water leak

[nwhear]

Hi

Have had my Boxster for a year now (a 55 reg - Jan 2006) (first Porsche and dream come true). I use it everyday for the 20 mile commute and it has proved very reliable, great fun and everything I could have wished for.

Over the last 4 weeks tho I have noticed that when it rains or I wash the car (weekly with regular Swisswax treatment) my windows after dropping come up wet on the inside. This causes misting up on the inside that the poor old A/C takes a while to clear (regassed at recent service).

There is no water leak from the bottom of the door panel.

I recall something about this problem on the forum but cannot fnd it using the search engine. Can anyone point me in the right direction.

I contacted Porsche Solihull (I brought from them and they provide an excellent service to my mind) and they are taking the car in to correct the problem. But they did not explain what it might be! They did ask about any water leak from the bottom of the door.

I am still under the 2 year warranty (just by 3 weeks) and having shelled out for a years extended warranty I learn this problem is not covered on the extended warranty!

Any info would be helpfully.

Best wishes

Nick

 

[chrisbw]

I get the same problem in my 05 987. It really is annoying. Unfortunately I have no solution either.

Can anyone help?

Cheers

 

[robbosliding]

Nick,
I have had a Boxster previously and currently a C4S 911 and have and currently do experience what you describe. If I understand you correctly it follows washing ie a heavy flow of water over seals at the base of the glass which affords a water "resistant seal". If an amount of water passes this seal into the door which it realistically will (indicating this is water on the windows when wound down and back up after washing), then I think it is probable that water ingress/damp may contact the inside of your glass when wound down which would cause misting when wound back up again. I can't think of a car that I have owned that this hasn't happened to in greater or lesser extent.
If you wash the car and leave it for a few days in a dry ventilated garage does it still do this? Mine doesn't which supports the above and supports the presence of drainage holes in the lower seam of your car doors. Hope this helps.

 

[nwhear]

Thanks robbosliding

my last car was a TT roadster!! (then I got a decent car) and that didnt do this nor did my previous Saab convertibles (kids).

You are right that if left in the dry garage it all seems to dry out after a few days. Interestingly the drivers door is much more affected than the passenger door which is just starting to be affected. This suggests to me a worn seal given that the drivers window gets more use on my car.

I will report back following the visit to Solihull Porsche next week.

best wishes

Nick

 

[nwhear]

An afternoon at Porsche Solihul seems to have fixed the problem which was a combination of a split membrane (inside the door) and blockage of a drain hole apparently.

Interestingly the loan car I was given (Boxter S with 500 miles on the clock) had exactly the same problem with the drivers window being wet on the inside!

I am collecting the car today so shall be interested to see whether all is indeed well!

 

[nwhear]

Still wet on inside of the drivers door window (as with the courtesy car) after rain.

So in it goes again next week.

I have never had another car that had this problem - apart from my first a Morris 1100 which I brought very secondhand for £125 in 1973. The floor leaked in this one also indeed on one occasion with heavey rain my grandmother had her feet submerged in the passenger footwell. We had to bail out at the end of the journey.

 

[Glyn]

Could be either the radiator or the normal water expelled from the Air Con unit.
Check the expansion tank for water loss to confirm which it is, most likely the front left radiator - after driving the water is pressurised and so will force water out creating a significant drip.

When you say its just water - this suggests the air con, but coolant contains antifreeze and is coloured, dip your finger in the water and put to your tongue - if its water from aircon then it will be tasteless - if its coolant you will taste a sweetness - this is antifreeze

 

[Terrorv]

Many thanks Glyn it's definitely water. So must be the aircon. Spoken to my mechanic in tve phone just before I read your message and he came to the same conclusion. Appantly they have had a few cars in recently with the same issue. My be down to change in atmosphere. Also I normally turn the aircon off when the roof is down. Which is most of the time when it's not raining. Must have forgotten to today which would explain why I had not seen it before.

 

[kitchens]

You should try and run the aircon as often as possible as it stops the seals from perishing and leaks occurring if left off over a long time .The leak is air con water i would say .