Topic: Still leaks...

[aw12345]

This leaking business is a strange thing mine leaked like a siff in front when new, Then I took the factory top off and ran a half top no more leaks. Installed a roll cage and after 2 years put the factory top back on and now with all the rain here not a drop inside go figure. I originally thought it leaked from the heater I guess I was wrong.

[Jeffy]

Damn thing STILL leaks!  ...even after I taped up the cowl.  So it's leaking from somewhere else and it's just spraying everything else.  I think I'm just going to take the whole dash out, sans instrument panel and gauges, and then I'll be able to see where it's leaking from.  There is a lot of water so it's not coming from any screws.  It looks like there might be a leak at the cowl seal or maybe the windshield frame.  What a PITA.  I've got to pop the hard top off to get the dash pad out of the way.

Although once I do get it sealed up it's gonna be SEALED up.    It will also give me a chance to see how I'm going to get the defroster working if I do a CJ style dash.  

[Mozman68]

My leak was from the super top retainer channel at the top of the windshield.

The bar is extruded aluminum, but the finish off the ends with plastic caps to get the curve in there...they are rivited to the aluminum.  One of the rivits broke causing a slight gap between the plastic cap and the aluminum. 

I didn't fix that really...I just adjusted the clamps for the bar so it would pull down tighter and straighter on the top of the windshield....closed the gap enough for now.

Actually buying a new bar today...less than $30 and I have a $50 gift certificate to 4WD.


On the TJ, you may want to run a bead of sealant around the vent cap under the cowl...looking at the front of the Jeep, it is on the way left side of the cowl area.  If that seal is okay, nothing short of a flood coming over the hood would let water up high enough to get in there...unless the drain hole is plugged really bad.

[czjeeper]

My windshield was leaking at the top where the soft top channel screwed in.
Rain was pouring into those holes because I run a hardtop now. I plugged the holes with some screws and LOTS of silicone. Oddly enough, it hasn't rained in a few days (PAC NW) so I haven't been able to test it.
I've been chasing leaks since I bought my YJ 2.5 years ago.

[TahoeYJ]

I noticed water coming out from behind the torx screws that bolt the windshield to the dash. I think I'll silicone them and see if it helps. not that it will get rid of my ridiculous leak or anything, but at least it will fix 5% of the leak  

Oh and I was just thinking- What exactly would make it leak towards the drivers side in particular? With the wiper motor being behind the dash is it just easier for water to travel down through the drivers side?

[Jeffy]

I´ll again suggest putting some sort of sealant on the screws that fasten the cowl vent.  Mine kept leaking a bit until I did that and it can be pretty hard to tell if it is the screws of the vent since it can leak into the same general area.

I think I found one of the multiple leaks I have and it looks like it is around the screws.  I can feel moisture on top of the box when I reach up under the dash.  It's dripping really close to the vent door BUT it's slightly behind it, against the firewall.  It also might be leaking at the seam but there is no way it could be leaking as the box would have to actually fill up and at that point water would rush through the vent door.  So I added some silicone to the screw holes and you can smell the sealant inside the cabin so that would suggest that it's inside.  I doubt the smell is strong enough to get sucked in through the heater.

The other leak seems to be from the doors.  It's right where the door meets the cowl seal.  There is an angle where the seal on the window part of teh door bends and then goes straight down.  It looks like the seal isn't as puffy there and it's letting the water come around the cowl seal then it flows into the instrument panel where it drains into the floor.  I did notice moisture on the passenger side and I know water wasn't getting over there from the cowl vent as there were no markings on the firewall.

So the next step is to get some RTV silicone or maybe some weatherstripping and add it to the back of the windshield frame.

[Jeffy]

I noticed water coming out from behind the torx screws that bolt the windshield to the dash. I think I'll silicone them and see if it helps. not that it will get rid of my ridiculous leak or anything, but at least it will fix 5% of the leak 

Oh and I was just thinking- What exactly would make it leak towards the drivers side in particular? With the wiper motor being behind the dash is it just easier for water to travel down through the drivers side?

That won't happen with my Jeep since I replaced the instrument panel years ago.  When I did that I sealed the panel to the body with silicone so water isn't able to get behind it anymore.  I recommend doing this if you ever find yourself replacing your instrument panel.  It's also good to check the panel under the windshield frame as they tend to rust out there.

[Jeffy]

Found yet another way water is getting in.  If your YJ came with a softtop then you will have plastic gutters that are screwed through a lip on the windshield frame.  When you put a hard top on you have to remove these.  This leave 8 holes that pass through the gutter and will allow water to enter the windshield frame.  So I used silicone to seal the holes.  I also ran some truck cap tape on the inside of the area where the door seals against the windshield frame.  I need to get some one sided adhesive weatherstripping to get a more permanent solution.  It doesn't look like the cowl is leaking anymore.

[FourbangerYJ]

Well at least the cowl isn't leaking anymore. Your making progress. 

[Jeffy]

Well at least the cowl isn't leaking anymore. Your making progress. 

I still keep losing screws to the dash someplace.  At least most of the missing screws are non crucial parts that are hidden behind the plastic.  Also figured out that my front hoops will have to come out if I want to replace the instrument panel.   

[Jeffy]

Well, I sealed the doors with some 1/4" D weatherstripping I found at the hardware store for boats and autos.  I think it will work as the area I need sealed is about that size.  I also ran some RTV between the windshield frame and the cowl seal since I see some traces of water between there.  It's been raining lightly so it's hard to tell if it still leaks or not.  That's one of the problems.  The storms we've been having here are ending.

Oh and because of all of the moisture my rear view mirror fell off.  Had to fix that as well.

[neale_rs]

Glad to hear you are getting it solved. 

How did the moisture affect the rear view mirror?  Did it rust and thus expand and pry itself off?

[Jeffy]

Glad to hear you are getting it solved. 

How did the moisture affect the rear view mirror?  Did it rust and thus expand and pry itself off?

It fogged up the window something fierce and that loosened the glue to allow it to vibrate enough from the engine to break off.  The whole tab came off the windsheild.

I was able to drive around with the weatherstripping lastnight and it definitely is more sealed.  You can hear it when you close the door as well hear it as the noise from the engine is a bit less as well.  I haven't been able to check and see if it's actually sealing the water out though.

[Jeffy]

Well, it hasn't been raining hard but it was raining constantly for a few days and the Jeep has been dry.  I got the Cowl Scoop in and installed it.  I made sure to reapply RTV to the screws again.  Looks nice but I do wish they used recessed screws and not have the buttons just sticking up.  Might have to change them out for Allen head screws and countersink the holes.

Since this is an ongoing struggle for us with older Jeeps. I think I'm going to do a write-up.

Next big storm is supposed to roll in tomorrow and then again on the weekend.

[Jeffy]

Round; I don't know what...  It's still leaking some someplace I think.  It doesn't seem to be from the doors or the cowl from what I can tell...  It's not leaking a lot though.  Maybe a few ounces.