Replacing Defender Vent seals and tracing leaks Part 3

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[@BritannicaRestorations]

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[@evanjones2539]

When BMW bought LR, they said they tested their cars for leaks by putting a cat inside and leaving it there the weekend.. On the Monday they opened the car and the cat was dead due to lack of oxygen. They tried the same with the Defender... on the Monday when they opened the car the cat had escaped... Take care Mike...

[@harveysmith100]

Very good!

[@888johnmac]

lol , true story ??

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Good one!

[@bigm383]

Schroedinger had a similar idea!

[@owensteele1274]

Love it LOL! :oD

I had water running inside and replaced vent seals. Problem wasn't solved, but i managed to fix and lube vent hinges. After watching one of your videos I made "extension" to the bulkhead gutter and problem was solved, no more water :)

[@johnchetwynd3618]

My inside gutter would fill up and then you got the classic ‘right leg/left leg dousing’ when braking (depending which seat you were in 😂). After much investigation involving wedges of paper towel in the gutter to try and work out the source, I totally cured it by re-sealing the join that runs across the roof with Sikaflex 521 UV (white). Who knew that the gutter could hold about a gallon of water (at least it seemed like it 😂)

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Correct - that is usually the culprit = this is a 1984 model so I expect the original sealer has dried out

[@SiCrewe]

I DO like conveniences and gadgets but you can buy a LOT of rags for the cost of a heated windscreen. Now, heated MIRRORS, OTOH, are an absolute bloody marvel! It a complete game-changer to be able to defrost mirrors without accidentally moving them and then having to re-adjust them.

[@craig_chaznibond452]

I fitted those exact seals in preparation for the winter. Vent was spotlessly clean but they still moved after leaving the vents open for 24 hours. Had to use a contact adhesive. It worked and no more drafts, well not from there anyway.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Try telling the kids today that, and they won't believe you...

[@nickboylen6873]

Heated screens aren’t only aftermarket - late models had them as an option and I think all XS (top spec) station wagons have them as standard. They work pretty well as demisters, as you said, and can help get rid of frost by softening the bottom layer, but scraping is still needed, just easier. I fit heated screens to my 109 and they’re fantastic in UK winters. The heated pads for the wing mirrors are great too, both a big safety improvement. Then there is the heated seating - now, that really is nice in winter, especially in the 109! Finding roof leaks... well, good luck with that. I used PU adhesive in the gutters to seal them up, and Captain Tilly’s Creeping Crack Cure (from most boat chandlers) on the alpine light seals to make sure they’re good. I think I’m getting water in through the seams hidden under the roof’s external ribs, so they’re next. It’s only a small leak, but it drips from any of the bolts through the gutter holding the roof to the side panels or windscreen.

[@lookcreations]

Just removed the roof on my 109”, there’s a lot of bolt holes through the gutter to seal up. No problem with the bulk head vent seals as the rusted bulkhead lets the water in before it reaches the vents 😄

[@gussyshield2456]

Love your videos, love your manner, very pragmatic approach which inspires me in restoring my 1986 90”; thank you.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomasjohns13]

My roof also leaked from where the top skin was sandwiched against the gutter. I lined the whole gutter with a thin layer of marine silicone which sorted it.

[@petersmith4455]

hello mike. nothing new then, my series 3 l/rovers used to leak like the titanic during the 70s.we just got on with it,did the best we could,

[@jonatday]

There was a 45 page typed A4 paper book at the main dealers I worked at that discribed all the potential water leaks and the alleged fixes! The roof joint and the pressed corners at the front where a crack can form due to the stamping process are unusual ones I've been involved in. Using a smoke machine inside the vehicle may yield results, if you can maintain enough positive pressure!!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Smoke machine - I used a theatrical one once and smoke bellowed out of everywhere Good thing LR do not make submarines ..

[@davepearce6359]

As Sherlock says, the game is afoot, good luck on finding that leak Mike. 👍🏻

[@grahameroberts8109]

You love your neighbour. “I’ll throw it over the neighbour’s fence later”. 😱🙈😂

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yeah - he was cutting trees down so I didn't want to disturb him! You would have thought he would have spend more time tidying up his property - junk all over his fence line....

[@owensteele1274]

Great suggestion for a T-shirt logo with a picture of a broken Defender LOLZ! (;oD).

[@richardtedeschi9290]

I just did mine today real pig of a nightmare job, the left one took me about 4 hours to take off clean and refit and it was mostly on the refit that took me ages, the right one took me about one hour to take of clean and refit.

[@Colinpark]

I added a larger gutter guard over my doors that kept water from dripping over top of the existing roof gutters and leaking into the doors. I used anodized L shaped aluminium stock to make them.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Good idea!

[@deniscudahy4549]

Looks like the seal of the screen 👍👍

[@MrRobmellor]

The simplest way to find out where the leak is coming from is --- shut all the doors and any other openings. Then open the sun roof---- Put an hose pipe throw the sunroof and fill the vehicle right up to the top with water ---- that way you will see the water coming out of where it is going in-----Simples ----- Let me know how you go on Mike. Best wishes from Gods county, Yorkshire ROB. Stay safe Mike.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Problem with that Rob. is the water would leak out of the holes in the footwells....

