Water in my GTS-WTF?!?!?!? HELP!

1484 Views 25 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Rich Detert, Dec 17, 2003

BAD68GTO

Discussion Starter · Nov 5, 2003

Have a 2000 GTS I just got from Woodhouse a few months ago. It is a daily driver and I am happy with the car and Woodhouse. I DO drive it in the rain, and this evening it was raining lightly and I drove about 15-20 miles. I reached under the seat for my towels I put under there a month ago, and they were soaked! I mean will a quarter cup of water! The rug was soaked under the seat, but NOT under the mat as there is some sort of physical barrier between the seat and mat area for your feet. Same with the passanger side, but it wasn't as wet as the driver's side. No water nor moisture under the mats at all, only under the seat portion. I also checked where the inside walls are for the interior door posts to even eliminate any possibility of water entering in through the windows and or gaskets to the best of my ability. Is it coming in through the bottom of the car? I even crawled under the GTS to observe any obvious problems and I see nothing at all out of the ordinary. Any ideas? :help: I mean, I am REALLY :doh: with this crap. TY all!

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

tito

· #2 · Nov 5, 2003

are you sure you, or someone else you know might not have spilled something?? The best thing i can think of is, get the area dried up. After it is completely dry, hose it down for about 10 minutes, spraying from different directions. Then re-check. If no water got in, someone spilled water/liquid. good luck. :cheers:

BAD68GTO

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 5, 2003

Thanks Tito for the advice. I do not drink anything in my car except for beer when I drive :cheers:, so that is out of the question. Just kidding on the last part about beer just for clarification, though I have no idea on this as I am the only person in the car 99% of the time. Even if I spilled something, it should only be under one seat and not two seats since they are divided-correct? I think the only way for this to happen is from underneath the car but if I knew so much why would I ask

I thought maybe a few weeks ago under the seat was damp, but I ignored it thinking it was my imagination :screwy: at work. Well, I guess I am not as stupid as I look-lol. I REALLY need to find a good dealer in my area (Philadelphia/New Jersey area) as I have a few issues like the transmission seems like it is raking gars and the voltage drops occassionally to 12 volts while running. I have that killer DC warranty package, but what good is that is I can't find a good Viper dealer? Maybe just call me Bad68 :help:GTO on here. :screwy:

See less See more

Ray from NJ

· #4 · Nov 5, 2003

Gary,
For warranty work go to Buhler in Eatontown NJ. If you don't mind the drive, go to Tator's in NY. Both have the best tech's in the area and are modification friendly.

Hoosier Daddy

· #5 · Nov 5, 2003

Some vehicles are poorly sealed around the top of the windshield. Water gets in there runs around the frame and down on the carpet under the dash.

134

· #6 · Nov 5, 2003

I noticed that when I was looking at a 97' GTS. I went to look at the car while it was raining lightly outside. When I approached the car I noticed water drippind from the right corner of the window down on to the passenger seat. When I told the salesman, he told me to piss off.

Four days later I pulled up in my 02' and told him if he remembered me, the guy that tols you about the water dripping in the red GTS. Yes he states. Now you can piss off because I bought this instead of your leaky GTS. Have a nice day!!!

agentf1

· #7 · Nov 5, 2003

Pulling from my corvette experience it sounds like it is coming from the hatch/rear window. I am sure they are probably configured similarly. I have seen where if the vette/C4 is parked on a certian angle the water collects in the front corner of the hatch and seaps in and runs down the interior wall undetected and ends up under the seats. Just a thought.

JGK95

· #8 · Nov 5, 2003

In my two hundred dollar toyota.(okay right outta school it was the first thing that I could afford!) I found everything (bondo, rust, old leaves) in that car coming from every direction! Water came in from the rear tire wheel wells as they had rusted outside-in! I'm sure its not relevant in this case. However, Im just suggesting that it could've come from areas other than the window. Good luck in your search and please share the results.

plumcrazy

· #9 · Nov 6, 2003

definetely go to tators...its worth the ride.

BAD68GTO

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 6, 2003

Today was POURING outside with a zillion gallons of rain per second, so I lit the damn car up from the outside with my 1,000,000 candle power light, and saw no drips at all. I looked at the hatch, doors, door panels, et cetera-NOTHING. I have an appointment as per Ray from NJ at Buhler Dodge. I will let you guys know how it works out as I have a few other issues with the car like the voltage goes down to 12.5 sometimes while the car is running and the lights dim and also the transmission seems like it is raking gears, almost like the clutch is bad (only 11,000 miles) or linkage, slave cylinder, et cetera. Thanks much for the input, but Buhler said they cannot get to it until Friday.

tito

· #11 · Nov 6, 2003

BAD68GTO said:
Today was POURING outside with a zillion gallons of rain per second, so I lit the damn car up from the outside with my 1,000,000 candle power light, and saw no drips at all. I looked at the hatch, doors, door panels, et cetera-NOTHING. I have an appointment as per Ray from NJ at Buhler Dodge. I will let you guys know how it works out as I have a few other issues with the car like the voltage goes down to 12.5 sometimes while the car is running and the lights dim and also the transmission seems like it is raking gears, almost like the clutch is bad (only 11,000 miles) or linkage, slave cylinder, et cetera. Thanks much for the input, but Buhler said they cannot get to it until Friday.

good luck bro, :cheers: I hope nothing serious is defective on your car. I truley am puzzled about this water leak. My bet is the dealership will not be able to reproduce the leaking, if there really is a leak somewhere. as you noted there were no visable signs of water entering the car, and for BOTH sides of the car to have water only in certain area's (under the seat) it sure sounds like some spillage, from something.

keep us posted. :nod:

viper spray

· #12 · Nov 6, 2003

If it leaks under the dash , it could be that the drain hose is clogged on the A/C , or a bad heater core?

