Water inside door panel!

**Spencer** · 09-26-2006, 03:39 PM

Hello. I'm new here. I was searching on the net and found a thread on this site regarding water getting inside door panels and affecting the speakers. I have a 2006 Toyota Matrix and noticed my rear left speaker (backseat door) was making a muffled vibrating noise. I had a new stereo put in a couple months ago, with new Polk speakers. I brought it back to C. City and they said there was water in the door panel. I did get a new speaker for free - since I got the warranty. But how on earth does the water get in there? It has been rainy as of late, and I do wash the car ever other week or so, but I'm wondering if I should take it to the dealer. Here's the other thing. The speakers - which are the correct size for the door seem to push up against the grill of the door. Especially on the left rear (the problem side) and the door panel closer to the bottom is not flush to the inside door edge. But I'm just wondering how any water would get in from the outside?
Just not sure how to proceed? This sounds more like a design flaw on Toyota's end and before I start tearing the door apart or looking for ways to seal it better - I may just bring it back to the dealer?

Thanks for any input..
Spencer

**RedGTiVR6** · 09-26-2006, 03:51 PM

Think about it, if your window goes up and down, it's going to happen.

You would be better off taking the door panel off so you can understand the construction of your door.

I'd also check your window trim, if it's messed up, you will get an abnormal amount of water in there.

Every car on the market has a certain extent of this, it's inevitable, and it's why there's nothing of super importance in the doors. not to mention, another reason that we recomend car speakers and not home speakers or computer speakers.

Also, why is this in the fabrication forum?

**Spencer** · 09-26-2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

Think about it, if your window goes up and down, it's going to happen.

You would be better off taking the door panel off so you can understand the construction of your door.

I'd also check your window trim, if it's messed up, you will get an abnormal amount of water in there.

Every car on the market has a certain extent of this, it's inevitable, and it's why there's nothing of super importance in the doors. not to mention, another reason that we recomend car speakers and not home speakers or computer speakers.

Also, why is this in the fabrication forum?

Uh, I wasn't sure what forum to post it too. Please lead me to the appropriate one. I may take the door off soon to check it out. I realize opening and closing the window will get some water seepage.
Thanks.

**RedGTiVR6** · 09-26-2006, 04:05 PM

(moved to car audio)

**turbocad6** · 09-26-2006, 04:24 PM

yeup, it's perfectly normal for water to go "through" the door, that's why there is a plastic barrier layer & drain holes at the fron, back & middle of the doors..

I've seen some cars, that park in particularly dirty areas or whatever, the drains can actually get clogged & you can wind up with GALLONS of water accumulated, like a fishtank, sloshing around when you drive...

like red said, make sure there are no abnormal fit problems on the outside belt moulding, etc, but that's it really... pretty normal...

**GoHybrid** · 09-26-2006, 04:38 PM

in architecture, the architects seem to understand the insidious nature of water and so they pay constant attention to the path of water from top to bottom. As red and turbo said, anywhere you've got moving parts, you've got water entry. The trick, which seems to be lost on automakers to some degree is to channel the water out. It seems alot of people wind up with sloshing water in their trunks, doors, or any other convenient holding place. I'd be tempted to drill just a tiny hole, maybe 1/8" at the lowest points just to give it a way to leave. As for water getting in through the hole? it's already getting in elsewhere... you just don't want it to accumulate enough to drown electrical connections.

**turbocad6** · 09-26-2006, 04:59 PM

there are already holes in the door bottoms..., slots usually... it's when these holes are too small, & debris collects there & clogs them, is when the major problems happen...

**Spencer** · 09-26-2006, 05:33 PM

Thanks guys. Good points all the way round. I actually think the speaker may have been defective from the git-go. I'll keep an eye out for any water seepage into the door.

**MatrixPC** · 09-26-2006, 05:47 PM

I ask it once so here you go. Read it for your own entertainment.

At the end, I bought 4 baffles to protect the speakers. I don't know what did the ashole who called me moron used. He had a matrix too.

**GoHybrid** · 09-26-2006, 06:36 PM

i just remember my old camry.... when i actually DID pull the drain plug it took something on the order of 5 minutes to fully drain the thing. thought it was funny since it didn't wreck any electronics... made me wonder why the weep holes had failed.