Cab leaks

[Brandon Nootenboom]

I got a 97 Ford Ranger ext. cab and the drivers side floor board gets soaked whenever it rains. I've ruled out the windshield but can't figure out where the leak is... Any ideas?

 

[adsm08]

If it's not the windshield it's probably the door.


But it's probably the windshield. How did you rule it out.

 

[jhammel85]

Maybe from behind the dash? Perhaps the cowl has started to rot through...Mine has.

 

[killj0y]

Same problem here on a 96 standard cab, been hunting it down too! Mine leaks on the passenger side. Third brake light has been resealed as well as windshield at place of original installation, no leaks there. Gonna try pulling up the carpet and removing the kick panel to see better. After that I will probably try pulling off the fender...ugh!

 

[Brandon Nootenboom]

I've had the whole rear window re-sealed and the third brake light too, I'm thinking it may be the cowl, I don't have any rust that I know of but even a little rain gets the floor damp. I pulled my carpet all the way back on the drivers floor and the firewall was totally dry so I don't think it's the windshield, unless it's maybe a corner. I know it isn't the actual floor board cause it can just sit in the rain and get soaked. Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

[Brandon Nootenboom]

Oh, and I ran water along the door so I know it's not that. My dads Ranger's windshield leaks and it gets the headliner and drivers side pillar wet too. I need to try running water down my cowl and see if the floor gets wet.

 

[Sunk]

I think there are drains in the cowl that can clog, then cause it to leak, or rust then leak.

 

[det107]

I think there are drains in the cowl that can clog, then cause it to leak, or rust then leak.

Can you tell us where the drains are ?

 

[jhammel85]

I think there are drains in the cowl that can clog, then cause it to leak, or rust then leak.

That's pretty much what I was alluding to. I'm not sure about the drains for it, I think behind the fenders? But yeah..it can clog and rust through. Some of the spots around my seam sealer is leaking. Unfortunately for me, I've gotta take out my dash. I hope you don't have to do the same!

 

[killj0y]

Yea behind the fender, that's what I'm avoiding, I believe you have to drill out some spot welds too. Behind the kick panel I've read is a common place too.

 

[jhammel85]

yep..on my passenger side, I have a problem with a small hole starting just under the EEC. One day, that'll be lovely to work on..

 

[Nathan123]

It took for ever for me to figure out where mine was leaking. I had a little spot behind the kick panel. I went to all the trouble of peeling back the cowl to seal it (I'm not really sure that was a leak, but at least I know it's sealed). No matter what I did it kept leaking a little trickle down the side of the trans tunnel. It didn't do it quickly either, it took about a half hour for the water to show up. Turned out to be the windshield after all. Right now however, I have a huge problem with the carpet getting wet under the floormat from the cats heat.

 

[Brandon Nootenboom]

From the cats heat? That's where my water's showing up, under the floor mat and a lot of it. I'll check into pulling the cowl off, may talk to a body shop if I get a chance to ask them about it too.

 

[Nathan123]

Well, I definitely had a leaky windsheild/kick panel/other minor things. Ever since I did that it's been pretty good for the most part. Just lately I've been here at college and parked in a parking garage (first garage I ever parked in) so It doesnt see any rain now. Just recently it started smelling like cat piss again and I lifted up the mat and it's all wet. Little water beads on the back of the mat even (weather tech floor mats). So my theory is that because the cat is right under the floor, it gets smokin hot and radiates heat up to the floor. If it's cold or humid, water condenses on the back of the mat because it is a small confined space under there, and then dampens the carpet. Because it's always covered it never drys out. My factory heat sheild is rusted to the point of not existing, so I cut a piece of aluminum road sign and screwed it in place above the cat. I guess it isn't working so well though.

 

[Brandon Nootenboom]

Ahhh I gotcha, ya mine's got heat shields and the fiberglass and foil heat shield as well so it's not that, at least I don't think but I'll definitely look into it as well. I would just have a auto glass shop test my windshield except I can't afford it. We'll see, I don't want it to rot out my floor panel or get my carpet nasty