Roadkill

· #13 · Nov 6, 2003

Sounds like it is the rear hatch seal.. is it just under the seat that is wet? or does that go for the floorboards as well?

GTS Dean

· #14 · Nov 6, 2003

I don't think it's any of those things. There are metal body plugs in the floorpans. Perhaps they were removed for some reason and not properly resealed, or had a bad seal from the factory. Or, you might have leaky door sills that allow wash water to get in.

The hatch glass is too far back to leak into the passenger area. Any leak there would go into the rear tub.

BAD68GTO

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 7, 2003

OMFG you guys will not believe this s***! I was driving to Buhler Dodge today to drop off my snake in the heavy rain and no water was coming in until I took a hard left turn and saw water gushing in on the passenger side at the front of the door. Then the water flowed back down the door and guess where it went? Anyhow, the Buhler Dodge looked at the gaskets and is replacing everything saying it looks like crappy seals everywhere on both sides. This is for the window and the door gaskets.

I was also telling them about raking the gears on the tranny like the clutch was wearing or similar, despite 11,300 miles on my 2000 GTS. The Viper tech said there is a problem with some of the trannys and a fluid change fixes it sometimes, but they will put in a brand new transmission too! I talked to the tech for an hour with another voltage concern with the voltmeter and a possible (probable I think) alternator problem. My ONLY bitch is that they wanted $120 for an oil change! But the Viper tech said he would work on that price for me with the service department and get back with me tomorrow. :cheers:

The tech also said he would adjust my crappy ass center glove box panel that doesn't close right away. He said they basically all suck, but an adjustment should help it a lot. I asked him if they can change the stock flywheel while the clutch is apart, and he said sure. Any of you guys think it is worth the price? I LOVE to speed and right now have the smooth tubes, K&N's, shorty shifter and HRE wheels but I want to go a lot faster. Is it worth spending the $ on the flywheel?

Another note is this:
I purchased the GTS from Woodhouse in August of this year. I asked Woodhouse (AKA Bill Pemberton) a few questions, and not only did they give a shit after the sale, they are offering any help at all. Mark J., an employee at Woodhouse service department, this evening even said if I feel that they should do something about anything at all, do not hesitate to ask them for assistance or $ or whatever. WTF is that worth in today's world? That is KICK ASS after sale service is what it is! Now it IS a used car, even though it has low miles and I realize it is an expensive piece, but Woodhouse did nothing wrong here and are here for help, advice and support 3 months after the sale! My little computer company is much like this, but I SELDOM find this type of service anywhere in the world, and I just can't say enough good about them. My next new or used Viper will come from them and I would say anyone is MISSING OUT if they do not buy from them. :nod:

Any advice on whether or not I should buy this flywheel is appreciated, but keep in mine that despite owning a small business I am not rich, so I am looking for a noticable improvment not just seeking to blow my hard earned monies. TY all again! Gary :thumb:

See less See more

tito

· #16 · Nov 7, 2003

WOW, im glad the Tech is taking good care of your car! The aluminum FW gets mixed reviews. No actual power gains on a dyno, but it does rev faster through the rpm's from what i have read. I think GTS Dean has one on his car, so he could chime in here.

Its great to hear Bill P. and the Woohouse crew trying to help you out. I am not suprised though :cheers:

KenH

· #17 · Nov 7, 2003

Sounds like your local dealer is taking good care of you. :thumb:
$120 is high for an oil change, but in the scheme of things, it sounds like it might be a pretty good deal! If they end up doing good by you, make sure you let the msg board know. A good dealer/Viper tech can make a big difference in the ownership experience.

BAD68GTO

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 7, 2003

Had to drive 80 minutes to get to the place, but so be it. They were recommended by Ray from NJ here on Viper Alley, as my local dealer should not be working on an Iraqi skateboard! :rofl: I will let everyone know about them for sure either way. My entire business is word of mouth, so I know how important a great reputation is to future business. Integrity is everything. Gary

GTS Dean

· #19 · Nov 7, 2003

I put the flywheel in because I needed the disc and pressure plate changed anyway. It wasn't a huge improvement, but it did make matching revs easier when downshifting at the track. If your clutch is still good, I say get full mileage out of it before swapping.

SUN RA KAT

· #20 · Nov 7, 2003

Gary - I'm happy you found the leak and everyone is working together to help get it fixed. :thumb:

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.