Water Leak in Cabin, please help

k2epm · Mar 19, 2008

Well, it's still at the body shop?yesterday he still hadn't found it. But today, it's raining like a bitch so we'll see!

FSTDANGO3 · Mar 19, 2008

Keep us posted on your findings Ed
Steve
DOC Pres

k2epm · Mar 19, 2008

Well, today is Wed the D has been there Monday?they can't get it to leak. Looks like I'll be picking it up tomorrow with no resolution.

Ok, so?I'm going to get in to this on my own?where's this gasket located?

rayjj · Mar 20, 2008

The black plastic cowl cover, need to take that off. Remove the wiper arms, then the plastic torx srews that hold it on. Look on the back of it and you should see along the upper edge a gasket. What I did with mine, I just bought some rubber weatherstripping with an adhesive backing, and stuck it to the windshield where it won't be seen once the cowl cover is put back on.

Something like this, just make sure its rubber and not foam

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...ay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100166568&N=10000003+90020

k2epm · Mar 20, 2008

Well? I won't know anything untill tomorrow when the body shop opens, but I still don't think they found the leak.

However, based upon where I was finding water a friend of mine who used to work at a body shop thought I should be looking at the seam sealer for the hinge pilar. What do you think?

FSTDANGO3 · Mar 20, 2008

I'm more inclined to bellieve Rays Findings
But I guess anything is possible
Steve
DOC Pres

k2epm · Mar 23, 2008

Well, I got the D back Friday from the shop and a bit disillusioned with them as they gave it back to me with the carpet wet. I put a space heater on the floorboard around 7:30 AM and by noon it was dry.

I couldn't find any weather strip at Auto Zone other than foam, so I took the cowl cover off and used what we call Dumb-Dumb at work? it's really a 3M product that comes in 12" strips?kind of like a black ruberized caulking.

I silly-coned around the gromet where the door wires go through and the smaller gromet where the antenna coax goes.

No leaves in the cowl, really didn't see any signs of an old leak on the firewall? but I found water in two of the thee plastic cups that hold the clips to the door sill trim panel? since water doesn't run UP? I'm inclined to think the body gasket on the door opening may be the cluprit.

If that's not it?then I'm in trouble 'cause the only thing left would be a body seam or hinge pilar seam, but I found no residue or wetness near the computer on the right side kick panel. Took the glove box out, didn't see any drip marks or run stains, in there either.

k2epm · Mar 23, 2008

Well, I got the D back Friday from the shop and a bit disillusioned with them as they gave it back to me with the carpet wet. I put a space heater on the floorboard around 7:30 AM and by noon it was dry.

I couldn't find any weather strip at Auto Zone other than foam, so I took the cowl cover off and used what we call Dumb-Dumb at work? it's really a 3M product that comes in 12" strips?kind of like a black ruberized caulking.

I silly-coned around the gromet where the door wires go through and the smaller gromet where the antenna coax goes.

No leaves in the cowl, really didn't see any signs of an old leak on the firewall? but I found water in two of the thee plastic cups that hold the clips to the door sill trim panel? since water doesn't run UP? I'm inclined to think the body gasket on the door opening may be the cluprit.

If that's not it?then I'm in trouble 'cause the only thing left would be a body seam or hinge pilar seam, but I found no residue or wetness near the computer on the right side kick panel. Took the glove box out, didn't see any drip marks or run stains, in there either.

Neil · Mar 24, 2008

You might not find any streaks/stains. With the carpet up, kick panel totally out etc, you need to get the hose out and hit the exterior everywhere including under the cowl with the cover off. It took me a while and many bouts with the fan and heat to dry things out. My leak on the drivers side was strange but I did get it. The firewall apparently has two layers. While running the hose into the cowl I found drips comming through two holes. One was up behind the kick panel and the other was up by the brake pedal. I could actually see the water running behind the one by the brake pedal. The holes have always been there but for some reason the water decided to drip through them. I siliconed them and end of my problem.

k2epm · Mar 24, 2008

Well, they're not calling for rain in the 5-day forecast and the D is dry. Som I'm going to change that door/body gasket and go from there.

I did find some kind of hole (put there by the factory) about 6 inches under the computer in the right side kick panel. I filled it up with silicone just in case.

Neil · Mar 24, 2008

If it was the door gasket, that should be easy to reproduce with a hose.

k2epm · Apr 9, 2008

Well, we have had quite a few good rain falls the last two weeks and so far?so good.

While I haven't pulled apart all the trim and pulled the rug up for a visual inspection I have taken off the plastic trim on the rocker panel twice and stuck my hand/arm under the rug? both times it came out dry.

What did I do?
1) Sealed up the plastic trim on the windshield where the wiper arms are with a 3M putty.
2) Gooped up the radio antenna coax where it goes in to the grommet on the hinge pilar with black RTV.
3) Sealed up the hard plastic block at the hinge pilar where the door wires enter the hinge pilar, also with black RTV.
4) Replaced the lower gasket on the door.
5) Replaced the body gasket around the door opening, I actually replaced both front ones as I think this was the culprit.

