Traveller interior wood removal - advice

[badger]

Hi all,

I have discovered a leak during last weeks rain. Water is dripping down onto the rear seat on the passenger side and is coming from behind the wooden top rail interior trim. Today I removed the top rail, the fillet behind it, and then tried to remove the pillar cover, this is where i got stuck! Having removed the seatbelt fixing and all the screws it appears to still be quite well attached... I can lever it out from the top a bit but am loathe to force it in case I cause more problems than I am trying to solve.
Do I need to remove the bottom rail underneath the window to get this panel out?
What is the most common cause of this type of leak? (I am guessing that water is coming in somewhere around the rubber seal across the roof and draining back down this side of the car) Best solution to stop the leaks?

Thanks in advance...

[barrie102]

try using windscreen sealant under both sides of the rubber seal on the roof, it has worked for me in the past.

[irmscher]

fish tank sealant is good also

[ASL642]

Try using the black guttering mastic from B&Q or Homebase etc. Flexible, and remains tackey.

[millerman]

Neil, I have some mastic as previous post, if you wish to give it a try. Cheers, Colin

[badger]

Might do Colin, although i think i have some sealant somewhere. Before i do anything i need to get the upright timber off, have just checked and water is coming in behind it. Also at bottom of wind screen on both sides! What wonderful weather!

[simmitc]

The capping has just four screws holding it in place (apart from the seatbelt mounting). It is common for it to stick to the mastic along the front edge of the side window, particularly if a previous owner has added more mastic to cure the leak. The only solution is to persist with gentle prying - try sliding a thin chisel between the capping and the window.

Loose guttering can be another source of the leak, but area around rubber roof strip is most likely.

[badger]

Thanks simmitc,

Gentle prying finally got it off! It needed a slight repair anyway so now that's sorted. It was well and truly covered in mastic around the window edge and this was stuck fast at the bottom. I've left it all off for now and am going to get some sealant under the rubber strip and then wait for it to rain!!

Thanks all

[Kevin]

Thanks simmitc,

Gentle prying finally got it off! It needed a slight repair anyway so now that's sorted. It was well and truly covered in mastic around the window edge and this was stuck fast at the bottom. I've left it all off for now and am going to get some sealant under the rubber strip and then wait for it to rain!!

Thanks all

You should only use Dum Dum and not mastic behind the wood as it remains flexible for many years and is what was used in the first place.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/400g-Eldro-Dum-Du ... 0579133897