Okay, I've got a 1986 Subaru GL 3-door with the 1.8l EA82. The first few months I had my car, it was great! Then we got into winter, and I realized I had a bit of a leak... Water seems to leak in from under the dash on the passenger's side (I've seen it drip down there quite a bit) but I'm confused since the floor in the back seat is also quite soaked. I'm sure it isn't the heater core, since it only leaks when it rains, and it doesn't taste like antifreeze so it isn't coolant either.

 

Took it to a glass specialist in town here, and from his free estimate, he doesn't think it's the window. He said there's most likely a cowl leak, which is anywhere between $200 and $500 to fix (more money if there's rust to repair). The guy told me I could do it myself by lifting that plastic piece in front of the windshield and seeing if there's any obvious rust or dead seals or something, but that still doesn't explain how the water leaks into the back seat too...

 

Can anyone provide a possible explanation? I'll get some pictures as soon as possible...

 

Oh, I asked one of the guys at our local Subaru dealership (Saunders Subaru in Victoria) and he had no clue. They pretty much know only the newer models.

Maybe you have two leaks on your hands.

Maybe you have two leaks on your hands.

Yes, possible, but I think there might be a leak in the passenger door. The window always has moisture on it. Don't know if a leaky door is more likely than two leaks on the same side though...

I recently put new speakers in my 87 gl. From what I saw it would be realy easy to develop a leak thru any door, particularly were the lower part of the window meets the body.

I actually just finished resealing the rear hatch window, and it was not that difficult although very different from door windows.