Thanks to all of you who gave me ideas.

k2epm · Apr 10, 2008

Well, I guess I jinxed myself?

Today I'm about to get out of the D when I get to work and I look at the passenger floor area and the rubber mat has water trickling on it. It's indeed coming down from the black box & duct work under the glove box.

Me & my buddy figure the cowl must be filling up, it's rain water not antifreeze.

So, pretend I'm a dummy: where's the drain tube located and how do I get at it? Can I get at it without taking off the dash?

dizzyD · Apr 10, 2008

Should be located inside engine comaprtment on passengerside firewall, Once orentaited start looking down firewall until it starts bending towards the transmission. Thyeir shoukld be a small black tube coming out approx 1 - 1.5" with no other connection. Don't pull on it as it may not go back in, but bang it lightly to see if junk falls out, I'm not positive if you have access from inside without tearing apart the dash, Someone will chime in with those details.

k2epm · Apr 10, 2008

dizzyD said:
Should be located inside engine comaprtment on passengerside firewall, Once orentaited start looking down firewall until it starts bending towards the transmission. Thyeir shoukld be a small black tube coming out approx 1 - 1.5" with no other connection. Don't pull on it as it may not go back in, but bang it lightly to see if junk falls out, I'm not positive if you have access from inside without tearing apart the dash, Someone will chime in with those details.

OK, we found it and stuck an air line in and blew inward, nothing came back out. However, the water in the cabin is definitely comeing out of the heater box, again it's not antifreeze so the core didn't let go?question is: how's it getting in there and how do I fix it?

dizzyD · Apr 10, 2008

Is it humid around you? If so, the AC or defrost mode will take the mositure out of the air and collect on the core. Out in arizona and the deserts we don't see that problem that bad, Being out in humid Florida right now, I get rivers of water dripping out of my rental vehicle anytime I drive somewhere.
Sounds like your "heater" box is cracked somewhere or come loose from the inside firewall.

k2epm · Apr 11, 2008

dizzyD said:
Is it humid around you? If so, the AC or defrost mode will take the mositure out of the air and collect on the core. Out in arizona and the deserts we don't see that problem that bad, Being out in humid Florida right now, I get rivers of water dripping out of my rental vehicle anytime I drive somewhere.
Sounds like your "heater" box is cracked somewhere or come loose from the inside firewall.

I AM IN ny, IT'S STILL WINTER?THIS LOOKS LIKE AN EXPENSIVE FIX. oH WELL.

qwassy111 · Jul 3, 2008

dizzyD said:
Is it humid around you? If so, the AC or defrost mode will take the mositure out of the air and collect on the core. Out in arizona and the deserts we don't see that problem that bad, Being out in humid Florida right now, I get rivers of water dripping out of my rental vehicle anytime I drive somewhere.
Sounds like your "heater" box is cracked somewhere or come loose from the inside firewall.

While driving around Florida my wife had water dripping on her opened toe shoes on the psgr side. I'm leaning towards the AC drain but don't think it's flooding the cabin.

Neil · Jul 3, 2008

If there any fluid getting in either a drip or weap, get on it. I've had bith in vehicles. It's amazing how fast that little bit can accumulate and the carpet backing will hold a ton of water. I pull some of the trim by the door and get you hand under the carpet to see if it's damp. It doesn't take long for mold and must to set in and eventually rust.

k2epm · Jul 26, 2008

I finally diagnosed the problem, for sure it's the heater box because if I don't use the A/C or defroster there's no problems?dry as a bone? turn on the A/C or defroster and it pisses like a baby.

I've held off for a couple of months, but plan on getting it fixed soon.

However, I must have pissed off the water gods in another life because? my father passed away on March 1st, it was the day after his funeral that I discovered the water leak in the D.

In the interim, my mother gave me dad's car which is a 2005 Chrysler 300 with 17,000 miles on it. It's not a Hemi, but the 6cyl is fast enough for me and I'm using it as a weekend driver (well, with the exception of really hot days until I get the D fixed up)? This morning, I take dad's car to work? earlier in the week I had an oil change and state inspection done and there was a paper floor mat on the floor. I stop at 7-11 for coffee and decide to throw out the paper mat? when I pick it up? it's wet. I felt the carpeted mat?it was soaked as was the rug.

Two cars?two very different water issues, at least the 300 is still under warranty? there's a TSB out about an A pillar water leak? it goes to the stealer Monday.

I'm attaching two pictures, one of the carpeted floor mat draped over a 55-gallon drum?you can see where the water in the mat ran off the 2x4 and on to the ground.

The second picture shows what I was able to get out of the carpet with the shop vac, a little less than a quart.

I'm ready to take the bus and/or commit myself to the looney bin!

Water Leak in Cabin, please help

k2epm

FSTDANGO3

k2epm

rayjj

k2epm

FSTDANGO3

k2epm

k2epm

Neil

k2epm

Neil

k2epm

k2epm

dizzyD

k2epm

dizzyD

k2epm

qwassy111

Neil

k2epm

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