Motorists have been offered advice on how to spot and solve the problem of a leak in their car.
The motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have identified where leaks commonly occur and how they can be fixed.
They’ve identified the main culprits, including the sunroof, window and door seals and air conditioning units.
The specialists advise on how some can be fixed at home, but other leaks may need to be checked by the manufacturer or a garage.
A spokesperson for LeaseCar.uk said: “Keeping your vehicle roadworthy is always top priority so if you notice pools of water in your car or damp patches, then it is important to get them checked out.
“A car’s drainage system is complex. Identifying where the water is coming in may not be as easy as it sounds but once you have found the source of the problem, it should be relatively simple to fix.
“In most cases clearing out some guttering, unblocking a drainage hole or replacing perished seals or membranes should do the trick.”
Here are LeaseCar.uk’s tip for fixing the leaks in in your car.
- Door seal
A damaged or perished door seal is one of the obvious places to check if there are pools of water coming into your car. Take a quick look to check and if it is the cause of the problem, replace it.
- Window seal
The door weatherstrip is the rubber strip resting against the windows. If this isn’t flush, water can get in. A problem here is pretty straight forward to identify.
- Rear screen washer
If the rear screen wash tubing becomes split, then you’ll be able to see and feel a leak and damp spots on the ceiling of your car. The internal ceiling of your car may have to be removed to fix the problem.
- Sunroof
This is one of the biggest culprits of leaks in the car. The seals are not always waterproof although sunroofs do have a channel built around them which allows water to run down drainage tubes. Leaks can happen if the sunroof drain tubes become blocked. Fixing it is easy. Find the end, blow through it and lots of smelly, dirty water will come out.
- Air conditioning
If the drain tube of your air conditioning unit becomes blocked, then you may notice a pool of water under your car. The water can also find its way behind the dashboard and into the front carpets.
- Door membrane
The door membrane is the bit between the metal of the car door and the door trim panel. If this gets ruptured or torn you may find pools of water in the footwells. Fix it by pulling off the door trim panel and repairing the damaged membrane.
- Windsceen seals
If the rubber surround is fitted incorrectly or becomes perished, then water will come into the car. Having it refitted with a new seal should solve the problem.
- Car body seams
Leaks can occur where car body panels join together. These leaks can be hard to spot and can often be some distance away from where the water pools.
- Rust
If your car starts to rust, chances are a leak will follow. This is more of an issue for older cars. If your car is new and rusting it could indicate accident damage or a problem in manufacturing.