I have been chasing rain leaks on a 2001 I picked up a while back. I thought I had successfully fixed the drivers side leak that was accumulating in the floor mat. After some water tests and tracing water, it appeared I was having an issue with the windshield to cowling seal. I went through the process of replacing that seal and evening adding some sealant on the top and bottom of the new seal on both ends. Seem to work fine after about a month or two of occasional rains. Two days ago we had a real hard rain after not having any rain for ably couple weeks. I go take a look and I see water in the corner of the dash/windshield/cowling area (red circle in pic) and can also see a trickle line down the inside jam (red arrrow) which then had some water puddles in the floor mat. I’m at a loss on this one. I have not replaced the door seal on this side (I did on the passenger to stop a leak there) but not sure a door seal leak could get water where it was standing when I saw it (unless it was somehow getting under the cowling seal where the door seal meets it - but it’s also siliconed under it). Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Leaking water below windshield and into floorboard
- Thread starter rebelles
- Start date
You may have fixed what was leaking, or the worst of it. Nobody here can guess what the current leak is but you need to start over with the water test.
I don't know what your water test was but your best bet is to get the hose out to duplicate that real hard rain.
Start the test at the lowest place that could let water flow to your red circle, probably the upper edge of the cowl seal. Spray down on that all the way across several times, if no leak found wait a few minutes and spray some more. Depending on what the extra water sprayed at the seal is splashing on, you may want to mask off the windshield molding while doing that. If you don't find a leak from the cowl seal, unmask the windshield molding and spray in between it and the frame. You might find that the water leaks into the frame then shows up in your red circle.
I don't know what your water test was but your best bet is to get the hose out to duplicate that real hard rain.
Start the test at the lowest place that could let water flow to your red circle, probably the upper edge of the cowl seal. Spray down on that all the way across several times, if no leak found wait a few minutes and spray some more. Depending on what the extra water sprayed at the seal is splashing on, you may want to mask off the windshield molding while doing that. If you don't find a leak from the cowl seal, unmask the windshield molding and spray in between it and the frame. You might find that the water leaks into the frame then shows up in your red circle.
Happened to go out this morning and check after some rain last night. No water in the floor mat but I saw the slightest pit in that red circle area. For some reason I had a towel and I was wiping the rest of the wetness of the windshield on the opposite side to give the seals a once over. I looked back inside and I could see a couple of drops coming from under the windshield seal. I wiped some more on the outside of the glass (which was pushing a little bit of water towards the edge of the glass seal and I saw a couple more drops. So I’m guessing my glass seal is compromised (it’s been replaced previously by prior owner so no knowledge of how old it is).
mattyice2
TJ Enthusiast
Mine leaks. They wanted over a thousand to replace the whole windshield. I passed for now. I just try to keep it in the garage as much as possible.
This Jeep will be used at my camp. I am just trying to minimize the leaks so it doesn’t have water in it for an extended period while I’m not there. I will be trying some strategically placed silicone before I spend $1000 on a windshield for this one.
If you're only worried about it leaking while you're not there, get yourself a trail cover. They're fairly inexpensive and it will solve your problem.
my replacement from saf-t glass was 300. Summit sells the glass for 109, last time i looked.
IDK how the OE seal works but the new glass is glued down then they put that rubber seal around it. it basically just pushes into the gap around the glass. i requested they not be installed, and they complied for the inside where my bars get in the way but insisted on doing the exterior and that flat run roll edging is not molded to go around corners and tends to rise up off the body and look like shit.
if it's glued in right you don't need any rubber, they are not really seals, more like finishing trim.
IDK how the OE seal works but the new glass is glued down then they put that rubber seal around it. it basically just pushes into the gap around the glass. i requested they not be installed, and they complied for the inside where my bars get in the way but insisted on doing the exterior and that flat run roll edging is not molded to go around corners and tends to rise up off the body and look like shit.
if it's glued in right you don't need any rubber, they are not really seals, more like finishing trim.