[@MrRobmellor]

@@BritannicaRestorations WHAT!!!!!! Only the foot wells. When I bought my defender I was asked if I wanted a foot bath included in the sale, nothing said about foot wells. Never mind, we live and learn. Keep em coming Mike, and thanks for the laugh's.

[@federicoacker5672]

What responds a super-intelligent computer to this: Land Rover + Theory + Rain = "ERROR"...

[@owensteele1274]

1:40 to 2:00 there's loads of ancient, taped-up, end-of-life Focuses and Mondeos my way with the QuickClear front windscreens that have misty vertical stripes due to failed heating elements. Obviously great when they were new, but worse than crap now.

[@stevecallachor]

Here in the great south land you can get a laminated flat screen cut for about $160 per square metre and they polish the edges for you too. Life's a matter of knowing where to shop! Stavros

[@BritannicaRestorations]

They do here too - but not heated

[@harveysmith100]

Never mind the bloody leaks. Gearwrench ratchet spanners? Las week it was a set on Tekton screwdrivers, now it's Gearwrench. You've been going mad Mike, carry on like this and you will have to return to Yorkshire for some re-training.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Had them for years Harvey!

[@gazzafloss]

It's all ok Mike, it only leaks when it's raining, that's what I say about my old Disco 1 anyway...

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Instead of a roof rack many be a full roof umbrella would be a good idea? Like the safari roof but covers the whole vehicle? Lol!

[@jamescunliffe9872]

Could be leaking at the point where the roof skin is riveted to the steel channel through a loose rivet or the seal at the top of the windscreen framework,older roofs with vents at the back end were a terrible idea as the turbulence while driving in rain sucked water in and then dumped it down the back of your neck when braking!:)

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Just wondering if the roof rack is stressing the gutters?

[@jamescunliffe9872]

@@BritannicaRestorations I was also thinking the same or wondering if the screen had taken damage from someone reversing at low speed with a trailer causing it to parralellogram then spring back breaking the seals,lol something along those lines anyway!

[@mjallenuk]

Check the seal of the sunroof to the roof itself matey

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Not so easy with that roof rack on!

[@mjallenuk]

True ... I've got my mates 300 110 in the yard and it's got much the same problem as this. The only thing I haven't yet done is the sunroof. Just waiting on a dry day!

[@thomasjohns13]

The only way I got my foam seal to work was to put one on the flap and one on the bulkhead. Nice tight seal now. As you can imagine.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Well if it works...

[@paulrichardson3222]

Look forward to finding out where its leaking from as mine leaks in the same place but on the other side. But I thought they were designed to do that.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Internal foot spa

[@timboyle3114]

Has he got glass insurance? that would fix that issue!.. Got the heated screen on my classic - Drivers half works great and demists - passenger side not so much and stays foggy - real pita I know that half's getting power, but have not figured out were its failing. Not much call for it most of the year in Cali!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yes that is what he is going to do - at the dealers!!

[@worldofrandometry6912]

An annoying problem. Time to get the hose out and work from bottom to top.

[@888johnmac]

Mike to find leaks .. put your smoke machine on the front seat , fire it up & look for escaping smoke ( same as you do for engines )

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Not enough volume or pressure = and to many body leaks Already tried it!

[@888johnmac]

@@BritannicaRestorations .. aah , never tried it on a car with as large an internal volume , lol too many leaks

[@nzrestoration9486]

Sounds like the owner would be better off with a standard windscreen and purchasing a $30 12v mini fan heater and put it on the dash, do the same thing! 😂

[@BritannicaRestorations]

The after market heated screens are a bit of a disappointment - short lives and as Quebec has mostly dirt roads in the country, a very expensive part to replace

[@jd9991]

You'd like the puma vents, none existent, just surface corrosion in their place. About the leaks at the window join block things, I had to just cave and fit them with sealant. Also the little gutter under the windscreen seems to extent a tiny bit further on a puma, under the attaching block, so gets clogged with leaves and things all the time. some terrible shapes for water flow on defenders. Best thing for water ingress, a garage. Inadvertedly own a puma with a heated windscreen from factory, I know fancy, anyway its on an 8 min timer, and in winter in Scotland, its a godsend to soften the ice while warming up.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

As I mentioned - everything on a Defender is a compromise

[@odhranquinn8992]

You can use the garden hose to find leaks in the dry👍 steel gutters to the aluminum skin are prone to leaking especially on such an old model.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Great point!

[@JeremyMAGNE]

I have the same roof leak... I suspect the gutters themselves are leaking to their inside part and then run to the front where it's open..

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Or the roof overlap

[@TheSussexpillbox]

WOW! 1000 for a heated screen. If only you were in the UK still, it is only 160 for a Britpart screen. It won't fit and will crack in the wind, but it is cheaper! Blue box for the win, apparently

[@Chumfin]

Think I’m getting my series rebuilt with a puma bulkhead and dash

[@richardgreene8750]

My front of gutter above top corner of door seems to be split from the roof body. And I get buckets of water dripping in through the headlining over the heat/vent (RH drive) control and down to floor. Need to put some Tek 7 or something on to deal the split.

