Water drip by fusebox

[samwyse]

It doesn't appear to be coming from the third brake-light. Headliner is intact.
Previous owner used an adhesive sealer around the bottom driver's side windshield under the weather stripping. Its a right ugly mess. I've been trying to cut it out.

It's been a hard leak to find, because when I spray a hose on it, even for about 5 minutes, nothing. But light rain for 15 minutes and it starts dripping.

Its almost as though something gets saturated and then starts letting water through.

Wondering anyone else has had this problem.

 

[adsm08]

Windshield, firewall, cowl, wiper access panel, any of those things can leak and cause it to come in right there.

An 88 wouldn't have a third brake light, but even a leak at the cargo light shouldn't present that far forward.

 

[samwyse]

I think I'll just tear apart the dash and the remainder of the gross sealant he put on the outer windshield. If I still can't find it I'll consider having the windshield replaced. No point in causing rust on the floorpan if I can help it.

I'm just mystified as to how it won't leak when I hose it, but light rain always get through (well heavy rain does too).

 

[adsm08]

Lots of water leaks are like that. That's why I have working on them.

Take the dash out, it's not that hard on that truck, and look for water tracking. It will look like hard water marks.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

If it has a drip rail (gutter) above the door, the sealant can dry and crack causing hard to find leaks.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

 

[samwyse]

If it has a drip rail (gutter) above the door, the sealant can dry and crack causing hard to find leaks.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

It does! And the previous owner put some really bad epoxy glue along it to hold wiring to some sort of canopy wiring tube. So I'll clean that up and seal it before tearing apart the dash.


Sam

 

[bobbywalter]

the goo is probably due to lack of metal left



these are usually rotted in several key areas by now....as long as my foot dont get soaked i let it flow....


but uh....i dont have fancy stuff like carpets....and stuff...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Please don't use silicone caulk. Paint won't stick to silicone and neither will silicone stick to cured silicone.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Please don't use silicone caulk. Paint won't stick to silicone and neither will silicone stick to cured silicone.

What is the correct fix for the gutter issue?

 

[Mark_88]

Between the windshield leak and the rain gutter I would do a real good examine on the firewall after you pull the dash...although if there is anything rotting you will see it right away.

The door pillars are suspect too...and check the seams of the floor as I had one split on me and it was letting in both exhaust fumes and water...quite nasty in the winter...

The good news is...if the cab is shot and the rest of the truck is OK...you can swap on a cab from just about any year Ranger...up to 92 would be closest but later years will also work...

 

[samwyse]

Please don't use silicone caulk. Paint won't stick to silicone and neither will silicone stick to cured silicone.

Don't I know it. I used to be an exterior house painter, lots of finishing carpenters would try to fix cracks or mistakes with silicon, paint just drips off it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

What is the correct fix for the gutter issue?

Some type of butyl rubber caulk would probably be good.

 

[samwyse]

the goo is probably due to lack of metal left



these are usually rotted in several key areas by now....as long as my foot dont get soaked i let it flow....


but uh....i dont have fancy stuff like carpets....and stuff...

I've been thinking of ripping out the carpet and putting in vinyl. I work on a farm so its always getting dirt that turns into mud from the drip on there.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've been thinking of ripping out the carpet and putting in vinyl. I work on a farm so its always getting dirt that turns into mud from the drip on there.

6 of one half a dozen of the other. Moisture will still get around the edges and get trapped underneath the flooring.

 

[samwyse]

6 of one half a dozen of the other. Moisture will still get around the edges and get trapped underneath the flooring.

Maybe I should just rock guard paint it... I think you can buy rubber mats that you can install over the carpet, just remove easily for cleaning.