough to accommodate all the water.
Correction
Cut a longer, thin 30 mm (1-1/8 in) slit in the weatherstrip. The left hand illustration above shows the original weatherstrip, while the right hand illustration shows the slit cut in the weatherstrip to the end of the square mold lines.
Cut a 3 mm (1/8 in) wider piece of weatherstrip out of the bottom of the weatherstrip.
Condition #2
The front floor carpets are wet.
Cause
The front of the dash and the floor pan seam may have a void in the sealer.
Correction
Shine a light from inside the vehicle and use a mirror to look up at the seam from inside the engine compartment. Clean the area with a non-oil based cleaner and reseal with urethane.
Condition #3
The front floor carpets are wet.
Cause
The floor pan to the lower "A" pillar may have a void in sealer.
Correction
Run water down the front of the "A" pillar to locate the leak. Clean the area with a non-oil based cleaner and reseal with urethane.
Condition #4
The carpet may be wet by the bottom of the "A" pillar near the sill plate.
Cause
There may be a lack of sealer at the sill plate to the lower "A" pillar.
Correction
Remove the trim at the top of the "A" pillar. Run water down the top of the "A" pillar to locate the leak.
The water will gather down at the bottom rear of the "A" pillar, pool up and drain into the car at the rearmost arrow. Making sure the seam is sealed at all the arrows will create a water path to the outside. Clean the area with a non-oil based cleaner and reseal with urethane.
Apply a piece of foam from the front inboard urethane inboard of the sill plate retaining holes all the way to the "B" pillar. Remove the foam gaskets from the sill plate clips.
Condition #5
The carpet may be wet by the bottom of the "A" pillar.
Cause
The under hood wire harness on the left hand side just forward of the "A" pillar may not be routed properly causing water to enter the wire harness and flow inside the vehicle.
Correction
The upper picture shows the drip loop pointing upward. The correct position should be pointing downward as show in the bottom picture of the illustration above. Also, ensure that the grommet is fully seated.
Condition #6
The carpet may be wet by the bottom of the "A" pillar.
Cause
Water may be entering the "A" pillar at the windshield weatherstrip and flowing down the "A" pillar.
Correction
Remove the left or right cowl screen cover and seal three locations:
| • | Make sure the hole at top of the pillar covered. Refer to the top arrow in the illustration. |
| • | Seal the seam at the top of the pillar with butyl. Refer to the middle arrow in the illustration. |
| • | Seal around the front top and back side of the upper door hinge with Kent seam sealer, P/N 10200. Refer to the bottom arrow in the illustration. |
Condition #7
The carpet may be wet by the bottom of the "A" pillar.
Cause
The front door windnoise weatherstrip may be mispositioned.
Correction
Relocate the weatherstrip so there is an approximate 5 mm (¼ in) gap between the windnoise weatherstrip and the primary door seal. The illustration above shows the mispositioned weatherstrip (top) and then the correct position (bottom).
Condition #8
The carpet may be wet by the bottom of the "A" pillar near the sill plate.
Cause
The left or right door regulator access plug may not be seated.
Correction
Make sure the access plug is fully seated.
Important Information for Water Testing Convertible Top
Prior to any repair or water testing of the convertible top, make sure the "B" pillar pins are falling into their proper position. These pins control the line up of all the seals.
If the pins do not fit properly, loosen the convertible top attaching bolts to the body and locator pin. Latch and secure the top and then tighten the attaching bolts and locator pin.
Work the top back and forth and retest.
Condition #9
The customer may comment about a weep from joint #1 (water runs down the inside of the glass).
Cause #A
Make sure the push pin retainer is straight in the top corner of the "A" pillar of the windshield. If the pin is on a slight angle, the weatherstrip will not align properly with the top weatherstrip.
Correction #A
Adjust the weatherstrip up or down so that the pin is straight in the "A" pillar.
Cause #B
The door glass may not be high enough in the opening and not closing the gap in joint #1.
Correction #B
Mark the glass with a grease pencil and adjust the glass 2 mm (3/16 in) upward at the front. Make sure that the stud stays in the top of the adjustment slot. This slot controls the tip in at the top of the glass.
Cause #C
The stuffer may not be in place inside the weatherstrip. There should be a bulge in the weatherstrip which will close the gap between the weatherstrip and the top.
Correction #C
If the stuffer is missing, replace the weatherstrip.
Cause #D
The stuffer may not be in place inside the weatherstrip in the front of the convertible top.
Correction #D
If the stuffer is missing or out of place, replace the weatherstrip. When replacing the weatherstrip, make sure the lip on the weatherstrip to the top measures 7 mm (1/4 in).
Cause #E
The front tonneau cover seal may not have enough contact to the windshield weatherstrip.
Correction
Remove the screw holding the weatherstrip, install ONE flat washer under the weatherstrip and reinstall the screw. This will push the weatherstrip slightly outboard.
Condition #10
The customer may comment that the is a drip from the backside of joint #1.
Cause
The weatherstrip may be missing a piece of foam on the back of the weatherstrip.
Correction
Replace the weatherstrip. When replacing the weatherstrip, make sure the lip on the weatherstrip to top measures 7 mm (1/4 in).
