Thread: One disadvantage of owning a Defender that doesn't leak

Interesting... Now that you mention it mine seems to do the same thing.

How many extra seals did you add / holes did you plug up? Sounds like 5 months of full time work to me!

On a more serious note, I would have thought the poxy seals on the rear sliding windows would allow the doors to close easily, but I guess not.

It is strange. I have only added one bottom seal on both doors and I didn't think that installing dynamat and other insulation would have that much effect. Maybe it has always been like that. At least it's noticeably more quiet even if I cannot close the doors anymore!

i thought most modern cars are like that, but not defenders! i got into the habit of cracking the window as i got in so the door would shut with the slightest of pulls. mind u that was several years ago in a disco2, although i have noticed the same on various newer cars.

would be interesting to hear if more defender owners have had similar experience

there is a story i remember about air sealed cabins - something about an engineer exchange program between land rover and toyota. while the LR techs were being shown around the toyota factory the japs disclosed the technique for testing vehicle cabins for air tightness. it involved locking a cat in a landcruiser cabin overnight - if the cat was dead in the morning they new it was sealed. when the lr engineers got back to solihull they showed the idea to their colleagues. they grabbed a brand new defender off end of the production line and locked a cat in overnight.

the next morning the cat was missing.....

That was the funniest quote I've heard this year mate...Thank you for making my day that just a little a bit better

I know for a fact the 100 series land cruisers (and probably many other makes / models) have a panel in the vehicle with a one way rubber flap valve. It opens to expel air from the cab when the doors are closed.

No chance of that happening with our Defender - I can see daylight under the bottom of the passenger's side front door. A rubber cube is missing from the front of the door seal. Might be time to add a strip of rubber there.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

I think my MY15 is air tight too, would that constitute a warranty claim
AGuy, are those factory steps?

Originally Posted by AndyG

I think my MY15 is air tight too, would that constitute a warranty claim
AGuy, are those factory steps?

I'm not sure about a warranty claim, I might just have to put up with not getting wet!

Yes the side steps are a factory ordered option. I think they call them side runners. They look nice but aftermarket ones would probably be stronger.