Morris Minor Owners Club

I seem to have a leak. An awful leak - ok, not awful, but pretty wet!
The floor behind the driver's seat is somehow almost constantly damp, which is soaking up into my seatbelt and causing me to end up with a damp patch on the right of my lap - It is obviously bothering me a tad (wet = rust, rusty floor = MOT FAILURE), I've considered splashing out and buying a battery powered dehumidifier while I find time to actually search and destroy the hole/leak/whatever is causing this! Little saddened as I only just managed to get the carpets glued back down.
I'm also picking up the (somewhat waterproof) cover from the green moggy on the weekend just to try and keep Rose a little bit drier while I sort out the problem. Poor girl will have to be parked on the street under a cover! I'll have to sew my permit on the outside or something...

Another minor issue - regarding rubbing down of bubbly patches - Is it 'acceptable' to rub down an area, paint it in red lead, then just use a paintbrush to apply neat cellulose paint over the top (or do I still need to thin it?)?

I've sourced two people in Swansea (locals at the pub I work in) who are willing to have a poke about, one says he is well versed in Waxoyl and drives a light blue saloon (amongst other classics), which I have never seen, and the other is in the middle of a 2-car-into-one-car restoration. Its just finding the right time to go and see them with the car, when I am not working, sleeping or at Uni.

Anybody else had the same wet patch? Perhaps you could offer up what was causing yours?

limegreen wrote: Anybody else had the same wet patch? Perhaps you could offer up what was causing yours?

Yes! Only my little pond is behind the passenger seat. I'm now convinced that it's because the door seals are leaking, even though they are in good order. I've already established that it's not coming through the front or rear window seals. I have got some gaps around the tops of a couple of my doors (it's a 4-door) which I can probably sort out by rehanging the doors - it's definitely a job that has to be done before winter!

You could try getting someone to empty a watering can over the door gaps whilst you're in the car, then look to see if your doors are leaking.

Dryad wrote:

limegreen wrote: You could try getting someone to empty a watering can over the door gaps whilst you're in the car, then look to see if your doors are leaking.

You could try sitting in the car and get someone to spray it with a hose and you should see where it's coming in.

It's almost certainly the door seals. New ones don't seem as thick as the originals. Shop around for some thicker ones.

As for the painting job, rub down the area to remove all loose old paint. Prime with red oxide or grey primer. Leave to dry thoroughly, then paint in top coat. If you're using a rattle can it's the right dilution, otherwise thin paint 75/25(thinners) for a few thin coats then 50/50 for the final coat feathering the paint thickness at the edges to blend with the existing paint. When it's hardened (3 days at least) sand down with something like 1200 wetndry, or use a cutting compound.

Personally, I'd be tempted to drill a small drain hole too...

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one - I had a look today, and I can actually see daylight, so it's DEFINETLY the door seals! HUZZAH. I don't believe they have ever been changed.

I suggest you remove the carpets until the leak is sorted - or they will be ruined. Old newspaper is good for soaking up water - don't waste money on a de-humidifier - especially a battery powered one !

bmcecosse wrote:I suggest you remove the carpets until the leak is sorted - or they will be ruined. Old newspaper is good for soaking up water - don't waste money on a de-humidifier - especially a battery powered one !

thankyou BMC - I'll get those carpets out and on the line tomorrow in the last of the 'good' weather, I can get old newspaper from the pub I work at, so I'll use that!

A windscreen squeegy/de-icer tool is very good at removing lots of water from a carpet. Even better at getting out muck too if you give them a shampoo while they are out!