Topic: Still leaks...

[dwtaylorpdx]

Some flavors, cure by reacting with the humidity in the air, and the byproduct
is acetic acid, it gets trapped under the silicone and does bad things...

I have used the windsheild black sticky stuff to seal body joints before
when bolting them together. Works well and does not harden completely.
I use a razor blade to cut the stuff that oozes out when you tighten the joint.

Dave

[Jeffy]

Some flavors, cure by reacting with the humidity in the air, and the byproduct
is acetic acid, it gets trapped under the silicone and does bad things...

I have used the windsheild black sticky stuff to seal body joints before
when bolting them together. Works well and does not harden completely.
I use a razor blade to cut the stuff that oozes out when you tighten the joint.

Dave

Whoops, got my acids wrong.  Still, Black RTV is fine.  I haven't had any issues with clear which had the acetic acid although I've only used it then both metal surfaces were painted.  I haven't even bothered to clean it up any.  I'll probably wait till the summer to fix it with something like urethane so it's not tacky then maybe repaint it.

[Jeffy]

I found yet another leak someplace.  This time I think it's the PS low pressure line.  Something is wet up there and it's dripping onto the lower radiator hose...  What a PITA.  I just topped off my transfer case as it was low as well.

[neale_rs]

It's a constant battle to keep these Jeeps from leaking!

[Jeffy]

It's a constant battle to keep these Jeeps from leaking!

Mines basically a giant green colander... 

[Jeffy]

Well, it turns out the PS leak is probably just the thermostat housing leaking a bit.  At least that's a cheap fix!

Carpet went back in.  Actually it's the OEM carpet which only covers the front floors and trans hump.  I'm liking the black carpet again.

[Jeffy]

OK, I'll revive this since it's STILL happening!  Rained again and yet again, the floor was wet.  I don't think I compressed the windshield cowl enough although there are no signs of where the water came in from.  I'll have a few days of sun to fix this then it rains again.  At least either didn't rain long enough or it didn't leak as much.  Not quite sure which.

[mrcabinet]

After living in Oregon for 38 years, I consider myself fairly well versed in leak stoppage. I really don't have a very high opinion of silicone in that type of application. You should try a butyl rubber caulking - it always worked best for me. Not the stuff from Home Depot either. Get it from a marine supply house like West Marine.

[Jeffy]

After living in Oregon for 38 years, I consider myself fairly well versed in leak stoppage. I really don't have a very high opinion of silicone in that type of application. You should try a butyl rubber caulking - it always worked best for me. Not the stuff from Home Depot either. Get it from a marine supply house like West Marine.

I don't believe the seam is leaking though.  I had clear silicone on there before and that lasted 10 years with no problems other then having that silicone feel.  I'll clean it out once summer comes and then I'll use something like 3M's Body Sealer which is clear and can run into the cracks a bit.  I don't really feel like digging all of the old sealer out to reapply new stuff although that might be what's going to happen.  In any case, the last few leaks have been from the cowl which wasn't seated tight enough.  I can tell from the gap with the VIN plate.  The OEM left maybe a 1/4" of a gap while now it's a little over 1/2".

[chardrc]

how do you adjust the amount of pressure on the cowl seat? do you have to mess with that security torque on the roll-bar parts that go to the windshield ( i think that was slotted)or what. 

[sharpxmen]

how do you adjust the amount of pressure on the cowl seat? do you have to mess with that security torque on the roll-bar parts that go to the windshield ( i think that was slotted)or what. 

you can release the bolts on top of the windshield first and then shorten the length of the bar going between the rollbar and the windshield (like you mentioned), then loosen the 2 top bolts on the windshield brackets on passenger and drivers side (those are slotted), tighten the bolts on top of the windshield frame and you are pressed in more on the cowl gasket. You could also loosen the bolts on the rollbar that hold the horizontal bars for more "range" but i think at some point you might need some more room on the slots in the brackets. I had to do that on the drivers side about 6 years ago as the windshield frame was away from the door more than i can compensate from the door hinges, this is what i remember that i had to do, worked ok for what i needed at the time.

[Jeffy]

how do you adjust the amount of pressure on the cowl seat? do you have to mess with that security torque on the roll-bar parts that go to the windshield ( i think that was slotted)or what. 

You need to remove the spreader bars that go from the main hoop to the windshield frame. (Since I have a 6pt. cage, I do not have this.)  You loosen the main windshield frame bolt as well as the two smaller ones on each side.  This allows the bracket to be moved.  Then you pull down on the windshield frame and set where you need the bracket to be.  Tighten the top ones first then pull and lock down the frame with the big bolt.

You really shouldn't have to do this unless you have replaced the cowl seal as it will be very stuff and push the frame forward.

Oh and to get the spreader bar back on you would need to use a tamper-proof torx and adjust the length of the tube.

[chardrc]

i had replaced the cowl seal when i got it and it never seemed tight enough after i changed it... and we got a tamper proof torques set now so i can actually adjust the top bars now.. ill have to adjust that this summer, although it isn't as big of a deal now since its stored inside now.

[Jeffy]

I still can't see where it's leaking from but there was a wet spot on the drivers footwell again.  I'm going to reattach the upper windshield brackets so all of the stress isn't on the bottom bolts when it gets sunny again.  I think the other leak stopped though.  It was dripping down the face of the speaker before.

[jfrabat]

In all honesty, what I did with mine was use silicone on the outer windshield lip and seal it that way.  I just got too tired of water coming in...