I'll try to make this as quick as possible. My '99 XJ is my daily driver. My windshield has a big leak and it rains a lot where I live. The carpet always gets soaked when it rains even just a tiny bit. Last week it poured for a few days straight and there was water so high in both of the drivers floorboards that the rear floor has almost 2 inches of water in it. I tried to vacuum up all the water but I am tired of doing that and I dont have the money right now for a windshield. I started taking the carpet out and found lots of mold and a lot of rust forming (none breaking through the sheet metal yet). I saw that for the TJ and other jeeps, companys make removable carpet. I was wondering if anybody has tried anything like that before? Theres a XJ at the salvage yard with pretty much brand new carpet. I was thinking of removing it and using it on mine. I dont want to bedline the floor because it would be noisy with my cherrybomb muffler and MT tires. Anyways this is taking longer than I wanted, but I was thinking of cutting out the carpet where the floorboards are and using strong velcro to hold it down to the floor. Has anybody tried anything like that before? That way when it gets wet or muddy, I can take it out and wash it without worrying about all the trapped moisture with permanent carpet or the sound and heat without carpet

 

Back in the day I used to own a 46 CJ2A. I bought some indoor/outdoor carpet and installed snaps. Just bare bones in one of those Jeeps so removing and replacing was easy. Snaps kinda where a pain though.

I see the velcro coming up eventually cause of the water it will be sitting in.

Buy the carpet from the boneyard and put it aside. RTV the hell out of the windshield hoping to stop the leak for the time being. Save up and fix it properly. Install the better carpet.
I had a windshield leak too. Cost me $170 for a remove and replace. Got a new windshield out of the deal. I did supply a real Mopar weatherstip which cost me another $50 I think.
Thing is when they remove the windshield you never really know what you are going to find. Damage could be extensive. Simple remove and replace solved my problem.

 

If the windshield is not physically broken, chances are you are in for a substantial amount body work or duct tape.

 

Do you know if you have the factory windshield or not? You can tell by the stamp on the windshield itself. If it's been replaced, the stamp will have a number, dw01140 at the bottom of the stamp.

If it is leaking as bad as you detail, you really have a greater concern than just the leak. The windshield and it's correct bond are part of the integral structure of the cabin in the event of a rollover. If not sealed properly, the cabin would be more likely to crush in a rollover. Another consideration is occupant ejection in a forward impact. Neither a good scenario for you or your family. A proper replacement is obviously the best course of action in this case.

Being a glass guy by trade, it's hard to imagine a leak so bad around a windshield that it would fill the floor boards in even the slightest of rain. There are other problem areas to check as well including the cowl area above the blower motor, door seals and even the heater core and box. You can attempt to seal the leak if around the windshield with silicon but....the next windshield installer will not be pleased at all because that stuff is a real PITA to remove for a proper replacement.

IF your dead set that the windshield is the issue, please give thoughtful consideration to proper replacement.

Best Wishes,
Happy Jeepin'
TexasTaz38

 

Thanks for the tips! I'll check tomorow if it already has been replaced. I know some water is going in through the window, but I'm not sure how much. The hole in the firewall under the steering wheel has a leak too. I can see areas on the bottom of the windshield on the passenger side that are covered in dust and I can see places where water has went through. I see one really tiny spot on the drivers side and that's the worst side. It had a few inches of water there so I'm assuming that all came through the firewall. The passenger carpet is just slightly damp after it rains. I will probably go ahead and have somebody replace it soon for me

 

Haha yep. Duct take fixes everything

 

That's what i was considering doing but I wanted a little of the insulation from the factory carpet. And for the TJs and JKs theres some company (I forget the brand and product name) that makes water resistant carpet that looks like the factory carpet and its held down with velcro. I'm not sure how I would get it to stick to the carpet. Maybe sew it on. Anyways I will definitely get a new windshield soon and take a look to see if theres any rust or something like that around it.

 

If your windshield isn't broke, the glass company can do what is called a "R&I", remove and install. We do them all the time for body shops where the insurance company will not pay for a new glass and the glass has to be removed for the body work to be done. You probably won't get a big glass shop to do it but most smaller "mom and pop" shops can do it for you. You will most likely need to buy a new moulding for the windshield replacement which is common on a "R&I"

The best part of a small shop doing the job is that most of the time they don't mind you observing the process. If you get to observe, make sure to inspect the pinch weld where the glass is bonded into the windshield frame for damage and/or rust. If it's just surface rust, make sure they make an effort to buff it out with a wire brush or wire wheel, then apply a primer to the area. IF it's rusted thru, well you know, body work required.

A complete windshield replacement with a new moulding included should run $175 to $200 total installed. If any more than that, check elsewhere.

I wish I could just run around the country and fix windshields for all the Cherokee Forum brothers but I can't. I am certainly willing to share my knowledge on what you should look for though.

Hope this helps. I have posted several other times on this forum for windshield issues, you might want to look there too. Maybe I'll do a thread on step by step windshield replacement and what to look for. That might be a good idea.

Happy Jeepin'
TexasTaz38

 

On most vehicles there are rubber or plastic plugs in the floor pans. Maybe a circle of like an oval shape. You could pull them out and let any rain flow out.
Also you could use construction tape or tyvek tape around your windshield but be warned it sticks like nothing else. May be a pain to clean up afterwards. Not sure how well it holds in weather but it sticks like crazy. Good luck.

 

My 1997 had a bad leak when it rained and it was parked facing downhill. Parked facing uphill wasn't a problem.
I tracked it down to the HVAC intake, located under the cowl, on the passenger side.
The gasket that sealed the intake to the body had shrunk and slipped out of position, leaving a gap where water entered..
It was pain to get to, requiring cutting an access hole in the sheet metal, under the plastic cowl cover, for access.
This gave enough access to apply a sealant to the perimeter of the plastic intake.
Fill the cowl area with a hose and see if water enters under the dash, under the passenger side.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/32212090165/in/album-72157677009594362/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157677009594362/