Another Not a Mopar, but .... thread

[Scatterbrain]

Its not a Mopar, but I've exhausted my other informational outlets and I've found that the wealth of knowledge on this board is second to none. 

I've got a 99 Firebird Formula, a hardtop (cuz I hate leaks) that has now developed a leak someplace.  I first noticed a small pool of water under the floor mat on the driver's front floor pan.  I pulled up the carpet to let it dry, but I noticed more and more water.  I pulled up the driver's seat and pulled back more of the carpet revealing more water.  I eventually pulled out the rear seat and found more water in the bucket under the seat.  Its just the drivers side, the passenger's side is bone dry.  If it was the passenger's side I'd assume it was the A/C, but there is no way the water can make it up and over the lip to the rear bucket.  I pulled the entire carpet and am letting it dry out, but am still baffled by how the water a) made it into the car and b) made it up and over the rear bucket.  If didn't know any better I'd say it came from underneath.  I'm gonna spray the exterior of the car with the hose and try to find the leak with the carpet out, but has anybody experienced this kind of leak before?  I don't know how long it has been doing this but there is a musty smell coming from the carpet underlayment.  I must add that except for the front driver's area the carpet was dry and only the underlayment was wet. 

[Super Blue 72]

Hmmm...I don't have experience with the newer firebirds or Trans Ams, just the later 2nd generation ones...

How's the drivers window gasket?  On frameless windows often when the door is closed there isn't enough pressure on the window gasket to stop rain from coming in.  The top of the window glass may need to be tilted in a little.  I would imagine there is an adjustment for this at the bottom of the window guides, most cars have this.

Also check visually for any defects in the gasket....otherwise 

[JayBee]

Does the car have any water draining channels (like e-bodies) and if so are they plugged or clear. My 

[Scatterbrain]

I know it does have drain holes, I'll add that to the checklist for this weekend.

[Super Blue 72]

Does the car have any water draining channels (like e-bodies) and if so are they plugged or clear. My 

That's an idea... does the car have a sunroof?  Those have drains that can clog too.  

[Scatterbrain]

That's an idea... does the car have a sunroof?  Those have drains that can clog too. 

No sunroof, I don't like T-tops or sun roofs and took alot of time to find a Formula with a hard top.  (I miss my 99 FRC vette, but thats another story)  Its also the reason I didn't go for a Trans Am, never seen one of those without a Targa top. 

[Street_Challenged73]

I too would have to suggest it is a clogged drain plug(s) somewhere.  My Stealth was leaking water into the hatch area and I later traced it back to completely clogged rear hatch drain hoses (previous owners apparently never cleaned them every so often:).  Chances are the water is coming in from a similar location, since F-bodies have a similar rear hatch setup.

[ntstlgl1970]

oops, almost posted a tsb for a convertible....

Maybe remove some of the window trim sit in the car and have a buddy run a hose over it, from the amount of water you describe it should be pretty easy to find.

[Scatterbrain]

Thanks for the help guys, I found the leak.  Turns out it will only leak when parked at a steep nose first angle... which describes my driveway, steep.  The water will pool at the edges of the rear hatch and slowly leak, not through the top of the gasket, but through the undersection that connects it to the frame.  I re-gooped it with the windshield stuff and made a mental note not to park it outside my driveway nose first during a rainstorm. 

BTW, with all the interior out I took the time to spray a layer of Lizard Skin thermal/sound deadener on the floor.  Made a noticable difference on the interior sound from the exhaust.  It seems like pretty good stuff and you don't have to buy their 150 dollar special sprayer, I just used my sandblasting gun with no problems.