Chrysler Sebring


Home Issues Drains Carpet Vent AUX Outlet Hitch Contact

 

05 - 06 Drains 

Check the Photos but keep in mind this is a 2005-2006 I am pretty sure it is close if not the same for older models but I am not sure about 2007 and up.!!!

Your going to need to dry the carpet out, under the carpet is a thick felt pad that will hold the water. Remove the kick panel, take the seat out (very easy 5 bolts and you do not have to climb under the car to do it)  It took a few hours to get all the water out of the carpet and felt pad using a wet vacuum or small carpet cleaner. Newspaper also is good for for helping absorb the moisture from the carpets.

Area to look at:

Start with opening the door and on the underside pull the rubber seal away from the door. It could be stuck to the door frame, there are drain holes all along the door so be sure to clean all the gunk off the back of the rubber seal or it will stick to the door frame again. (The rubber seal is held on by little pop pin about every 6 inches under the door so be careful and do not damage them but the rubber seal is not glued on) I found that mine was stuck to the door sealing the holes off so the water filled the door and also when the door is closed water would seep over the top of both seals (one on the door and one on the frame of the car) and right into the passenger side. This is more common with the passenger side since the driver side is opened more often! I used large paper clips and inserted them into the drain slots (behind the rubber seal on the door) to keep the rubber seal from sticking to the door and closing off the holes. This stopped the door from filling up. It gives just enough space for the water to drain without damaging the rubber seals.


Also along the frame there is a seam the drain slots are inside of the seam use a pocket knife, larger paper clip, compressed air or what ever works for you to clean them out. On my 2005 there is also a rubber flapper door under the car near the rear wheels (Below the door) just behind the seam. You can reach in and pull junk like leaves etc. out of it to keep the back of the car from flooding. I also found that there are 2 rubber drain plugs under car one in front and one at the rear near the seam I have taken a photo of the on in the back, there is one in the front just behind the front wheels wells.

(I am referring to one side of the car in this case the passenger side is where I took the photos so it looks the same on the drivers side. So there are 2 flapper doors one on each side of the car and 4 drain plugs, also drains in the doors as well as the slits are the same on both sides of the car

Also put the top down straighten a metal clothes hanger out and make a loop at one end (tiny one) so that its not sharp,....Along the rubber seals that run along the out side of the front window there are drains (where the roof meets the window) gently push the hanger into both of them, it will exit where the fender and door meet, that will help keep them both clean, look close cause one it right on top of the other. Make sure you do it to the passenger and driver side. This is also true of the rubber seal that runs along the frames along near the back window; it is also hollow and is a drain line. Look at the entire rubber system that is mounted to the frame of the car when the door is open you will notice that it is hollow and has small round hole, these also drain water  and they do become clogged from smog and dirt or small leaves, berries etc... Compressed air works well cleaning these out.

Drains Along front window and Doors
Shows you locations, these are separate drain's in the same rubber seal
Gunk gets in these small drain holes I used a metal hanger to gently clean them out! Put a loop at the end to prevent tearing!
Rocker Panel drains under the car (on both sides)
Drain View from under the car Rubber plug near the rear wheel wells (both sides have them) there is also one in the front along the rocker panel near the wheel well.
Flapper door near rear wheel wells ( you can lift it away to clean  junk out!) The black square is tape (from the factory like this) on the rocker panel shown from inside of the car, this is hidden by the carpet. This is how the water gets in the car if the rocker exterior drains are clogged. The tape does not seal well and I am surprised Chrysler did not use a rubber plug like in the Jeep
Invisible door drains, There are drains behind the rubber strip under the door, the rubber  will stick to the door frame and cause a water fall when you open the door. Clean this area well and make sure the holes are cleaned out. I inserted large paper clips into the slots to prevent the rubber seal from sticking.

The culprit in my car that caused the sticking was smog (if you have ever been to Los Angeles you know what I mean) My car spends about 9 months a year in LA and the smog acts like glue. Mud will do the same thing. Water goes through the door and if the hold are clogged the door will fill with water.