92 accord R window leak-HELP

Back to the 92 Accord LX Coupe window leak woes:

I have found one of the trunk leaks-the taillight would fill up with
water and when it got 1/2 full it would leak into the trunk. Fixed.

I still have a leak on the antenna side. If you stick your head next to
the antenna and look up, over the wheel arch, you can see it dripping
during a rainstorm. It leaks at a spot 16 inches forward of the
antenna. From a curved stamping area that appears to be the windshield
recess.

It also leaks on the right side. This leak drips from the stiffening
cross member just to the right of the trunk hinge arm. Right in line
with the upholstery that separates the fender from the trunk area.

I had the window resealed at a glass shop. since they knew the problem
was a leak they used a "double bead of urethane" Still leaks. Glass
guy says it can't be the window because, the glass just glues into the
car and the seal is effected by the glue between the glass and the
sheetmetal. Sounds logical. I pulled out a lot of the interior and
cannot find the leak. finally I began silver taping off the seams one
at a time. I did the two roof seams-no change. Then I decided to tape
over the whole window surround. That seems to be it because I got
one-andone only-drop leaking from the curved part during the last
rainstorm. (I go out at night and climb into the trunk from the
passenger compartment with a flashlight)

Now here's the dilemma. The glass guy is willing to R and R the glass
again if I buy a new gasket. OK. I asked the Honda store to order me a
gasket. The ordered me a part called a "window dam"($30.) It looks
like a foam piece of weatherstrip, pre glued on one side, with about a 1
inch by 1/4 inch square piece of hard rubber on the end. It looks like
any old piece of self adhesive foam weatherstrip you might buy at Home
Depot. The exterior moulding-which is what I thought I was going to get
and which looks like the gasket in your refrigerator door, comes in
three parts, has the chrome attached and will cost about $250.

Now I really am believing the guy when he says it can't be the window
leaking. It seams to be that even if you did not have the moulding
there AT ALL, the rain would just run down the outside of the body,
next to the glass and land on the lip of the trunk opening and then
drain down that lip to thearea over the tail light and off the car. But
there must be a body seam under that moulding that is letting the water
in. You cannot see the leak from inside the car even after having
removed the interior upholstery around the window so the water must be
travelling inside a doubled panel otherwise, you could see it.

So what do you think? Should I spend the $250 on the moulding and let
him put it in?

This is torturing me because I have the awful feeling that if I could
get in there and see where the body seam is I could fix this with 10
cents worth of silicone.

By the way, my wifes 93 Accord 4 door also has these leaks to a lesser
degree. It must be some kind of a design flaw. Check you Honda
nexttime it rains. Be aware that the leak may be coming down inside the
trunk upholstery where the electric antenna lives. I only found this
because I needed to replace the antenna.

regards.

 

I think by now I would get some 2'' scotch tape and tape the glass to
the body just to see of the leak stops.
I put a rubber antenna on my '92 many years ago. The car lives outside,
and I don't have any water leaks. I have RUST,and the windshield cracked
at the left top edge, but no leaks. bob

 

Hahha. I had the same rust and crack in the windshield on the upper left. But it
also leaked. The water, I think, got in the edge and froze and cracked the glass.
I had the same glass guy replace the window-perfect- and front leak gone. Had I
known how cheap it was to replace the window I would have done it sooner ($200)

regards.