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

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murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
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Maybe in through here? This is where that molding and the weatherstrip come together.

0428001407.jpg
 

radioouman

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2002
8,632
0
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Could be. Is it supposed to be split like that? Are there any differences between the weatherstrip/molding on the left and right side doors?
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
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Okay, sorry I forgot to check back on this thread.

Yes, the pic of that plastic piece is the part I was referring to. All you need do is remove the screws and seal them. Silicone will do fine.

The weatherstrip that had the rusty end on it.....that may well be your problem. Esp. since the plastic clips are wet.

To prove it, you'll need to have a hose running over that door....I usually run the hose over the hood and under one of the wiper arms, and lay it on the windshield or the roof....depending on how much water pressure that particular dealership has. That way you don't need someone to hold it for you.

So have the water cascading all over the door...it'll follow the outline of the door, and also will do down the window and prove out the door drain theory, too.

Get in from the other side of the truck with a flashlight....you might need the kick panel/rocker panel (aren't they one-piece on that truck?) removed....in fact, you DO need it off. And watch the bottom of that door, and the curved part of the door opening just under the weatherstrip. Give it a good little while...not just a few minutes, to start. If that's your problem, you'll see the water coming from under the weatherstrip.

Would also help to have the carpet pulled back so you can see if a puddle is forming from elsewhere.

By having the water cascading over the door and back down the windshield, you'll also be testing that plastic weatherstrip mount.

Let me know how it goes.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
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Maybe in through here? This is where that molding and the weatherstrip come together.

0428001407.jpg
No, it' can't leak there...only thing in that area that can leak is either the windshield itself, or that plastic weatherstrip mount we talked about and you have a pic of in another post.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
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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.

0428001327a.jpg


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

Mentioned it in another post, but this is what I was talking about. That's a Torx screw, #15 is the size. There are several more on up the side of the windshield and roof. They are sealed only with a little dab of some sticky crap that doesn't work a lot of the time.

I use some butyl windshield sealant to seal the ones I work on, but some silicone will do just fine. Remove the screws, squirt some silicone in the hole, and some on the screw and reinstall.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
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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. :)

This is possible, but if it were the case, he should be hearing water sloshing in the door when he opens/shuts it. But definitely check it.

If this WAS the problem, the water would be coming out from under the door panel, when it fills up high enough.

The way I test this is, take a pocketknife and slide it between the outside of the glass and the weatherstrip....pull out on it slightly, and pour water down in the door. If the drains are working, the water will run out of them about as fast as you can pour it in.

If not, it'll be running slow, and pretty quickly you'll get water coming out from under the door panel.

This method will also test the inner splash shield's integrity....that can cause water to come out from under the door panel because it doesn't seal at the bottom.....it's designed to keep whatever water gets past the weatherstrip inside the door and direct it down to the drains.
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
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Pacfan, interestingly enough, there was a screw missing. Can I just go to any hardware/auto store to pick one up? What exactly do I need, just a #15 torx screw? Between sealing up those screws and replacing the rotten weatherstrip, I should kill off the two most likely sources, no?
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
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Doesn't have to be a Torx head....a fairly flat-headed, similar Phillips head wil work fine. Just take one of the Torx screws in with you and match it as best you can....you want the head to be the same diameter as the original, and not be too rounded on the top...where the screwdriver goes....Lowe's or Home Despot should have one close enough.

If not, a parts store that has a screw section or a "help" section with interior trim parts should have something.

Yes, there's a decent chance this is what the problem is......but which weatherstrip are you talking about? The one that goes over that plastic trim with the Torx screws, or the one on the door opening? I don't think you need the one over the trim.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
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Not to necro-post, but did you ever resolve this issue?

I was reminded of this when I fixed a couple of Dodges recently that had the weatherstripping on the body that the door shuts against leaking water into the passenger compartment.
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
81
Super-super necro post here, but after putting brand new weather stripping in, and sealing those screws, it still was continuing. Finally got sick of self-troubleshooting, took it to a body shop. For $35 they found the cause of the leak: mis-aligned drivers side door. It was bumping the weather strip just enough to cause it to roll back, allowing the water to seep in there. They took it off and re-aligned the door, and I have not had any issues since. Hopefully that takes care of it for good.