Disturbed

There is no cleaning without agitation, as our senior technician, James, knows only too well.

'Disturbed' is a Jamesism, which means to agitate, or cleaning in general.

This is not as crazy as it sounds, as often we will apply disinfectants, deodorants, enzymes or other chemicals to a surface prior to 'disturbing' them, coming back later to agitate with brush, air line or extractor.

What it means

Disturbed is a shorthand way of saying that something has been apart before. On a leak or inspection report it usually refers to door membranes, vents, seals, trims, panels or wiring that have been removed or tampered with and then refitted, often with non-original sealants or broken clips. It does not automatically mean bad work, but it does mean the area is no longer as it left the factory and may not behave as originally designed.

Why it matters

• Common cause of new leaks: Membranes, vents and seals that have been disturbed and not resealed correctly are a frequent source of fresh water leaks and wind noise.
• Evidence of past problems: A disturbed area can indicate previous attempts to fix a leak, accident damage or other repairs, which may explain why damp or faults are recurring.
• Affects how work is priced and guaranteed: Sorting out heavily disturbed, bodged or half-removed parts usually takes longer and may limit how confidently anyone can guarantee the outcome.
• Important for honest reporting: Noting that an area is disturbed makes it clear that someone has been there before and that any issues found are not purely down to age or original design.

Where you will see it

You will see disturbed or previously disturbed in leak reports, inspection notes and estimates. Typical comments include door membranes previously disturbed, poor sealant, rear vents disturbed with non-original sealant, scuttle trims disturbed, evidence of past work or area undisturbed, factory original. It is often used when assessing cars that have already been to other garages or bodyshops for leaks or accident repairs.

Context

Disturbed sits alongside terms like membrane, rear vents, drainage pipes and weather striping in leak diagnosis. A technician will normally check whether an area is undisturbed factory work or has been altered before deciding how likely it is to be leaking. For example, a door with original membrane and sealant may be lower on the suspect list than one where the membrane is ripped, held on with tape and smeared in silicone. Disturbed does not automatically blame the previous person, but it is a clear flag that the area needs extra attention and may not match manufacturer diagrams or expectations.

Common mistakes

• Assuming disturbed always means whoever worked on it last is at fault, rather than simply noting that the area has a repair history.
• Overlooking disturbed membranes, vents and seals during diagnosis and focusing only on rubbers or glass.
• Adding more sealant and tape on top of already disturbed, poorly fitted parts instead of stripping back and refitting them correctly.
• Failing to record disturbed areas in reports, which can cause confusion later about what was original and what had already been altered before inspection.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 08/12/2025 19:34