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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 517 (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) >> Description And Operation >> Noise, Vibration And Harshness (NVH) >> Tools And Techniques >> Tracing Powder

Tracing Powder

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Monterey and 2004 Ford Freestar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Tracing powder is used to check both the uniformity of contact and the tension of a seal against its sealing surface. These tests are usually done when a suspected air leak/noise appears to originate from the seal area or during the alignment and adjustment of a component to a weatherstrip. Tracing powder can be ordered from Crest Industries as ATR Leak Trace. Carry out the tracing powder test as follows:

Fig 1: Applying Tracing Powder Sealing Contact Surface
G03243567Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
  1. Clean the weatherstrip.
  2. Spray the tracing powder on the mating surface only.
  3. Close the door completely. Do not slam the door.
  4. Open the door. An imprint is made where the weatherstrip contacted the mating surface seal. Gaps or a faint imprint will show where there is poor contact with the weatherstrip.
    Fig 2: Checking Sealing Contact Surface Using Tracing Powder
    G03243568Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
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