leak around upper A pillar?

[19Kgvw]

I've been having water leak into the cab..... seems to be dripping out of the plastic trim molding just aft of the upper A pillar. It's doing it on both pass and driver side. I inspected the rain gutter (outside cab) and I see what looks like cracks in the material that fills the rain gutter.

Questions:

- has anyone else had this problem?

- what is the material filling the rain gutter?

- can the crack be fixed by a body shop?

- does this leak create the rusting in the cowl area at the base of the A pillar?

-



Thanks for any info... ... .



Rich

 

[JLEONARD]

has anyone else had this problem? Yes it is common

- what is the material filling the rain gutter? No idea but mine was all brittle and once I started peeling most of it came out.

- can the crack be fixed by a body shop? You can buy caulking and do it yourself

- does this leak create the rusting in the cowl area at the base of the A pillar?Priobably a contributor



Mine didn't leak into the cab. . rather it followed the cab and would make my seat belt wet.

 

[19Kgvw]

has anyone else had this problem? Yes it is common

- what is the material filling the rain gutter? No idea but mine was all brittle and once I started peeling most of it came out.

- can the crack be fixed by a body shop? You can buy caulking and do it yourself

- does this leak create the rusting in the cowl area at the base of the A pillar?Priobably a contributor



Mine didn't leak into the cab. . rather it followed the cab and would make my seat belt wet.

a ha!! my seat belt has been wet before also... . I'm thinking that maybe... if you parked on a up hill, the water would run towards the back along the piece of plastic at the top of the door... . donno...

I think I'll have a shop that I trust look at it cuz I'll want to have a long term fix- thanks for the comments.

Anybody else with this situation??



Rich

 

[KSears]

you might want to check the gasket on the brake light on back of the cab, especially for the wet seat belt, I had a 90 and it leaked some there and at the top corner of the windshield behind the windshield gasket, there seems to be a void in that area where it doesn't quite seal

 

[WyattEarp]

Hahaha i have to laugh because my truck(prior owner) had all the trim out and the headliner, no problem there i pay it no mind but i have on 2 occasions in the center of the windshield where the trim pc screw hole is have had water drip, now im guessing its either from the guttering up top around the roof of the cab or its sweating. . I just know its to cold right now to deal with it besides the only thing that would come out of there now is a ice cube lol...

 

[HHhuntitall]

Do you have clearance lights on top of the cab? I know all of mine have leaked at some point or another. I usually pull them down, install new bulbs, and reassemble, using silicone to keep them dry and tight. Also, the rear brake light is a really good suggestion. IF the lens is cracked, it will fill up with water, and when it runs out, guess where it goes? As far as ice cubes coming out of the screw holes, I have never seen that, but I swear I saw penguins go across the dash one night.

 

[Bluebird]

Leaking too...

I have the same A pillar leak, have not figured out where it comes from, I just put a towel on the floor to keep it from getting to the padding under the rubber mat. Both sides in the rear corners of the cab, (regular cab) will get puddles. I have checked the cargo light from the inside and out, did not see moisture there. So, I keep face towels in those corners, and change when wet. I think it may be the door weather stripping. Mine looks good, however there is always water on the step/sill of both doors. Go figure



Still love this truck:-laf anyway...



Patrick

 

[19Kgvw]

Do you have clearance lights on top of the cab? I know all of mine have leaked at some point or another. I usually pull them down, install new bulbs, and reassemble, using silicone to keep them dry and tight. Also, the rear brake light is a really good suggestion. IF the lens is cracked, it will fill up with water, and when it runs out, guess where it goes? As far as ice cubes coming out of the screw holes, I have never seen that, but I swear I saw penguins go across the dash one night.

No clearance lights on mine and the brake light looks to be in good shape... . the rubber seal around the front windshield look complete also, no areas of it pulling away.

Not to many places to leak up that high... . still looking at the rain gutter cracks.....

