Waterproofing Front Vents/Battery Compartment

[bogboy]

Dear all,

I have read a few threads about water proofing a defender however what is your best suggestions regarding water proofing and products used with examples if possible pictures.

- front vents (and still being able to use them)

- Sealing water from the battery compartment! Aka Birdsville Races 2010 1 my Duel Battery system 0!!!

Regards
Bogboy.

Def 110.

[grover7488]

- Sealing water from the battery compartment!

I think you could use sikaflex or the like [polyurathane sealant] If you pulled everything out of the compartment and then placed a torch or light under the car you would soon see the main holes to plug. make sure any cable entrys are sealed [gromets sometimes split etc]

cheers

[Didge]

There a water leak file under "files" on the front page but I found that when I used a simple silicon sealant on that stupid bit of black foam that separates the windscreen frame from the bulkhead that houses the vents most of my front leaks were solved. In fact I haven't had any since so I think the vents, for the most part, aren't really a huge problem.

[jc109]

If you seal the battery compartment so that it's completely watertight doesn't that then mean that it's only means of venting is into the cabin? And if so isn't this a big no-no?

[87County]

there is a rectification manual for defender water ingress - maybe something useful/relevant in it

link on this site - I'll try to find it :)

[87County]

maybe this is it :


Links and Downloads Manager - Australian Land Rover Owners (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=3&id=81)

[miky]

If you seal the battery compartment so that it's completely watertight doesn't that then mean that it's only means of venting is into the cabin? And if so isn't this a big no-no?

Depends on the batteries. AGM would be OK since they reckon you can send them on a plane. Is that correct?



.

[Grockle]

you could use Series model air vent seals,which are rubber instead of the sponge type used on the Defenders,these give better sealing.

[bogboy]

There a water leak file under "files" on the front page but I found that when I used a simple silicon sealant on that stupid bit of black foam that separates the windscreen frame from the bulkhead that houses the vents most of my front leaks were solved. In fact I haven't had any since so I think the vents, for the most part, aren't really a huge problem.

Didge, did you replace the foam or just place the sealant on top of the foam?


87County that doco was awesome thank you which will help with my other issue.

JC109 venting into the cabin shouldnt be a issue as everying vents into the cabin thats why we love them so much...


Regards
Bogboy.

[Didge]

bogboy, I just ran a bead of one of those clear Selleys silicon sealants (you know the one that's Wet Seal or something; you can use it on wet surfaces and it skins really quickly).
Anyway, so far it seems to have worked quite well. Personally I think it would be a good idea to pull out the foam and totally fill it with a really good sealant (but that's just my layman's opinion)
On the battery front, I spoke to someone in BAttery World the other day and they reckon batteries in the cabin should be dry cells so ventilation shouldn't be a consideration. Any thoughts/ comments on that one?

[sashadidi]

I had the computer sealed on my TD5 for years using some type of goo sticky sealant (Unoffical LR repairs guys did it) and we had a small vent pipe coming out the side up the door pillar, I have heard of one guy had a airpump wired in and would turn it on to "pressurise" the sealed compartment also, We realised it would never be totally sealed but would give just enough time it stuck to be towed out before water got in, I never had a problem in 8 years and did some serious stuff like over bonnet on river trips etc lots of times

[JDNSW]

On the vents, make sure it is where the water is coming in - my experience is they get blamed for other leaks, in my case, the hinge/bracket that holds the windscreen frame to the bulkhead.

John