HyenaXJ

2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport. (First mistake)

I have been tackling this rainwater getting in to my Jeep for a while now. It's coming in through ONLY the driver's side SOMEWHERE and nowhere else. Parts of the floor pan have rusted pretty bad to the point where I'll need to weld some flat pieces to patch it over.

Anyway, so one rainy day I decided to unscrew the plastic panel that sits at the hood release, suspecting it was the screw that nut was sitting on, but no, it's been siliconed well. Right? So as I'm pulling the carpet back, I notice this little drop of WATER show itself from the bottom of that plastic thing that runs along the A-pillar to the top of the seatbelt.

Wow, what? I pop that back and there's no sign of water getting in through the windshield, see none from the top (and now that plastic dealie is sitting loose because it won't go back in for whatever reason).

There's also water coming in from along the bottom area of the door. Got some shop towels down, but I'm not sure where these mystery leaks are coming in from.

Now, if anyone has any thoughts? Really in a jam with this one.

freegdr

sit in side have some one run water hose on top until leaks found.

RegularGuy

i had issues with my 96 XJ leaking in a similar manner. it would always soak the headliner at the front corner of the drivers side roof, and also drip down near the kneeboard from the A-pillar cover.

I "fixed" the leak after trying many ways, but just running a length of electrical (or, later, gorilla tape in a narrow strip) along the top of the windshield seal, overlapping slightly onto the roof. it wasnt actually that noticeable, and it still leaked a little if i went into an auto car wash, but i never could pinpoint the actual source of the leak.

I think all leaks are probably different but i know i about went nuts trying to figure out wher the leak was originating. best i could say is do as the above poster said while also having the interior panels off, it may give you a little more insight.

Turbo X_J

One thing to consider, they all rot right here, then it takes out the windshield frame.

nujeepguy

can it be roof rack mounting??

95Cherokee

I also have mystery leaks, my drivers side seat belt gets wet during a hard rain. I suspect the holes in the roof used to mount the roof rack.

DFlintstone

You might take a good look where the inner fender meets the firewall. I guess they used "body putty" to make a seal there. Something to check. I used cheap (water based), acrylic latex on mine as it will stick even if it's not completely dry. Of course it will just rinse away until it's set.

Guywitha92

Pull your windshield wiper cover off, that plastic piece that goes all the way across, and look in there. Make sure there's no buildup in there. Water may be getting in through there. Or maybe at the wiring that goes through the firewall on the driver side

HyenaXJ

Hasn't rotted yet for me, I've painted it since, but the PO did put some JB weld on that corner where the windshield rubber starts. She did good.

RegularGuy: that tape might be part of the answer, but I can't solve the bottom of the door leaking.

nujeepguy; 95Cherokee: Haven't checked the roof rack yet. That would seem a bit bizarre, but hey, no stone left unturned. My seatbelt never gets wet, though.

DFlintstone: Yeah, I've seen that pinkish putty stuff, and it's still holding well, I haven't seen water getting in.

Guywitha92: The cowl has been sealed off for a long time now. Nothing's in there, but I'll take a look just in case!

Thank you for the responses, folks. Specifically, the leaks are only visually coming in through the bottom area of where the door closes (seems to magically come in through the 100% okay weatherstripping) and the mysterious A-pillar seep I mentioned before.

Guywitha92

I bought a cherokee once and where the fuse box meets the firewall, there were leafs and stuff accumulating there and it was causing moisture to sit there and stared eating the metal. Thats why I suggested there too

HyenaXJ

The fuse box is on the passenger side for me. There's no leaks over there. Just the driver side. And regarding the firewall, there's no water getting in through there, either.

Guywitha92

Ok. Rhd. Im out of options. Good luck

HyenaXJ

BlueRidgeMark

Same here, but I used metal foil duct tape. Not the cloth stuff, the expensive stuff that is actually thin aluminum with adhesive on one side.

It does not leak now even in the hardest rain.

I'm sure there's rust where the windshield mounts. The tape is a band-aid until I can get that fixed.

HyenaXJ

Following up, the foil tape has stopped the water from getting in the a-pillar. Leak was actually windshield related.

Not sure how to fix the rain coming in from the bottom of the driver door area, though. I poured water on the roof and it somehow just gets in. It's where all that squishy rubber stripping is.