[@davidmccrudden3197]

My money is on the "rainroof" sorry sunroof being the cause and tracking across to the drivers side due to the slight incline. I noticed the interesting looking door mirrors Mike did you fit them?

[@mylesmooney7505]

Or the door seals .. but your right roof rack ... !

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I fitted them a long time ago When a sunroof leaks they usually make the front of the headlining wet

[@GregPalmer2]

My land rover county has the same problem,you would think land rover would have fixed it in that model.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Greg - you should know by now LR NEVER test drive their products -- that is what the public are for! lol! A Toyota would never leave the factory with know issues like these

[@ey8486]

Hi Mike.. Good work keep it up... What was the name for the putty you use for your leak repairs

[@BritannicaRestorations]

3M strip caulk or Proform Strip caulk

[@billsoucess2448]

Coming from the roof bar mount takes water right into the weather seal

[@polloloci21]

I simply park in a garage and just don’t drive my 90 in the rain. 😵‍💫 I know- it’s a damn shame.

[@MrNineCherries]

I previously replaced my bulkhead vent seal with the help of an earlier video you done. Easy when you know how. Cheers. Heated screen and mirrors are on my long list of todo but it would be for demisting, we don't get the same harsh winters that you do over here in Scotland. And finally I have a drip that comes in somewhere at a similar location. Passenger side UK right at the A pillar, so I'm keen to see how you get on. Trim wise, should there be anything below the alpine windows? I have the same bit above the door but if I look below the window it's just an exposed piece of gutter on my 110, the rear speaker wires run along it. Apologies for a war n peace reply. Take care T.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I have been fitting a dog guard and had to remove the trim below the alpines - dry as a bone - mystery!

[@_captain_underpants]

Apart from the normal culprits, like seams, alpine lights and sunroof. This one has the roof rack fitted and the owner complained about springs needing more beef as they're not taking the load.... so if the roof gets loaded to the hilt, could leaks be something to do with overloading cracking around the gutter seal?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

I was thinking along the same lines

[@mattluszczak8095]

...its coming out from there.. lol mike that was like an antenborough moment bhahha

[@jjt1093]

Have to admit these are a pain in the ass to change LOL

[@dobcross]

Any good ideas how to get the vent pins out mine are stuck in solid ive tried plusgas and wd40

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Give them a good soaking and a bit of time

[@johndiaz7240]

Hello I don't know anything about much but could you use your smoke machine to find the leaks?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Not enough volume or pressure - tried a theatrical smoke machine once - leaks everywhere and not a nice residue inside (uses baby oil type stuff for the smoke)

[@johndiaz7240]

@@BritannicaRestorations Understood thanks.

[@S90Edg]

Have you watched TFL offroads Saga with the new Defender? Worth a watch. Thanks for vids Mike.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yes just saw the latest - what a joke of a vehicle!

[@gregdyar6451]

I've never seen those vents open there usually seized

[@timboyle3114]

If the vent was slightly bent out at one end due to the non central lever - would the foam act like a sponge and drag the water in drip by drip?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Possibly

[@weaton25]

Just a thought do people actually use the vents as I would have thought most of the later defenders would have AC I think that I would just seal them up that way they cannot leak but what do I now I drive a Jeep.

[@red90rover98]

Most people use them. They are very handy. Not many Defenders have A/C. Unless you live somewhere really hot, the vents are more than enough.

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Yes I use my vents is summer and they so not leak

[@leighriley6277]

👍👍

[@red90rover98]

Do you not find the older style of molded seal that goes on the bulkhead to be a lot better?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

No they were terrible

[@red90rover98]

@@BritannicaRestorations Weird. I find them great. They never, ever leak. These new ones are a pain to seal and the foam does not last. But maybe after another 2 decades of owning a Defender, it will change.

[@RoverAddis]

It’s from the windscreen cracked or seal has gone...mine has the exact problem even got in to the fuse box....

[@BritannicaRestorations]

seal is good on the windscreen

[@RoverAddis]

@@BritannicaRestorations do a smoke test that should be a fun video....👀

[@tomthompson7400]

sunroof ?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

Could be - but taking down the headliner to find out?

[@mylesmooney7505]

Do you not use a bulkhead vent seal ?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

These were bulkhead vent seals

[@mylesmooney7505]

@@BritannicaRestorations ahhh ok 👌 doing mine at the moment 🇮🇪

[@mattluszczak8095]

Hey mike i though t you had a moustache! Come on how about it. Mo vember?

[@BritannicaRestorations]

No I ran out of razors!

[@andrewmawson6897]

Why can’t you use your smoke generator to find the leaks when it’s dry and more comfortable!

[@BritannicaRestorations]

You cannot get enough pressure with it as there are so many gaps in the body!

[@andrewmawson6897]

Make a bigger generator! Are you a man or a mouse:)