1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon Roof Rack Issue

Did you put new sealant under the edge of the rack side pieces in the channel? It is also a notorious leak site.

I would hate to see you go through the whole thing again. You can remove the side pieces without dropping the headliner. I have also had the cargo bay side glass leak. They have been known to separate like your windshield did at the top. If you thought sealing those leaks was a PITA, try putting new (donor) glass in the rear quarters.

The easiest way to check for leaks is to put kids bubble liquid on the suspected area, and turn your HVAC fan on high with every thing else closed up. It should pressurize the car, and any leaks will make bubbles. If you do not get enough pressure, you can put a shop vac in the cargo area, run the suction hose and wire through the rear wing window and seal it with cardboard and tape (or another opening sealed around them). Turn the shop vac on, and it will pressurize the car to a higher level. If there is a leak, it will make bubbles.

 

Neat trick on pressurizing a vehicle and looking for leaks.

 

Thanks Fred. At this point, I'm inclined to leave it alone. It's been through several significant rainstorms without incident (and I don't plan on having it out in inclement weather too much anyway). I've shifted my focus to rooting out some of the small mechanical issues, and researching options for an engine rebuild (more on that later).

I do have an unrelated question--my high mount rear brake light is working, but seems to lose contact with the pin contacts that are mounted in the tailgate (the spring loaded ones). Specifically, the left pin gets stuck in the depressed position whenever you open the tailgate glass (doesn't want to pop back out on its own) Any ideas about how to fix this? The mount for the pins seems to be riveted into the tailgate. Thanks and I hope you're having a great summer. Best,

Phil

 

I do not know why they are not returning to the sprung position, Make sure there are no burrs on the slider, and that there is nothing twisted internally. They are riveted on with pop-rivets. Drill them out, and you can put a donor part in place of it.