2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Driver's door and window seals leaking water

[jawbreaker]

First off, it's been a while since I've used this valuable resource. . Looking for solutions to my problem has reminded me what a wealth of knowledge is available on this site.



That being said, I have researched my problem thoroughly, and I know that my rear window, third brake light, and cab clearance lights are not the problem. Water pours in through the door, leaking past the outer door belt weatherstrip. A LOT of water. So much that it pools up and over the main door seal and into the cab. After first (needlessly) replacing the door seal, and then the outer door belt weatherstrip (which snaps into the bottom "sill" of the window on the outside), I noticed 2 things:



1) water is still coming in between the window and the BRAND NEW $90 WEATHERSTRIP and leaking into the door.

2)the door glass run weatherstrip, which runs around the top and sides of the window is allowing water in as well, at the bottom, toward the front of the door.



I noticed that when the window reaches the top of its travel, the window sort of pushes out, seating it against the door belt weatherstrip (bottom of window). Could the door glass run weatherstrip (top of window) be so shot and falling apart that it would not allow the window to roll all the way up? I'm thinking that if a crumbling top weatherstrip is not letting it all the way up, it might not be pushing out enough to allow the bottom weatherstrip to seal. Kind of grasping at straws now, I guess. Is it normal for water to leak inside the door? Up until now, I would have thought that was a dumb question, but after installing a brand new weather seal & having it not stop water from pouring into the door, I"m not so sure. Maybe I just need to glue the plastic back down at the bottom of the inner door & let it rain? Seems unlikely.



I don't want to keep guessing and buying these seals. They're not super-expensive, but they're not returnable, so the trial and error thing sucks. I'm in about $210 so far, with NO problems solved. The rain is supposed to be back tomorrow...

 

[sstefanini]

I had the problem with water leaking past the door seals. I adjusted the door latch/pins in about an 1/8 of an inch to tighten up against the seal.

 

[bboxall]

Water is getting into my driver's door and coming out between the door and inner plastic panel. This puts it on top of the door gasket and then it runs over to carpet, exactly the same problem you have.

I'm at a loss about how the water is getting in the door, the gasketing/stripping around the glass is original but looks very serviceable, just like the passenger side which isn't leaking.



I replaced the door seal before I realized it was running out between the inner door panel and the sheet metal. Obviously replacing the door gasket did nothing for the problem.



I my look at resealing around the mirror, does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[bboxall]

I think I know what is going on now after looking at my factory service manual. The inner plastic sheet is called a WATER DAM and I know mine is torn.

 

[jawbreaker]

I think you're right, bboxall. The same thing had happened with my "water dam". It had come unglued at the bottom, and was letting water in there. $12 tube of silicone sealant did the trick. So far, anyway. But the amount of water that was dripping down into the interior of the door past that lower window weatherstrip does NOT seem normal to me. But then again, neither does calling that flimsy plastic dust barrier a "water dam". Oh, well. As long as my carpet stays dry...

 

[Bill Lins]

Check the drain holes along the bottom of the door & make sure they're not stopped up. The belt strips aren't meant to exclude all water. The drain holes are outboard of the door seal and, if open, will allow water to drain out the bottom of the door.

 

[bboxall]

Will do, thank you all!