What are commomn places for water leaks?

[icehead]

I'm looking to buy a 2003-2006 Hummer H2. The guy a i called about a 03 H2 said that his passenger door from the top would leak a little during heavy rains. Is this a common flaw or is there more i should be looking for when buying used.

[OrangeCrush]

Being in the bodyshop business, I've seen a few. The MOST common I would say on an H2 is the lights on the cab leaking. (the top roof marker lights...especially if they are aftermarket)

If the leak is actually coming in from the door, then check the gap between the rubber weatherstripping at the top of the door and the body by placing a dollar bill in between the two and closing the door.

If the dollar bill slides out with no or little effort, the rubber is not tight against the body.

Having said that... if the seal between the weatherstripping and the body does allow the bill to effortlessly pull out, then you better check to make sure the truck was not damaged at the bottom of the door. (ie. rocker or lower door damage) thus causing the top of the door to be pushed out.

I say that because the H2 is probably one of the best "fit and finish" products that GM makes and I've yet to see one that the doors are out of adjustment. (not saying it's not possible but I've never seen one)

Visually check the door edges to make sure they are parallel to adjacent panels and you see no irregular spacing.

Remember the old ads with Lexus where they use to use a ball bearing to roll between the gaps to show how even and smooth they are... well, though not a lexus, the H2 has very nice gapping.

HTH's,

Mark

[HummerJim]

I have to agree that the fit and finish on the H2 from the AMGeneral plant exceeds any American made vehicle I've ever owned. My only water has come from a sunroof drain that got plugged with mud, but it was easy to wash it out and fix it.

[OrangeCrush]

Good point Jim, I forgot to mention the sunroof drainage getting plugged.

Mark

[Viet Nam Vette]

When I had my H3 I coated all the weather stripping with silicone grease as per the manual. In the winter when every body else's doors would be frozen shut from rain and then a freez ..mine opened without any problem.

The manual does mention greaseing the weather stripping once a month but that's over kill. A good thick rubbed in coating of Silicone Dielectric grease from "Permatex" Does wonders.

My Buddy opened his 3's door last year after a rain and freez and pulled the lower weather stripping right out of the push in mounting holes in on the lower door edge as it had frozen to the body. Luckily..he was able to pop the strip back in.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by Viet Nam Vette

When I had my H3 I coated all the weather stripping with silicone grease as per the manual. In the winter when every body else's doors would be frozen shut from rain and then a freez ..mine opened without any problem.

The manual does mention greaseing the weather stripping once a month but that's over kill. A good thick rubbed in coating of Silicone Dielectric grease from "Permatex" Does wonders.

My Buddy opened his 3's door last year after a rain and freez and pulled the lower weather stripping right out of the push in mounting holes in on the lower door edge as it had frozen to the body. Luckily..he was able to pop the strip back in.

He's looking for water leaks, not frozen door rubbers.... am I missing something?