Tracing Powder
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable and 2003 Ford Taurus. 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:
- Clean the weatherstrip.
- Spray the tracing powder on the mating surface only.
- Close the door completely. Do not slam the door.
- 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.