Nissan Primera P12 wet seatbelt problem - solved ! |
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Philengland
NPOC Guest Joined: 23 Sep 2012 Location: Newcastle upon Online Status: Points: 10 |
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Posted: 25 Nov 2012 at 2:25pm |
I recently bought a Primera P12 1.8 S. It's a 2004 model, one owner, low mileage (35k) car, and I was reallly happy with it - until the day my son remarked that his (rear) seat belt was always wet after it had rained. The area around the top of the belt (offside rear) was dry so it appeared that the wet area was down in the reel mounting area. Over the next few weeks the problem did not go away and the car was starting to develop a faint but unpleasant musty smell.After Googling the problem and looking up previous posts on this and other (lesser!) forums, I realised that this was not an isolated problem with P12's as lots of owners seemed to be having exactly the same trouble. Unfortunatley, I was not able to find a definitive answer to the problem online, and so I set out to see if I could find where the water was getting in and stop the leak.
I started by stripping out the parcel shelf, parcel shelf support, the trim panel which covers the rear C post airbag, and finally some of the fixings which support the rear of the headlining. After a good deal of searching I finally identified the source of the leak was a joint on the underside of the roof panel (under the rear edge of the headlining) at the point where the main roof panel is pressed and welded together to the outer roof / side panel. Water was seeping out between the two layers of metal, building up to a droplet which would then burst, sending water tracking down the inside of the the rear roof panel, behind the C post trim panel before finally dripping down straight into the rear seat belt reel - not at all good! Without knowing exactly how the water was getting into the roof panel before it made its way to the leaking joint, I began by replacing the rear wash wipe water pipe grommet (the one which links the tailgate and the roof panel) I also liberally applied clear silcone under the rubber tailgate seal, but still the leak persisted. I then considered the seal around the roof aerial (had it perished?) or the sealant around the tailgate hinge where it bolts into the roof panel. After experimenting (pouring water from a jug over one small part of the roof at a time) I finally discovered that water would begin leaking from the roof joint inside the car only when when water was poured over the external seam where the main / side roof panels meet. There was no external warning signs ie; obvious damage or a hole (that would have been far too obvious!) to suggest that this seam was leaking, but this area was definiteley the source of the leak. I bought myself a tube of proper autobody seam sealer (£8 from my local motor factors) I rubbed down the seam, applied masking tape around the edges of the seam and then applied the sealer. Its horrible stuff and really easy to get onto the bodywork so be careful! You can smooth it a little after its just been put on by dragging a wet finger accross the surface. I would suggest using disposable gloves - I used several pairs. After a couple of hours it will be partially cured you can flat the sealant a bit more by again wetting your finger and smoothing the sealer around the seam. You should then remove the masking tape and aim to feather the edges to help get a watertight seal. It rained really hard the night after I did the work (a real test for the repair) and when I examined the inside of my car in the morning it was bone dry. Job done! I hope this information helps other P12 owners with this problem.
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timeshock!
NPOC Guest Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Location: Newcastle Online Status: Points: 14483 |
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Really pleased you have got it sorted well done.
Any chance of any pics? |
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Philengland
NPOC Guest Joined: 23 Sep 2012 Location: Newcastle upon Online Status: Points: 10 |
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Above: The joint on underside of roof panel where water was entering the car (note clear silicone applied prior to identifying source of leak. Below: The source of the leak on the exterior roof panel seam - nothing obvious to naked eye Below: The roof panel seam rubbed down, masked and ready for application of seam sealant Below: Seam sealant applied, masking tape removed, ready for final flatting using 'wet finger method' The seam can then be primed, painted and lacquered. Hope the photos help. Phil |
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davidoxtaby
NPOC Guest Joined: 04 Sep 2011 Online Status: Points: 96 |
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Hi Phil,
Hope all had a good Christmas break. I have experienced this, but, not the passenger seatbelt but the right side where the boot light is. In rain it drips through the vent holes near the light but just cannot see any reason for it. Have tried taping the seams now though as you mentioned in your post so I will see what happens I guess . Cheers again for the info David |
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Philengland
NPOC Guest Joined: 23 Sep 2012 Location: Newcastle upon Online Status: Points: 10 |
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Hi David,
My leak was on the offside. Looking from the rear this is the right / drivers side and on the same side as the boot light - so it was on the same side as your leak? It amazed me how far the water managed to track away from the leaking exterior roof seam, into the car where the roof panels are welded together, then under the rooflining and down behind the interior C post trim panel before finally dripping into the rear seat belt reel. If you used proper seam sealer your leak will hopefully now be fixed. Since I did my repair we have had some mightly downpours but I am pleased to say a dry car ! Good luck with your repair! Phil
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davidoxtaby
NPOC Guest Joined: 04 Sep 2011 Online Status: Points: 96 |
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Hi Phil,
Great, cheers for this extra info. Yes, the leak is actually the drivers side not the offside! There is a weld half way up the side which I have patched using tape (just to test and find the source of the leak). I am also going to do the same with the weld by the drivers side hinge as you tried and see if I can find it. If i can then I will get some sealant, did you use anything special for the sealant? Cheers again and will let you know what happens, though I hear that the rain is meant to stop in the next couple of days, just my luck! David |
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timeshock!
NPOC Guest Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Location: Newcastle Online Status: Points: 14483 |
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Are you driving a left handside drive car?
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davidoxtaby
NPOC Guest Joined: 04 Sep 2011 Online Status: Points: 96 |
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Hi Phil'
No, it is a right hand drive car and not an import. Its raining again at the moment so can't test the other seals but soon as it is dry I will try seal the weldes by the hinges and see if that helps. Barring those welds is there anywhere else which I should look at to seal? Many thanks again david |
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Philengland
NPOC Guest Joined: 23 Sep 2012 Location: Newcastle upon Online Status: Points: 10 |
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David,
I think that if you carry out the same repair as I did your leak will hopefully be fixed. If you look at the photos I posted, the seam to seal (looking from the rear) is to the right of the RH tailgate hinge, just above the rear wash water pipe grommet. I used proper autobody seam sealer. I would not suggest using any other mastic or silicone. You can get the proper stuff for around £8 a tube at most good small motor factors. You need a DIY type silicone / caulking gun to apply it. Just to clear up any possible confusion, the offside of a normal right hand drive car is the drivers side. It is called the offside as it is further away from the roadside kerb than the passengers side - which is nearest the kerb and therefore known as the nearside. Regards, Phil
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davidoxtaby
NPOC Guest Joined: 04 Sep 2011 Online Status: Points: 96 |
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Hi Phil,
Happy New Year to you. Many thanks, I wish I could remember which is offside but that does explain things! I checked the welds on the offside and nearside and the offside weld does indeed appear to be the one which needs sealing. So, have got some sealant and, since it finally stopped raining today, I applied it so will now see what happens when it rains and let you know. Many thanks again for your help, and hopefully have got to the bottom of the issue! regards David |
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