Leaking/wet floorboard

[RangerJ]

Well the (money pit) is at it again,this time it's leaking started all of a sudden . Started out as a small leak at windshield had it resealed.then after a heavy rain the passenger floorboard was standing in water. back to the glass shop water hose test windshield not leaking. Was instructed to seal the drip rails (as they had some cracks) and to seal the third brake light. Done all this . Today another heavy downpour all seems well except under the floormat the carpet is wet again on the passenger side. 1989 4x4 xlt 2.9. it's not wet anywhere else. any advice yall

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

make sure your heater cowel is not plugged up with leaves and pine needles. its not uncommon for early trucks to collect debris in the cowel, which plugs up the drains and causes rainwater to fill the cowel and overflow onto the floor.

 

[Confederate Forge]

Do you know your heater core is not leaking? Could be coming in from the cowl somehow. Pull the floor mat out and set inside watching while somebody runs the hose outside.

 

[RangerJ]

leaking/wet floorboard

Thanks, I will look at the cowl.Btw how do you remove the cowl in case I need to?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the cowel itself is part of the truck. the plastic ducting comes out from under the hood.

 

[fangotango306]

to clean the drains on an 89 you may need to pull the fenders.....or you can pull your wiper arm access panels on the firewall and snake a shop vac hose or long nozzled air gun out towards the fenders......i say rip out the carpet and get some roll on bedliner

 

[ZMan]

This is most likely your culprit...very common on 83-92 trucks. Both of my 92s rusted out in the same spot..

my standard cab..

My x-cab..

fixed..

 

[aaron47]

i had to take off the heater box,on the firewall. i found rust holes under the seal,that was letting water get in

 

[2manyfords]

Yes most likely rust.... very common on the first and second generation Rangers

 

[rickcdewitt]

the foam seal imbetween the firewall and plastic heater box in the engine compartment will leak too.i had a rust hole and leaky foam seal.

 

[RangerJ]

leaking/wet floorboard

Thanks for all the replys. I cannot get to the access plate for the wiper arms because of engine. I did blow out between the fender and the engine area and removed some crude. The plastic bag with padding was soaked. unable to see anything in cowl used flashlight looked clean. There was no sign of leakage around the heater box or hoses. Should I replace the padded plastic bag that was next to the fender.What about spray foam sealant, will it squeak or cause more problems. Yea I know sounds stupid but Let me hear yalls ideas. Thanks again

 

[ZMan]

Thanks for all the replys. I cannot get to the access plate for the wiper arms because of engine. I did blow out between the fender and the engine area and removed some crude. The plastic bag with padding was soaked. unable to see anything in cowl used flashlight looked clean. There was no sign of leakage around the heater box or hoses. Should I replace the padded plastic bag that was next to the fender.What about spray foam sealant, will it squeak or cause more problems. Yea I know sounds stupid but Let me hear yalls ideas. Thanks again

spray foam won't stop it, trust me the previous owner of my standard cab '92 had tried it. Plus the foam will just hold water and make the problem get worse faster.

The only way to truly stop it is to repair it like I did and then undercoat the hell out of it so it doesn't happen again. I have a lot of hours in that repair however, not to mention the windshield, dash, fender, heater box, and door all had to come off, plus anything else you don't want to get sparks all over.

You might just have to do like some do and take out the carpet permanently, and let it drain out when it rains..

 

[94RangerMike]

for using the spray foam, look for closed cell foam. try a marine parts store or google it.

 

[90B24wd]

It also could be leaking from around the top of the windshield. The urethane would get brittle with age and lose it's seal letting water to leak in.

 

[dirtymike]

under cat the crap out of it