 

[HHhuntitall]

Well, I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to this in the past, but my old trucks have always had that problem, especially my extended cabs. Looking at it this morning, it would appear when the heater comes on and starts heating the cab, the back, outer panels behind where the rear jumpseats go is sweating. And pouring water down to the bottom. I've got all kinds of goodies down there, including a funnel and air guages/chucks for my air compressor. I got the guage and chuck out this morning, and felt the water rolling down the side of the cab. I wonder if this is what's happening on the regular cabs, too? I think I may put some dynomat up on the wall in there, and see if it helps any. I'll bet it's doing it in the roof, too! It makes sense to me; are you guy's trucks doing it when it's cold, or all the time? Hmmm...

 

[JLEONARD]

Mine leaked all the time pretty much once it started. I did the rear light sealing thing, that never changed anything. Mine was definately the gutter.

Then the roof split open. I had it welded, new windshield, etc. Gutter sealed and it stayed dry for a year then the caulking started to crack again in places and again a wet seat belt.

I would have been better off grinding off the gutter completely when the roof was welded.

Live... . and (hopefully) learn.

 

[JLEONARD]

Mine leaked all the time pretty much once it started. I did the rear light sealing thing, that never changed anything. Mine was definately the gutter.

Then the roof split open. I had it welded, new windshield, etc. Gutter sealed and it stayed dry for a year then the caulking started to crack again in places and again a wet seat belt.

That was especially nice in the winter. . ever get in the truck on a cold morning with a frozen seatbelt? WTF?:-laf

I would have been better off grinding off the gutter completely when the roof was welded.

Live... . and (hopefully) learn.

 

[PToombs]

Mine was actually leaking around the windshield gasket. Water would get in the top, and transition to the inside on the way down the side. It would run out from under the gasket down next to the dash where you couldn't see it. I had to swap out the cab because the floor rotted thru.

 

[WyattEarp]

no clearance lights for me either so all i can sum mine up to is the rain gutter outside which i have looked @ and no cracks that i can see, so either that or sweating issue for me. . i have only see it do it 2times

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

I have water issues on my driver's side floor. Water always seems to pool up around the bottom of the kickpanel/vent. The carpet is wet and everything is soaked under my rubber floor mat. I do believe it is either the windshield gasket, cowl crack, or the vent is not sealing from the outside. I was actually able to trace water coming down from the gauge cluster. Apparently, this is a common issue amoung 1st gens.

 

[19Kgvw]

I have water issues on my driver's side floor. Water always seems to pool up around the bottom of the kickpanel/vent. The carpet is wet and everything is soaked under my rubber floor mat. I do believe it is either the windshield gasket, cowl crack, or the vent is not sealing from the outside. I was actually able to trace water coming down from the gauge cluster. Apparently, this is a common issue amoung 1st gens.

and we've had lots of rain lately eh Chris LOL!!



Rich

 

[ZedMikey]

I'll hop in on the WA 1st gen owners with leaky trucks thread...

I was planning on covering the entire front end of the truck in silicon sealant. That ought to fix it!

 

[PToombs]

Windshields and vent leaks are common. I went to Home Depot and got some thick adhesive foam, like for a truck cap but thicker, and resealed my vent. It was 3/8" and was almost too thick, I had to squeeze it to get the screws in. It was good for about 2 months, now it barely trickles again just a little.

As for windows, when I had mine replaced, I specifically said I wanted it sealed between the body and gasket. They didn't, and it leaked. I had it back 3 times before they got it right. Finally they pulled it out and did it the correct way. I did learn from the installer, who's been around for a while, that even when these trucks, ramchargers, and vans were new, if you pulled the front window and put it back, it would leak between the glass and gasket. The trick is to install the window, silicone between the glass and gasket, then put the seal strip in.

Works like a charm!

 

[19Kgvw]

The trick is to install the window, silicone between the glass and gasket, then put the seal strip in.

Works like a charm!

I'm glad someone staying dry!!Oo.

 

[PToombs]

I am, but my floor is still wet! It must be from the vent. I'd silicone a piece of something over the hole but I don't have A/C so I need the air.

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

I'll hop in on the WA 1st gen owners with leaky trucks thread...



I was planning on covering the entire front end of the truck in silicon sealant. That ought to fix it!

Nice to see another local 1st gen owner on here! Just an FYI, we have occasional truck gatherings in the area. PM me for more details.