If the above corrections do not eliminate the concern, cutting a little bit larger slot in the bottom of the weatherstrip may help in water removal.
Condition #11
The customer may comment of water running down the "A" pillar.
Cause
The two-way tape or butyl on the backside of the weatherstrip may not be sealing to the "A" pillar.
Correction
Clean the backside of the weatherstrip and seal the upper portion (upper three arrows) with GM weatherstrip adhesive. The bottom portion (bottom arrows) should be sealed with thin strips of butyl.
Condition #12
The customer may comment about a weep from joint #2 (water runs down the inside of the glass).
Cause
The door glass may not be high enough in the opening and not closing the gap in joint #2.
Correction
Mark the glass with a grease pencil and adjust the glass 2 mm (3/16 in) upward at the rear.
Condition #13
The customer may comment of a drip from joint #2.
Cause
The stuffer may be mispositioned in the weatherstrip. It should be flush to the end of the weatherstrip.
Correction
Replace the weatherstrip if it is mispositioned.
Condition #14
The customer may comment of a drip from the backside of joint #2.
Cause
The screw that retains the weatherstrip may be loose.
Correction
Hand tighten the screw.
Condition #15
The customer comment that the inside "B" pillar or the rear carpet is wet.
Cause #A
The convertible top strap may not be in the correct position.
Correction #A
Ensure the winter flap covers the rub strip slot. Rotate the canvas around the B-pillar pin to bias the winterflap over the rub strip slot.
Cause #B
The weatherstrip two-way tape may not be adhered to the body.
Correction #B
Replace the rub strip.
Squirt water into the weatherstrip as shown. The water should flow into the square drains in the weatherstrip and exit into the rear fender and onto the ground.
Condition #16
The customer may comment that the rear carpet is wet behind the seat.
Cause
The tonneau cover assembly mounting bolts may be leaking.
Correction
Clean and seal the two studs on each side with Kent seam sealer, P/N 10200.
Condition #17
The customer may comment that the carpet is wet under the two forward trunk drains.
Cause
The two drains may have a void in the sealer between the drain and the body.
Correction
Clean the area with a non-oil based cleaner and reseal with urethane.
Condition #18
The customer may comment about a waterleak at the front of the trunk.
Cause
The drain bag in the trunk may be stuck together.
Correction
Clean the inside of the drain bag and install 25 mm x 25 mm x 13 mm thick (1 in x 1 in x 9/16 in thick) foam blocks to the inside of the bag. Place the foam blocks three inches apart. These foam blocks can be cut from a roll and purchased from Kent Automotive, P/N P46515.
Condition #19
Some customers may comment of water on the sides of the carpet in the rear trunk.
Cause
Water may be entering the trunk through a seam in the tonneau cover.
Correction
Clean the tonneau cover and seal with a small amount of Kent seam sealer, P/N 10200.
Condition #20
The customer may comment about a waterleak at the rear of the trunk.
Cause
The seam sealer patch may not be sealing in the corners.
Correction
Clean the surface in the corner where the mastic is up and reseal with Kent seam sealer, P/N 10200.
Condition #21
The customer may comment about a waterleak at the rear of the trunk.
Cause
The fascia studs may not be sealed properly.
Correction
Clean the underside surface around the six inboard studs with Kent seam sealer, P/N 10200.
Condition #22
The customer may comment about a waterleak at the rear of the trunk.
Cause
The hem flange that holds the weatherstrip may not be positioned properly.
Correction
Bend the hem flange inboard at the tail lamp until the corner of the stowed top just contacts the weatherstrip.
Condition #23
The customer may comment about a waterleak at the rear of the trunk.
Cause
The pressure relief valve may not be seated.
Correction
Replace the pressure relief valve as the clips will take a set from not being fully engaged.
Condition #24
The customer may comment about a waterleak at the rear of the trunk.
Cause
The chrome bezels on the trunk lid surface for the tonneau cover latches may not be sealed properly.
Correction
Remove the bezel and install new two way tape to the back side of the bezel.
Condition #25
The customer may comment about a waterleak at the rear of the trunk.
Cause
The flange that holds the trunk seal may not be sealed properly.
Correction
Remove the seal and dry out the retainer. Reseal with Kent seam sealer, P/N 10200.
Condition #26
The customer may comment that the carpet is wet in the rear of the trunk.
Cause
The wiring harness rubber housing end may not be seated to the body.
Correction
Clean the rubber boot with a non-oil based cleaner and apply a bead of weatherstrip adhesive around the hole and reinstall the boot into the body.
Door Glass Adjustment
- Open the door and raise the glass to the full up position.
- Close the door .
- Loosen the door glass and, with the use of a helper, push the door glass in the opening to achieve the dimensions listed in the steps below.
- Set the door glass so there is 4 mm (0.16 in) seal wink over of the seal at location #1
- Set the door glass so there is 5 mm (0.20 in) seal wink over of the seal at locations #2 & 3.
- Ensure that the top edge of the glass fully contacts the primary bulb of the rear of the weatherstrip at locations #4 & 5.
- The rear edge of the door glass should cover the flap at a minimum along the radius at location #5.
- Make sure the front edge of the door glass does not trap the "A" pillar weatherstrip when the door is opened or closed.
