Water coming in when it rains heavily - NOW WITH PICS!

[murphy55d]

2005 Dakota. Water ends up only on drivers side floor, undeneath rubber floor mats. Is it pretty much a sure thing its the weatherstripping, or is there something else I can check for?

If it is weatherstrip, what does that cost to have fixed/replaced?

 

[jaha2000]

You park outside by chance? Could be leaves or crap in some of the drains.

 

[murphy55d]

Yes, I do park outside. How can I check if this is the case? Where are these drains located?

 

[jaha2000]

Some are under the hood, some are inside of the door jambs.
Ever notice how when you wash your car the water comes out underneath when you spray the hood down?
There are simply plastic tubes.

 

[murphy55d]

I'll check this out then when it quits pouring. Thank you for the help.

 

[CraigRT]

I'm thinking drains too... Sunroof by chance? That could be another cause.

 

[murphy55d]

No, no sunroof. No rear sliding window either.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The problem is rain. The only answer is to move to a climate where it doesn't rain so much.

 

[exdeath]

Windshield seal/dam is another possibility. If you have a big hole/missing parts or seals in the firewall, the cowl cover is another area (area where the wiper motors and stuff are that your windshield drains into).

You should be able to locate the source by looking for a dirt/sand trail. Wipe down your door seals or anywhere you suspect a leak so they are clean and shiny, and next time it rains, you should be able to see some kind of trail/stain. Many cars though, rain won't get to the weather stripping in the door, it will follow the gutter in the body work/trim first (eg: down the A pillar).

 

[Pacfanweb]

Only drains that could cause this are the door drains. Unlikely, but possible....I've never seen door drains on this model cause a leak.

Bigger possibility is the inner splash shield behind the door panel.

Even bigger possibility is the weatherstrip/seal on the body, not the door....I've seen a few of those that got to where they didn't fit tight enough where the mount on the body, and the water went behind them and crossed over...came out the bottom. Had to remove the rocker/kick panel and water test it to see it happen...after a bit, the water started running from behind the weatherstrip/seal. You can either replace it, or take it off, clean it and DRY it, and seal it on there with some adhesive silicone. Don't use RTV.

Don't know if your truck has these, but on the sides of the windshield, the geniuses that design Dodges put removable side moulding/trim....they are attached with small Torx screws...pull the seal up and the screws are behind there. They tend to leak.

Other than that....yes, the windshield can certainly be the cause. Pull the "A" pillar moulding and look inside of it....if it's leaked much, you should see obvious signs where water has run in the moulding and dried up.
Always the chance a body seam at the cowl or floor can leak....or something as simple as a grommet in the firewall, like where the hood release cable or a wire harness comes through.

Let me know if you don't find it.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Some are under the hood, some are inside of the door jambs.
Ever notice how when you wash your car the water comes out underneath when you spray the hood down?
There are simply plastic tubes.

Very few cars have cowl drains in the form of hoses or tubes....which is surely what you must be referring to. Chrysler minivans had them....they clogged up regularly. I've seen a very few other cars that had hoses to drain the cowl, but the vast majority of vehicles, including the truck in question here, have the cowl simply opened to either side and water just runs to the inside of the fender and to the ground.

 

[jaha2000]

Just using that reference as i have a sunroof, and that does indeed have tubing.

 

[radioouman]

I would check the drain tubes if you have a sunroof. I had one that was kinked and caused the sunroof to flood into the headliner.

 

[murphy55d]

Thanks guys, alot of things to check. I will report back once I get a chance to do some investigating.

 

[obamanation]

What kind of car?

 

[radioouman]

Does it happen when the AC is on? There is a drain that goes from the evaporator core to the firewall. If that drain gets plugged, it can back up into the passenger side floor.

 

[murphy55d]

It mostly happens when it's just parked. I never noticed it coming in while driving.

 

[murphy55d]

first picture, that looks pretty dryrotted, no? could that be the cause? my cowl drain/vents look pretty clean.

second picture, all of those white clips are full of water. which leads me to think its running down and going in that shitty weatherstripping. thoughts?

 

[radioouman]

I guess that I would be surprised if water is coming in through the weatherstrip unless you have a seriously misaligned door. Can you roll the carpet back and look up at the firewall where the leak is to see if it is the windshield seal?

You might want to pull back the weatherstrip on the other door to see if it looks the same. I was surprised on my '93 Dakota that the padding under the carpet was damp fairly often.

 

[murphy55d]

ill go out now and see if i can pull the carpet back. ill snap pics.

 

[boomerang]

Check the drain holes in the bottom of the door. Open the door and underneath on the inboard side there should be several stamped in holes or notches. I think they're plugged, water is collecting in the door and running out into the car.

Poke a small screwdriver or pointed object into them. If there's water in the door it will run out, so don't be looking right up into the hole when you do it.

 

[murphy55d]

Check the drain holes in the bottom of the door. Open the door and underneath on the inboard side there should be several stamped in holes or notches. I think they're plugged, water is collecting in the door and running out into the car.

Poke a small screwdriver or pointed object into them. If there's water in the door it will run out, so don't be looking right up into the hole when you do it.

Checked, both holes appeared to be free of clogs and water. Stuck a screwdriver up as far as it'd go and nothing.

I pulled the carpet back and didn't see any weird water residue or marks or even damp areas.

Could it be this piece? Pacfan, I think this is what you were referring to.

If that is indeed it, does it need replaced? tightened?

 

[radioouman]

That looks like it to me! So water is collecting inside the weatherstrip? I'd start looking at that weatherstrip closely to see if it is cut and allowing water in.

 

[murphy55d]

Dealer wants around 20 bucks for a new piece of weatherstripping. do I also need to replace that piece in the picture? Or is that just for looks, and the real culprit is the weatherstripping itself/

 

[radioouman]

$20 for custom weatherstripping is a steal. Do you have any idea how the water is getting inside the weatherstrip?