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randrall
07-13-2025, 09:28 AM
Hello everyone on the forum.
Here’s a case I’d like to describe so others can avoid making the same mistake in the future:
A few days ago, I asked about sealing the cabin because hot air from the engine was excessively heating the driver and passenger during fast driving. I followed the advice to seal the gaps between the body and cabin panels with thick foam. Unfortunately, I went a bit too far and also pushed foam under the dashboard where it meets the windshield frame.
At first, everything was fine and comfortable—the hot air issue was gone—but then a new problem appeared. During rain, I noticed a lot of water pouring onto my left foot. Where was the water coming from? And I lost my turn signals.
When I got home, I discovered that there was a leak at the junction between the composite body and the windshield frame. Too much material had been removed from the composite, creating a hole that wasn’t properly sealed by the windshield cover. Water entered the cabin, and since there was foam there, it soaked it up like a sponge. The water overflowed onto my foot and, unfortunately, also onto the fuse panel, which is located nearby. The flasher relay for the turn signal burned out.
That’s the diagnosis and root cause. Avoid stuffing anything behind the dashboard. Now I need to figure out how to properly seal the windshield mount, and I’ll have to replace the module. For now, I swapped it with the one for the hazard lights.

Well, that’s the adventure.
Best regards!

Derald Rice
07-13-2025, 10:15 AM
Another way to approach this problem is to not put the fuse box under/ behind the dash....

A couple of years ago I totally rewired , and one of the objectives was to solve the potential
water intrusion problem.

My solution was to put the fuse box in the driest, most protected spot that I could find, and
that spot was inside the left rear fender...

problem solved, and I will do the same thing on the next build.

OB6
07-13-2025, 10:24 AM
Another way to approach this problem is to not put the fuse box under/ behind the dash....

A couple of years ago I totally rewired , and one of the objectives was to solve the potential
water intrusion problem.

My solution was to put the fuse box in the driest, most protected spot that I could find, and
that spot was inside the left rear fender...

problem solved, and I will do the same thing on the next build.

Yep, that's why mine is in the trunk.

JMD
07-13-2025, 11:12 AM
I didn’t want to re-engineer my wiring harness so taped some heavy plastic in an umbrella shape over the fuse panel. Haven’t seen rain yet, but I’m optimistic it will work!

rponfick
07-13-2025, 03:34 PM
On my 3.1 I covered the top of the fuse panel with a piece of visqueen plastic.