I have a bad leak in the back seat driver side.

Tiny
LOGANPATRICKPFAFF
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 CADILLAC STS
  • 160,000 MILES
I am wondering what it could be caused from. Nothing is wet other than the seat and the carpet under the seat. I have had it at the dealers 5 times and they have still not figured it out. Could it be sunroof drain tubes?
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 12:29 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,864 POSTS
My first question was going to be if it has a sunroof. Chryslers use four drain tubes, and I suspect yours will be of a similar design. If a tube becomes disconnected or plugged, the water will back up in the channel around the unit until it overflows and runs into the car. Sit inside while a helper runs water on the roof from a garden hose. The water will be dripping from the glass area or it will run down above the headliner to the "C" pillar behind the rear door, then under the rear seat. If you remove the rear seat and find water there, you'll know it's running down from the side.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 1:09 AM
Tiny
LOGANPATRICKPFAFF
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Would you know how to remove the back seat?
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 1:19 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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  • 33,864 POSTS
I'm only aware of two methods. First look in front of the seat cushion to see if there is a strap on either side that is bolted to the raised area of the floor. If there is, remove those two bolts, then pull the cushion forward.

The second, more common method involves a pair of hooks made from sheet metal and welded to the floor. The cushion's springiness pushes it forward to keep the seat frame engaged in those hooks. On one side at a time, you must push down on the front edge of the cushion with your knees, push the cushion toward the rear of the car about two inches, then lift it up. To reinstall that type, set the rear of the cushion under the back rest, push it rearward as much as possible, then push the front down. Those sheet metal hooks usually have a slanted top edge that forces the metal rod of the seat frame rearward as you push down, then when it's pushed down enough, the rod will snap into the hook. At that point you can let the cushion slide forward on its own. That will keep the rod engaged with the hook. Once you get that style out and can look at it, you'll find it easier to understand than from my description.

As a very effective alternative, look for a similar car in a "pick-your-own-parts" salvage yard. "Pull-A-Part" is a chain of two dozen very clean and well-organized yards between Ohio and southern Georgia. I've been to 16 of their yards and always found the employees and customers to be extremely friendly and helpful. They have way more GM products than any other brand, all in one area, and you will likely find a bunch with the rear seat cushions already removed. Your cost for the visit is a one dollar admission charge. Bring your own tools if you need them and throw everything into one of their wheel barrows. I've been to other similar yards around the country but none are as clean or as well-organized. You can also do an inventory search over the internet by city before driving to their yards. Each yard has over 2000 cars, and they bring in a new double row of cars every few days.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 1:40 AM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
Tell me what seat and where the water is at. Pull the carpet out of the rear seat foot area.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 1:54 AM
Tiny
FACTORYJACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,159 POSTS
If you are parking it on a slant, nose down, it is probably coming from the trunk. Look in the spare tire well for water as well. The rear sunroof tubes come down into the trunk, and either hit a pass through grommet at each wheelhouse, or if it is aftermarket Webasto, they may just be pushed through a hole in the sheet metal. If on is dislodged from the grommet, or the hole, the drainage will run along the shelf and under the rear seat cushion. The rear glass could also be leaking.
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 AT 5:41 AM

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