Interior Redo

[P2K]

I'm home for 2 weeks of leave from Iraq and got bored and started tearing out my interior b/c of a mildew smell that's been bothering me for years. I have a leak in my interior somewhere b/c when it rains, I have a pond in my front passenger floor. To add to that, my A/C unit leaks inside in the same spot.

I already know I'm replacing my A/C unit, but I can't find the rain leak and it's been going on for about 3 years. I was just too lazy to look for it and vacuumed out the water everytime it leaked. I know this subject has come up before b/c this rain leak has happened to other people. Anyone track down the problem yet? It was said it might be a grommet somewhere, or a crack in the frame. The next time it rains, I'm taking it in to get the leak inspected and repaired.

I got an estimate for a complete interior swap from brown to black I've been thinking of doing and now is the perfect time. It'll cost me around $1500 as quoted by MazMart. The only things I left in are the 2 front seats, rear deck lid, and the dash which I'm leaving in till the last minute. I'm also going to Dynamat the entire interior, including the floor and the firewall once the dash is out.

After it rained...checking for leaks.

Mildew insulation

This is BS (argh)

 

[Brian MP5T]

Clean it and get over it...

 

[thejoker0409]

This may sound weird but take it to a do it yourself carwash get the top of the car wet and see if u can tell were the leak is coming from. You could a friend to hold a hose over the car while your in it to see. Just some suggestion.
Btw be safe when u go back to Iraq hopefully yu'll be home for good soon.

 

[daedalus]

wow... nastiness... i'm suprised your apartment complex doesnt get uber pissed off at you for working on your car.

 

[MP3Architect]

This may sound weird but take it to a do it yourself carwash get the top of the car wet and see if u can tell were the leak is coming from.

GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 words............short shifter!

 

[L8R]

strip search

 

[Protege2K]

Have fun removing that dash, it's a b****.

 

[MIA protege]

theres a plug in ur trunk under the spare. unplug it, and leave it that way. your car wont have a leak issue anymore. i had the same problem.

 

[slkt]

If I do that in my apartment, my manager is gonna kick my ass.... It's time for short shifter

off topic: I took off my rear interior b4, but my back lifted up about 1-2 inches after I did that with stock struts and springs. Is that I have to get better struts and GC coilovers or just need better springs to solve the problem???

 

[P2K]

The manager in my apartments is extremely nice, she pretty much lets me do whatever I want with my car. I think it's b/c I'm military. Believe me, a short shifter is definately on my list. Once I took the console out, I couldn't believe how hideous the OEM shifter looked.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The leak is somewhere underneath the dash and if it's body or frame damage, it's beyond my repair level. I'm taking it to a collision shop to see what they say.

Protege2K,
I remember when you took out the dash of your other Protege. You said you caught hell so I figure I'm going to catch it too. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Protege2K]

Protege2K,
I remember when you took out the dash of your other Protege. You said you caught hell so I figure I'm going to catch it too. Thanks for the heads up.

Well for starters to remove it you have to bend your body in ways never thought possible. Have lots of Tylenol on hand. For me, everytime I thought it was ready to come out I found it still attached to some random part of the frame. Lots of it if I remember correctly was attached strongly to the air condition plastic route parts.

 

[P2K]

Well for starters to remove it you have to bend your body in ways never thought possible. Have lots of Tylenol on hand. For me, everytime I thought it was ready to come out I found it still attached to some random part of the frame. Lots of it if I remember correctly was attached strongly to the air condition plastic route parts.

Thanks. Now I know what area to focus on. I was just about to PM you to see if you could give me some good info on the dash removal. Thanks again.

 

[Mental_MP3]

Thanks. Now I know what area to focus on. I was just about to PM you to see if you could give me some good info on the dash removal. Thanks again.

taken my dash out i suggest labeling everysingle piece you take out and have a second person to help you when putting in and out its alot easier. took me about 8 hours to replace my dash wasnt fun at all.

 

[thejoker0409]

taken my dash out i suggest labeling everysingle piece you take out and have a second person to help you when putting in and out its alot easier. took me about 8 hours to replace my dash wasnt fun at all.

Ouch

 

[P2K]

I just bought these off Fast lane, a member on this forum, for the best deal I would probably ever find. It's not much, but it's a start for my restoration project.

Next month after I talk to Juan, I'm sending him the 1.6 engine and tranny I just bought so he can build it and prep it for boost and whatever else that needs to be done. Once I get home, I'm taking a little trip down to Miami.

 

[POSEIDON]

If I don't take my car to the "designated area" they freak out. Have your hood open for more than like 10 minutes someone always says something.

 

[lasermp5]

If I don't take my car to the "designated area" they freak out. Have your hood open for more than like 10 minutes someone always says something.

if you have tools, you can always work at my place. I don't have any tools yet because I do all my work at my friends garage. You're welcome to my driveway anytime.

 

[Brian MP5T]

So did you sand the area, prime and Rockguard?

 

[Drackonn]

that dasah removal sucks ... after bending my body and cranking on s*** for 2 and a half hours i quit ... i never got the dash out ...

 

[Protege2K]

I remember having backpains for about a week after.