Grimmjow
Active Member
- Messages
- 39
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ
My H3 has been a nightmare recently. I just moved across the US from Wilmington, NC to Phoenix, AZ. Left my car in Charlotte, NC with a sib and just drove it here this past weekend after it had been sitting for a month.
My problems started with the usual sunroof leak. Fixed the hoses before parking it in Charlotte, but was told it was still taking on quite a bit of water when it rained. My brother in law called me and said the interior was full of mold. I hired a crew to steam clean it, and asked him if he would put a tarp over it until I could have it looked at. On top of that apparently the seals for my trans pan went bad and there was a puddle of fluid under the car. Had it towed to a local shop for a fix.
When I arrived last week it turns out they never put a tarp over it. 2 Hurricanes later and the interior was back to being moldy again. The carpet was so saturated you could see the water sitting on top of it. There was no way to salvage it so I tore it all down. Pics below of how I found it and after cleaning it out:
Condition when I found it:
After tearing it all out. Note all the water in the pan:
Cleaned everything, bleached and steamed all the mold spots and put it back together. Unfortunately couldn't salvage the rear cargo mat as well, but kind of digging it without the carpet:
Still have to figure out where it is leaking from. Looks like water is coming in from all 4 rear pillars. I recently put a OEM roof rack on, wondering if rain is collecting in the gutters and getting inside. Don't know if someone here has run into this before, or if there are rear drain tubes I need to replace as well?
Outside of the leaks it seemed mechanically sound. Took it for a spin and determined it was good to start my dive to Phoenix. I took I20 (would not recommend) and started running into all sorts of minor problems...
Major Problems:
I felt like Han Solo the last 200 miles. Just kept muttering "Common' baby, hold together." I guess the silver lining is I made it back safe and have it in a nice dry garage now.
So, thoughts on the Transmission problem? Rear Roof leaks? Anyone in Phoenix know a "guy?!" I tinker under the hood, but am in no means a mechanic.
Any and all help is appreciated!
My problems started with the usual sunroof leak. Fixed the hoses before parking it in Charlotte, but was told it was still taking on quite a bit of water when it rained. My brother in law called me and said the interior was full of mold. I hired a crew to steam clean it, and asked him if he would put a tarp over it until I could have it looked at. On top of that apparently the seals for my trans pan went bad and there was a puddle of fluid under the car. Had it towed to a local shop for a fix.
When I arrived last week it turns out they never put a tarp over it. 2 Hurricanes later and the interior was back to being moldy again. The carpet was so saturated you could see the water sitting on top of it. There was no way to salvage it so I tore it all down. Pics below of how I found it and after cleaning it out:
Condition when I found it:
After tearing it all out. Note all the water in the pan:
Cleaned everything, bleached and steamed all the mold spots and put it back together. Unfortunately couldn't salvage the rear cargo mat as well, but kind of digging it without the carpet:
Still have to figure out where it is leaking from. Looks like water is coming in from all 4 rear pillars. I recently put a OEM roof rack on, wondering if rain is collecting in the gutters and getting inside. Don't know if someone here has run into this before, or if there are rear drain tubes I need to replace as well?
Outside of the leaks it seemed mechanically sound. Took it for a spin and determined it was good to start my dive to Phoenix. I took I20 (would not recommend) and started running into all sorts of minor problems...
- Passenger door handle broke off when opening the door and the assembly came loose in the door, I'll have to take the panel off to fix that.
- Right taillight somehow filled up with water and shorted out. It was an aftermarket LED light and the panel got fried. Have no idea how it filled up with so much water. Only speculation was from earlier when I drove through a rain shower that it must be coming down the rear pillar and hit the light just right to get in. Replaced it with my OEM lights I had saved, but that just sucks.
- E brake won't engage. Can depress the petal but it won't "stick." Also hood release broke trying to open the hood. Just FML, right?
Major Problems:
- Last but not least, and is certainly the biggest issue, I lost 2nd and 4th gear after stopping in El Paso. Had to make the last 400 miles on 1st and 3rd gear alone. Transmission fluid looks like it was over-filled and smells burnt. Any insight into this would be helpful too. I'm hoping I don't need to completely re-build or replace the trans.
I felt like Han Solo the last 200 miles. Just kept muttering "Common' baby, hold together." I guess the silver lining is I made it back safe and have it in a nice dry garage now.
So, thoughts on the Transmission problem? Rear Roof leaks? Anyone in Phoenix know a "guy?!" I tinker under the hood, but am in no means a mechanic.
Any and all help is appreciated!
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