Strange drivers side water leak

[OctaviousMonk]

Hey guys I have 2005 TJ wrangler that has been accumulating water on the drivers side floor. I removed the cowl and had my wife watch for the leak while spraying with a hose, and we found the source. I am beyond baffled on how I can fix it though. In the picture I am pointing at the source. There is a side drain on both sides of the cowl that drain down the side of the Jeep and out the bottom. It is flowing out of the bottom well but somwhere inside that mystery region of the tub it is leaking in. I can’t visualize the exact leak because it is above the flat part of the bracket assembly that the clutch and brake pedals attach to. Would it be stupid to completely seal up that cowl drain? If can’t access the exact leak from inside or outside, what the hell else am I supposed to do? It is like the Jeep is trying to commit suicide by rust !

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

I thought the only cowl drain is in the middle. I'd just seal up whatever you're pointing at unless someone else posts and says I'm dead wrong.

 

[Imapepper]

Chewing gum...

 

[OctaviousMonk]

Chewing gum...

I like where your going with this, but I was thinking some seam sealer....

 

[OctaviousMonk]

I thought the only cowl drain is in the middle. I'd just seal up whatever you're pointing at unless someone else posts and says I'm dead wrong.

I thought so too, but when I run water over this area on both sides of the Jeep the holes drain out underneath. Don’t know if they are really necessary though.

 

[AndyG]

I’d clean it and use sika construction sealant from Home Depot...it’s flexible for life . I’m sure 3M makes something good for that.

 

[OctaviousMonk]

Anyone have any idea if the two drain gaps in that area need to be there, or are they just a design flaw? I’d hate to permanently seal it, just to find out that they need to be there.

 

[OctaviousMonk]

I couldn’t help myself and I removed the clutch and brake pedal assembly to expose the leak. I found a small void in the factory seam sealer that was allowing the water to enter. I removed the old sealer from around the area and repacked it with fresh seam sealer. If that fails then I will just seal off the cowl drain. Thanks

 

[Snow318]

This is odd. I pulled my cowl cover this weekend to clean my drain for the first time and noticed the same spot under the cover. I didn't give it much thought or consider is a source of a potential leak point. Guess I will be pulling the cover again and sealing the seam up for peace of mind. Thank OP.

 

[OHFIVETJ]

update ?

 

[OctaviousMonk]

The seam sealer I applied behind/under the dash fixed the leak. I guess it was just a weak spot or void in the factory sealant that gave up the ghost on me. I’m considering it a good catch

 

[Chris]

The seam sealer I applied behind/under the dash fixed the leak. I guess it was just a weak spot or void in the factory sealant that gave up the ghost on me. I’m considering it a good catch

This is odd, but also great news. Thanks for reporting back! I'm sure this will help someone in the future.

 

[P41n]

The seam sealer I applied behind/under the dash fixed the leak. I guess it was just a weak spot or void in the factory sealant that gave up the ghost on me. I’m considering it a good catch

Im wondering if I have the same leak, it's currently raining and leaking so when it stops, im going to check this as I didn't notice this gap the first time I checked. you can see the water drop coming from the inside metal plating in the first photo. in the second photo is where I sprayed water.