Water Leak, Drivers Side

[moviewithnotitle]

Opened up the cowl diverter last thursday and noticed that the sealant in there was dried and a little cracked. Added some marine sealant in there (3M 5200). Sealed around the firewall grommets as well. It had a few days to dry. We got rain last night, but I have not checked out the truck yet. fingers crossed.

Working from home for the next 3 weeks due to COVID-19, so maybe I'll be able to pick away at things during lunch breaks and after work. #orderingparts

 

[moviewithnotitle]

I checked at lunch, no water intrusion into the cab, but the rain last night could have been light, so it's possible there wasn't enough rain to create the right conditions. Or the sealant was the trick to fixing it, which would confirm it was an issue with the sealant in the cowl at the firewall. #SheGetsTheHoseAgain!!!

 

[OR VietVet]

You can always roll thru a brushless car wash and watch.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

We got a monsoon last night, which I was actually happy about, it was the best litmus test for the leak fixes. As it turns out, there is still a leak, albeit a very small one. And considering the 1"+ of rain we got last night, I'm pretty happy the leak wasn't bigger. The good news is that without a doubt, the leak is at the grommet for the hood release cable. I just didn't seal it up well enough previously. #mybad! I'm going to seal it up again after work today.

So how is this really happening...
Water comes down the windshield, into the cowl, out the cowl drain, leaks past the cowl diverter down onto the grommet in the firewall for the hood release.

More details to come.

 

[OR VietVet]

Pics as well if you can. Glad it was figured out. Lots of water leaks related to that cowl area.

 

[YukonMatt]

Another thing to check, mine leaks at the top strip and runs down into the sill plate area. Blue arrow at top shows where it comes in...

I think this is my issue. Passenger side carpet gets wet at the edges, between front & rear seats. We’re you able to fix it? If so, how?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[moviewithnotitle]

I think this is my issue. Passenger side carpet gets wet at the edges, between front & rear seats. We’re you able to fix it? If so, how?

Thanks,
Matt

Partially fixed. Over the weekend I did reseal the hood release grommet in the firewall. We have had snow, sleet and rain today here in NJ. Work is busy so I have not actually been out side today. Will check the repair after work to see if it was successful. If it's still leaking, I'm breaking out the endoscope to deep dive into the cowl, firewall and under the dash.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

I did seal up the cowl drain a little more with silicon sealant. And it's working, but after a bunch of rain, I have a tiny leak still. It was a lot of rain though, over several days too. I am happy the leak has been reduced, but it's not fixed. The strange thing is the water pooled in a slightly different position as it has previously. I'll have to keep picking away at it.

I'm going to try and use the hose very specifically on the firewall.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

Ok, after a few hours playing with the hose in different scenarios, I finally found the real sneaky leak. It's where the body parts of the cowl are sealed together.

Long story short, the body sealer from the factory is cracked and that is what's leaking from, the drivers side hood hinge. What I ultimately ended up doing to verify it was the from this location (because most of the sealant is cracked in some way anyway) was to use Food Coloring on the sealant and let it sink in. Red for hood hinge, green for the upper cowl. Then I used a tiny bit of water to move it along. The result, was a Red leak inside and verified exactly the crack where the water is coming in. It's just a trickle of a leak at any time, but it's enough. A leak is a leak.

I plan to remove that hood hinge to get a better look. But the bigger question is; what to seal it up with that will last some time?

 

[Big Mama]

Now that’s some detective work. It doesn’t sound like the area is structural so some rtv or body panel sealer which may need to come from an automotive paint store

 

[moviewithnotitle]

Got things all sealed up on Monday using Permetex Clear RTV (thanks @Big Mama). Last night we got a decent about of rain, but this morning there was no water in the drivers footwell. I'll chalk this up as a win for now. Gonna give the truck a bath this week, so it should be a good test to see if all is really sealed up. Now that I know what to look for, if I were to have a problem in the future I know where to concentrate.

 

[Big Mama]

Great news I hope it stays dry for you.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

Not fixed...We got about 2" of rain a night ago and I found water in the driver footwell. The good part is that it had the red food coloring in it, so I know I just didn't get the RTV into all of the areas I should have. I'll apply more RTV and let it dry, then use the hose to see if it still leaks.

This is a tough area, short of removing the entire Drivers quarter panel, there is no easy way to get to this area. Although, removing the quarter panel is potentially something I have to do to get the repair done right.

 

[Big Mama]

Sorry to hear that. I hoped you had it licked but at least the food die let you know where it came from.

 

[dkknaebel]

Not fixed...We got about 2" of rain a night ago and I found water in the driver footwell. The good part is that it had the red food coloring in it, so I know I just didn't get the RTV into all of the areas I should have. I'll apply more RTV and let it dry, then use the hose to see if it still leaks.

This is a tough area, short of removing the entire Drivers quarter panel, there is no easy way to get to this area. Although, removing the quarter panel is potentially something I have to do to get the repair done right.

The front fenders aren't horrible. Just a bunch of stuff that is bolted to the inner fenderwell. I believe that when we just replaced my fenders it was six or eight bolts that hold the fender to the frame and body, and some more on the inner fender well. The washer fluid container and pump has a stupid number of bolts on it but once that is out and you can hopefully get enough wiggle room to not have to remove it all.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

So I may have gotten the leak resolved. I loaded up the RTV in an around the hood hinge, enough so that no water is pooled and has to drain off. Is it the best way, not sure yet. But it's definitely stopped the leak for now. We ended up getting 2" of rain two nights ago and there was no leak in the morning. I was super happy of course, but cautious. Only time will tell with this one.

Thanks @dkknaebel, that is super helpful.

 

[Big Mama]

Great news. Hope it holds for you. No one but you looks under the hood anyway so pile it on. If someone asks tell them it came that way.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

I'd say it's fixed!

We have gotten 3 storms in the past 10days that each dropped a few inches of rain. Not a single drop of water in the truck. I'm relieved this is resolved. I can move to the next few repairs and maintenance I have planned during my Covid19 furlough. Now, if it would just warm up a little bit...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice, I appreciate it.

 

[dkknaebel]

I'd say it's fixed!

We have gotten 3 storms in the past 10days that each dropped a few inches of rain. Not a single drop of water in the truck. I'm relieved this is resolved. I can move to the next few repairs and maintenance I have planned during my Covid19 furlough. Now, if it would just warm up a little bit...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice, I appreciate it.

That's awesome! I think I fixed my leak today. God I hope I did.

 

[housed]

I'd say it's fixed!

We have gotten 3 storms in the past 10days that each dropped a few inches of rain. Not a single drop of water in the truck. I'm relieved this is resolved. I can move to the next few repairs and maintenance I have planned during my Covid19 furlough. Now, if it would just warm up a little bit...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice, I appreciate it.

can you post pictures of the area that you are using the sealant on? i know you said near the cowl.. and what all did you have to take off to get to it? was it necessary to take off the fenders.. ?

i have the same thing .. water pooling in the drivers side door sill and then it keeps growing until it gets in the foot well.. i could just do it like a jeep and drill a hole there at the lowest point and let it drain.. haha.. but i would like to fix it.. i cant see where mine is coming in.. but it looks like it could be running down somewhere from the rubber door seal.. as the inside of that is wet.. i pulled it off and looked at it..