Wet interior.

[tj-ranger]

+1
Check make sure the drain hole is not plugged

.
Where is the drain hole..
Cant seem to find it on my '88.
Got a water leak on the passenger side- though it was the heater core, but the water is clear...
then on another post, there was talk about the windshield. I did have a fender bender on the right side last year, so I thought it might be the windshield.
I had it covered over the past few days, during some rain etc... yet the foam gasket @ the heater core/firewall is still damp.
I siliconed the entire windshield/trim tonite....and hopefully that will cure it...(silicone there.. but not at the 'grommets -as mentioned...havent gotten there yet..!) ..
Other than that.. not sure what to look for. (grommets area?!?)
.

 

[tj-ranger]

Just an update.
I caulked the windshield, all around, and when I got home tody, there is still dampness/wet, coming into the cabin..and still, seeping thru the heater core assembly area, including the casket @ the firewall.
Could that come from a compromise on the exteria wiper cowels?! ( I guess anything is posible..).
If so, I guess I wanna look for some kind of 'spray-in' sealant, ie ruberized undercoating or something like that.. so I can either pour or spray in the cowel, under the finished grill ..without having to remove anything....(Yikes)...
Any other suggestions...!?!?
TIA

 

[tj-ranger]

Check out the wiper cowls for seam leaks.

How do you get in there...?!?
I dont see a way of getting gowling off (with the grills) to get at the seams...
and where is the drain hole..?
I now know its not the windshield..- gotta be in/around the wiper cowling...!

 

[jeff2761]

Leaking Cab

I'm having the same problem with the wet floor. I got to looking yesterday and opened the hood while spraying water on the top of the cab. It's an old truck (96) that looks like the previous owner did some kind of work on the hood mounting area. Water was leaking out while the water is draining through the cowl vent area. I'm guessing that may be the problem. Did anyone ever post how to access this area (cowl)? Thanks.
Jeff

 

[tj-ranger]

Accessing that cowl area is a bit of a mystery to me. Looks like (on my '88) that the fenders wrap over the cowl lip where they meet. I dont see any screws or contact points that can be removed.
Same thing about the 'drain' holes. Im looking for some tubing or something that runs down and out, but dont see anything. My mechanic said it could just be a 'valley' created by the firewall outside and bulkhead inside where water would drain.
I dont know. Right now I have the cowling vents masked off, to prevent water from going in there.
Someone mentioned Not to cover the grill vents on the cowling..but Im thinking, what could they be 'venting'? - What kind of heat build up could there be in there..except the wiper motor?!?!? Couldnt be that much heat in there..
So this is still an ongoing project.
Its gotta get fixed. For me..and as I do want to sell it eventually for a newer truck.

 

[jeff2761]

I recently found out that you have to drill out the spot welds to get insided the cowling and the fenders have to be removed to access the drains. It rained this a.m. and I discovered I have one leak coming from somewhere under the dash and another leak coming from the rear window.

 

[tj-ranger]

Yeah.. thats what I was afraid of. It certainly didnt look like it could be done easily.
Good call. Thanks - dont think I'll do that!!.
I was farting around with it today..and on my '88 I couldnt see or feal any 'drain'..-per se-. I was poking around thru the cowl vents with a hanger..and did feel a 'bump' kinda near the edge by the fender. I poured a bunch of water thru the cowl..and it did lead to the end and pour out over a rigid piece of metal, probably part of the body work over the side of the frame..in the void between that and the fender. So it seems to be more of a channel leading the water away. However..there is a seam between the firewall and inner wall under the cowling where the wiper motor is. I believe this is where some water is seeping thru. I can see some trace of water coming into the engine bay/firewall where the seem is caulked... So if its dripping on the wirewall side..its probably dripping on the in-side as well.
Such a little drip on the firewall side...to get the inside so wet..?!?!?
I gotta see if I can get some kind of fluid sealant poured thru the cowl vents to seal that seam...! ughhh!!

 

[Red Ranger]

I have the same problem on the 2000 that we just bought. Glad that I found this thread instead of asking the same question again. I will be taking all your comments and seeing what I can see. I hate wet floors!!