Help with rain leak coming in from doors

rebelles

TJ Enthusiast
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Feb 7, 2022
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I’ve been working on various fix ups on my recently acquired TJ. I have had 7 or 8 of these over the years (still have an LJ now) so I have worked on various rain leaks in the past. But it’s always a struggle it seems. My current TJ leaks rain on both door openings. The passenger side looked to be the result of a bad door seal based on the water track so I replaced with an aftermarket seal but that did not help. Then I also noticed on both the drivers and passenger side that the windshield had been replaced in the past and the gasket was smaller than the original and looked to have shrunk and was pulled away from the frame in the corners. So I added some silicone there. The rain water appears to come down the inside of the door opening by the windshield and makes is way to the flat part at the bottom of the opening and falls over into floorboard. But it may also be coming in by the windshield seal area. The drivers side looks more like the water is coming from the intersection of the door seal and windshield seal area and the water trail is coming more down the edge by the speaker cover and then. Getting to the wire cover just under the curve in the door opening. Last night there was a big rain and had water in both pans. I was able to see the water trails but still not able to make a good determination. I have not yet replaced the drivers door seal and now second guessing if that would help. I will also saw that both ends where the windshield/cowl seal gets next to door opening seem to be mildewed from having water around the area.

I added some pics for reference on both sides. Can’t really see the water trail on passenger side and now I have dried it all up. Any other insight would be appreciated. I will try another simulated water test at some point but I’m afraid it may still be confusing between the windshield/cowl seal and the actual windshield glass seal itself (it possibly in combo with door seal).

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Home depot has some weather seals that helped me stop water leaking onto my JK's floorboards. Though, in this case, I'm guessing the header seal is also compromised causing the water to run down the A pillar. So yes, multiple points of entry between the top and the door seals towards the front of your tub.

I purchased something similar to this, (see image) a "B" shaped weather strip at home depot. The 3M one shown is probably better but more costly from what I see on Ebay.

Your friend has shared a link to a Home Depot product they think you would be interested in seeing.

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Remove the hard top and inspect the front header seal and the mating surface of the hard top.
Then inspect the door seal and the alignment of the door to the body.
I will also check the header seal. I did inspect the passenger door fitment when I installed a new door seal the other day. It looks OK and of course the door closes super tight now with the new seal. The passenger side seems to have water that gets onto this flat section of the door threshold and breaks over into floor board (see pic)

Based on what I’m seeing, it seems lot like the windshield to cowl seal though. Like I said, gonna get some help and do some more isolated water tests. But the gaps in the windshield seal and mildew areas on bowl ends of the windshield to cowl seal have me wondering.

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start your water test at the windshield/cowl seal first and then move up to the windshield seal. check the windshield header seal next and then door seals last. check for water intrusion at every step this will help you isolate your leaks. oem mopar seals are hard to find but, they’re out there. took almost 4 months to get windshield header seal once ordered. took a while to find oem mopar door seals as well. had bad luck with the various aftermarket seals on my jeep.
 
I’ve been having this same issue for years myself… I bought new door seals but maybe they were crappy ,bought some 3M B weather stripping but it won’t adhere to the doors or trim. Anyone know what I need to buy to fix this finally? 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

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I know you've already replaced the seals so this might be useless consumption of band-width. I had a leak of unknown origin. I came out at the bottom front corner of the passenger side door. Fortunately the dripping gets caught by the Q-Tec all-weather mats. Anyway, I made a small slit in the door seal at the top center, lubed up a length of vacuum hose and threaded it through the hollow center of the OE rubber door seal effectively making the seal much thicker and more firm. A spot of cyanoacrelate glue sealed the hole to the point that I can no longer find it. The door needed a little extra omph to close for a few weeks but.. the leak stopped. Never did find the source of the leak but I did do the drivers side just for the sake of symmetry.
 
I know you've already replaced the seals so this might be useless consumption of band-width. I had a leak of unknown origin. I came out at the bottom front corner of the passenger side door. Fortunately the dripping gets caught by the Q-Tec all-weather mats. Anyway, I made a small slit in the door seal at the top center, lubed up a length of vacuum hose and threaded it through the hollow center of the OE rubber door seal effectively making the seal much thicker and more firm. A spot of cyanoacrelate glue sealed the hole to the point that I can no longer find it. The door needed a little extra omph to close for a few weeks but.. the leak stopped. Never did find the source of the leak but I did do the drivers side just for the sake of symmetry.

I did the same with my half doors but used 3/8 nylon rope, permeatex, and (no jinx) leak free with original top and half door sliders.
 
I know you've already replaced the seals so this might be useless consumption of band-width. I had a leak of unknown origin. I came out at the bottom front corner of the passenger side door. Fortunately the dripping gets caught by the Q-Tec all-weather mats. Anyway, I made a small slit in the door seal at the top center, lubed up a length of vacuum hose and threaded it through the hollow center of the OE rubber door seal effectively making the seal much thicker and more firm. A spot of cyanoacrelate glue sealed the hole to the point that I can no longer find it. The door needed a little extra omph to close for a few weeks but.. the leak stopped. Never did find the source of the leak but I did do the drivers side just for the sake of symmetry.
I’ll try this!! Thank you for the advice :)
 
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Have you tried adjusting the door jam loop? Loosen the two bolts holding it on and tap it in with a soft blow hammer.. adjust it so it’s pulling the door in enough to compress the seals but not so far in that it’s hard to open the handle. Mine was like 3/8” out.. no more leaks! Check door alignment/gaps all around too. May have to move one or both of the door hinges - you can do one at a time for small adjustments.
 
Pic below variation of a trick to on Toy tacomas to fatten up the weatherstripping.. this product would work on a toyota but something with adhesive is needed if this were to stay in place just an idea.

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