Component Tests and General Diagnostics

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Leakage: Defined as water that spills over weatherstripping and causes the interior to become wet in a short period of time.

Seepage: Defined as water that runs down the inside of the door and or quarter glass but does not build up or drip onto any interior trim components. By nature of their design, convertible tops normally display some water seepage under certain ambient conditions. Water leakage/seepage characteristics for the convertible are:
- Normal-Under normal conditions, the convertible top should never display seepage of more than c total of three moisture weeps of more than 5 mm (0.2 inch) wide at any or all of the convertible top roof joints. As with any convertible top, leakage may occur under abnormal conditions such as the flooding of the weatherstrip roof joints with large quantities of water as might happen in an automatic car wash.
- Service Required-Vehicle service is required if leakage occurs under normal conditions. (Some adjustments may help reduce leakage which occurs under abnormal conditions).

TEST PROCEDURES
1. Interview the customer to get a detailed description of the leak and the conditions under which the leak occurred.
2. Open the part of the vehicle to be tested for the water leak, door, windows, convertible top, etc.
3. Use a clean cloth and wipe clean and dry the sealing surfaces for the suspected area.
4. Close the doors, windows, etc. of the vehicle to prevent water from accidentally getting into the vehicle.
5. Turn off A/C, heater and ventilation blower. Otherwise, if the blower is on this will pressurize the cabin, preventing water from entering back through a bad seal condition.
6. Evaluate the customer's description of the leak in question then use the method of water testing (angle, distance, pressure, etc.) which closely simulates or duplicates the leak condition the customer's vehicle experienced.
7. Most leaks can be corrected by glass and/or weatherstrip adjustments so the glass achieves proper insertion into the weatherstrip. Proper insertion of the glass into the weatherstrip is necessary for proper leak prevention. Weatherstrip replacement may be necessary if proper insertion cannot be attained by adjustments.