drove my plus 2 first time in heavy rain last night and water leaks onto my shin…any ideas where to start looking?
I have my +2 for over two years now and have still not managed to eliminate all the (water/rain) leaks.
Main places to check:
- Glass rubbers, especially the bonded windscreen on the front.
- Door fit and door rubbers (If the door is hanging a bit low the water WILL get in!)
- Engine bay…holes galore that all must be sealed…
The shin drop may be the windscreen, or peddal box/other holes in engine bay…
Keep us updated as to how you get on!
Peter
Wet shin does sound like the windscreen. My badly fitted bonded one leaks. I attempted to seal the bottom corner, but it still leaked. Then I saw that there was a gap down most of the side! When it poured the wind blew it up the sides, round the glass, down behind the dashboard ( 
electrics 
) and onto my leg. I have attempted to seal it again and not been out in heavy rain since… 
Matthew
Quote:
“and not been out in heavy rain since…”
Matthew,
Being in Norfolk and all, then you’ll be leading a pretty sheltered life, these days ?
I’m down the road in Suffolk, and the weather’s been poor enough here.
Mind you, if I don’t get this weird misfire sorted soon, then I might as well continue the winter layup until summer … if there is a summer.
Regards,
Stuart.
Summer 
What’s That???
Peter in Hibernia
Stuart, I siad HEAVY rain… 
Yes, it does go out in rain but not so heavy that my leg gets wet!
It’s purpose is to be a weekend family car so I really only use it to get cheap & convenient entry into steam, railway, classis car, etc shows. Although I do try to use it at least once every couple of weeks (shopping & school runs!) especially over winter to make sure the brakes etc don’t stick. 
After recently fitting ‘new’ engine, radiator, gearbox, propshaft & tyres it is a lot better than it was - no cooling system pressurisation, no vibration problems, better acceleration, etc. Just got to get the ‘rebuilt’ Stromberg carburettors working properly to make it a bit smoother to drive. Then there’s the brakes - can they ever feel as good as a non-servo 2-seater Elan? But it’s all good fun, if you can find/make the time…
Matthew
water seems to come thru above legs under dash maybe thru heater vents?
I’d go for the pedal box - the mounting holes can get elongated/torn. It needs to be sealed with a gasket and/or silicone sealant.
You could try putting some gaffer tape around it to see if it reduces the water entry to try and pinpoint the source
i see a few of you have attempted to seal around window…did it work,what did you use? i was thinking clear silicon sealant…
I would start with the most obvious and go from there, ie shin = pedal box.
Volunteer with goggles below and lucky volunter with hose above.
Good luck
thanks Stuart but iv conducted an intenense investigation and the water leaks via window seal,runs under/through dash and drips onto shin…
Well done, Holmes
elementary my dear stuart…
I recently read a contemporary +2 road test where the car leaked as described, when new. Publisher and writer thought it was the door seal… As hand built collector cars with individual differences perhaps water leaks can come from several sources dependent on year of construction/age. Was it your window or windscreen?
IME, this is a leak around the wiper spindle. There are are rubber grommets under the metal angled boss’s. Try sealing these better both to the boss and the body.
This side of the Pond, we have " GOOP", it comes in a range from " Household", “Automotive”, “Plumbing”, “Shoe”, etc., It’s a low viscosity RTV that will ‘run’ into any gap that water will. It solved my windscreen leak. I let it cure and trimmed the excess.
My car is now waterproof and well tested over last few days,turned out to be windowscreen seal,i have resealed.
If troubled by a screen leak don’t ask a car builder for advice, ask a boat builder.
Anyone with a screen leak should at first spend a fiver on a tube of the wonderfully named; CAPT. TOLLEY’S CREEPING CRACK CURE.
Terrific stuff. Completely cured my rear screen leak and has helped considerably to lessen the one in the bottom corner of the front screen.
Easy to use, almost impossible to see once applied and a must for the tool box of any Lotus owner. If you overdo it just make sure you wipe any excess drips off the paintwork before it dries.
There are a few places on the internet sell it if you don’t happen to have a boat builder in town!