Dutch Door seals/ wet carpet!!!!!!

[five10freak]

So like many with Dutch Doors on the astros, I also now have the dreaded wet carpet sindrome. So onto Astrosafari I went in search of the answers. Found some good info and ideas on how to tackle this problem. This is what I have done so far, if I have missed something or should do something more please chime in and school me.

bought me some of this



took of the seal and two end pieces, cleaned,degreased,and removed old silicone I previously used. Followed some instructions I found online on how to apply this adhesive. Before removing the seal I marked the position of the gasket as it laid on the van. Re installed the now cleaned and glued gasket to the van.






drilled 1/4" holes at each corner to aid in draining of said corners.




Checked the seals around the actual doors, they look good. I did find a small part of the gasket on the driver side that had come off, but I was able to push the little clips back into position and the seal back into place.

I am wondering if the two end pieces of the glass seal are still available, mine are like sponges and kinda beat up,lol




Have I missed anything???

[TurnNburn]

*syndrome*

Looks like you nailed it, except I would also do that long straight seal at the very top of the dutch door. Above the U-shaped one you had off. It is riveted on, so you need to drill the 4 rivets off. Glue it back on with that black adhesive stuff you have.

Those drainage holes will come in handy.

Also, have you addressed that horrible butyl tape seal under the plastic trim cover (just the left/right of the holes you drilled). I tore that out and ran a large bead of silicone glue there as a better, more permanent seal, haven't had a problem since.

[five10freak]

*syndrome*

Looks like you nailed it, except I would also do that long straight seal at the very top of the dutch door. Above the U-shaped one you had off. It is riveted on, so you need to drill the 4 rivets off. Glue it back on with that black adhesive stuff you have.

Those drainage holes will come in handy.

Also, have you addressed that horrible butyl tape seal under the plastic trim cover (just the left/right of the holes you drilled). I tore that out and ran a large bead of silicone glue there as a better, more permanent seal, haven't had a problem since.

I did look at that top seal and just did not feel like drilling it out as it looks to be in good condition, but I sure will look it over again with a fine eye this time.

I also attempted to remove that butyl tape seal but that thing is on there hard as hell, almost felt like i was going to break the plastic trim. gotta give that one another try.

[TurnNburn]

On my dutch doors, that upper seal is what was leaking and giving me problems. so if it continues to get wet back there, then you know what the next step is

[timothy47130]

The seal that is riveted in a the top is the same Dutch or barn doors. I have found the ones at the junkyard with the barn doors are usually in the best shape. Mine has been leak free so far for over a year now since I removed the threshold and siliconed rubber weatherstripping across the floor. I also cut a notch out of the bottom rear door gaskets on both Sides for drainage.

[Big_kid]

Timothy47130- Got pics? Please?!

[timothy47130]

Let me review all my old post. I have pics in a thread on here somewhere.

[Big_kid]

Found 'em! Thanks for letting us know they were here!

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=86202

[timothy47130]

Well those weren't my pics, I guess I didn't post pics of how I did mine. But I did do it same way . Only difference is I used some of the black rubber 3/4" thick house type door weatherstripping. I then sealed around it with silicone. After that I reinstalled the sill trim and an a bead of silicone around it as well. I haven't had any leaks since. Any water that does make it past the door seal runs out the back doors instead of running into the van. Good luck

[dennis7815]

South Florida has had monsoon rain in recent weeks. I observed wet spot and crawled inside during heavy rain to see where water was leaking and observed was from the 3rd led tail light. I took loose the light and found the body shop failed to seal up the square peg align holes when they painted my van and misplaced the screw and used a dry wall screw. I ordered the screws from chevy (see attached) and sealed the light using boatlife chalk. No leak since I resealed. I am waiting for the right screw to arrive. I wanted to use the right screw because they go directly into the van's steel body and may have to order a new led tail light if the one I have leaks in future. See photo attached GM PN # 11514479 unless the parts man made an error. I had to order a pack of 10 screws to obtain two of them. I hope the research is accurate

[five10freak]

those look like interior trim screws i've taken off on my 99 stro.

[dennis7815]

those look like interior trim screws i've taken off on my 99 stro.

You could be right, the screws may fit more than the 3rd top led taillight. I mentioned it because I have owned my 94 Astro van since it was new, and only when I removed the light fixture did I realize they have two square peg holes in the roof of the van to make alignment of the light fixture easy. The light fixture can leak as the van ages or mistakes by the body shop like occured to me. I think they told me about the lost screw when I picked up the van, but was so excited to see the great job they did when you compare the before and after photographs of my old van, that I was only half paying attention and only when I noticed the leak at the light that I found the wrong screw was used to hold the light fixture in place. I thought the light might be leaking, but no leak since I resealed it. Do you have a source of the dutch door gaskets other than chevy? I try to use factory parts on my van as much as I can, but finding more and more of them are no longer available (NLA) and have to go aftermarket or junkyard just to keep the van up to my very low standard of "no water leaks". Thanks in advance for sharing any information you have. cheers.

[five10freak]

so far, short of going to chevy, it's the junk yard for me. haven't found those seals elsewhere.

[dennis7815]

South Florida has had monsoon rain in recent weeks. I observed wet spot and crawled inside during heavy rain to see where water was leaking and observed was from the 3rd led tail light. I took loose the light and found the body shop failed to seal up the square peg align holes when they painted my van and misplaced the screw and used a dry wall screw. I ordered the screws from chevy (see attached) and sealed the light using boatlife chalk. No leak since I resealed. I am waiting for the right screw to arrive. I wanted to use the right screw because they go directly into the van's steel body and may have to order a new led tail light if the one I have leaks in future. See photo attached GM PN # 11514479 unless the parts man made an error. I had to order a pack of 10 screws to obtain two of them. I hope the research is accurate

I found leak resumed and more leaks. Chevy dealer gave me wrong screws so I am trying to obtain screws from Junk yard now that I learned I can't trust chevy dealer to give me the right screws for the job. I had to buy a pack of 10 from Chevy and can use the screws in the van for other things. The right screw for the job is long and thin with fine threads. Using the wrong screw can damage the van body and I am trying to keep my van as factory as I can. I am trying to get help from Row52 do com contactors to find the right parts for me. Very disappointing that Chevy does not support the owners of their older products but I guess that is just the way the cookie crumbles.

[Starfox42]

so far, short of going to chevy, it's the junk yard for me. haven't found those seals elsewhere.

I went to chevy, they can't get the seals. Has anyone found them new anywhere yet? Going to the junkyard soon.