Roof leak

[glenny49]

Hello again fellow members. I have a 1989 ford ranger xlt extended cab with a roof leak that I have put off fixing but I can’t wait any longer. There’s no visible holes in the roof. It will leak inside at both the front and rear of the cab. The roof liner is ready to fall down around my ears. I’ve had the windshield replaced to no avail. The rain gutters look good with the original putty. For me it’s a mystery as to where the water is coming in, does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[SenorNoob]

Most common places that I'm aware of are the cargo light, and the top corners above the windshield. Right where you have to remove the trim to see it.

Mine was leaking at both at one point. I also vaguely remember it running over the headliner and leaking out the other side when on hills.

 

[glenny49]

Thanks for your response. I had Speedy auto glass put in a new windshield, if they neglected to notice something like that i’am going to kick someone’s ass. I may have to go back at it again.

 

[glenny49]

I forgot to ask what did you do to resolve the leaks, please?

 

[glenny49]

Dear Mr Senornoob, I have just noticed good previous responses to this kind of issue. I have taken a closer look based on your response and others and I believe I see the issue. The hole is really quite small and right on the corner of the cab roof on both sides not under the windshield trim, so I will be looking into filling the hole with something. Ranger forums are really quite useful.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've been meaning to look into this on my '90, I need to get it sealed up better... I haven't looked into it in a few years though.

 

[4x4junkie]

The original putty on my '90 BII gutters was done after around 2008 or so... If yours is original, then I'd certainly be focusing my attention there.

Chipped/chiseled out all the old putty, wire brushed, then redid it all with GE silicone (RTV) you get at the hardware / home improvement store.
Has been fine since (although I did have another leak develop somewhere along the top-passengerside of the windshield behind the trim that I somehow successfully stopped with a long piece of electrical tape across the top windshield trim to the cab sheetmetal itself (too lazy to investigate further... I guess until it leaks again lol. That piece of tape has been on it for 8, maybe even 10 years now).

 

[glenny49]

Thanks Mr.4x4 junkie. At the time when you did the repair on the rain gutter was the original puttty cracked or not because mind appears too be 100% okay with no cracking. I’m sure it’s the original stuff. I’d be afraid of doing the chiseling out process. It’s hard as the old dickens. A person is liable to go right through the steel underneath, do you have any comments about this?

 

[Shran]

Thread '1st/2nd gen Roof leak/rust prevention PSA'

Mar 4, 2021

This definitely pertains to 1st gen owners and probably 2nd gen owners as well.

In the course of doing a bunch of body work on a truck, I found a place that is probably the source of many wet headliners and roof rust. This area had seam sealer applied to it at the factory but it was cracked and mostly missing on one side, and just slightly better on the other. Without sealant in the corner of the roof/A pillar, there is a hole that leads directly into the area between the outer roof skin and the inner structure... every time it gets wet, you'll have water in there and I'm sure that...

• Shran
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Body & Exterior

• 

Could be that.

If you remove the seam sealer on the gutters, I like this stuff. It's paintable, dries very hard, and can be sanded into whatever shape you want. Kinda spendy and you need the special caulk gun tool. If your gutters look OK and it's not cracked, I wouldn't worry about it though... in any case you can get it out with a chisel, screwdriver, and wire wheel... that's how I do it...just be careful.

 

[glenny49]

Thanks for your response. My seam sealer as you would call it looks very good so I’m going to leave it alone. As I have said in previous replies the problem is a couple of small rust holes in both front corners of the cab above the windshield trim. You’re right your want to be careful removing the seam sealer or you could ruin the truck.

 

[4x4junkie]

Thanks Mr.4x4 junkie. At the time when you did the repair on the rain gutter was the original puttty cracked or not because mind appears too be 100% okay with no cracking. I’m sure it’s the original stuff. I’d be afraid of doing the chiseling out process. It’s hard as the old dickens. A person is liable to go right through the steel underneath, do you have any comments about this?

I seem to remember mine did have some visible cracks in it, so is what led me to redoing it.
I recall I just used a flat screwdriver + hammer (tapping it lightly as I went along), it just chipped out, then a small wire brush to remove some of the residue (taping off the area to protect the paint).

If you got obvious rust holes outside of the gutters though, then yeah you'll certainly want to deal with that first (and is something your windshield place should've at least alerted you to, if not having taken care of it themselves).