To all Vanagon owners:
    Subject: Water Leaks

       This is something I have not seen discussed much. I have seen
       several Vanagons with water leaks in the same spots. The first
       is around the from windsheild. Hard to notice leak, you will
       find a small amount of water on one or both sides of the front
       floor. This water can  easily be misstaken for water from your
       feet getting into the vehicle in wet weather. If you look under
       the flooring (carpet and 1/2" thick sound insulation) you may
       find a lot more water. The fix is cheap and easy. On a dry day
       use a air gun around the entire outside windshield seal,
       between rubber and glass, and then between the rubber and body,
       until you see no more water or dirt coming out. Then use clear
       silicone seal from a caulking gun around the hole window,
       both rubber outside edges. You may need to stop on the outer
       corners to fill up larger gaps. Spend the time needed to clean
       up. This stuff makes a mess.

       The second leak I have seen is a
       vertical body seam on drivers side, between quarter and middle
       panel. Once again by removing the flooring and finding water
       in the bay area, you can tell if you have this water leak.
       To fix this, remove the driver side inner panel. This leak also
       means rust. You need to spray a rust inhibiter acid from the
       inside out. Force it into the seam with a air gun. Then clean
       any of the acid that may have made it's way to the outside, off
       your paint. Once dry use a good paint on the inside. This is
       usually enough to stop this leak. If you use your van for camping
       this is a great time for insulating.

       The third Leak is an easy one. The middle slidding windows.
       The channel that the window runs on, have small drains that
       fills up with dirt. Also the Aluminum is not a perfect fit to
       the outer edge Aluminum. In maunfacturing there is a small
       amount of Silicone seal add to fill the void. This, after time,
       looses it's adhesion and needs to be replaces.

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler