Wet Carpet Front Passenger Side

[swexlin]

We have been having some monsoon rains here in suburban Philadelphia the last couple days. Today is nice, so I decided I'd clean up the truck a bit. When I pulled up the mat from the passenger side front, the carpet was soaked straight across from about the transmission hump, then damp all the way up to the firewall.



I opened the glove compartment, felt underneath the dash, and can't find anything wet. Where is the water coming from? From splashing under the truck and soaking through? (Although I haven't been through any major puddles. ) But, I do have one idea. The plastic cowl between the windshield and hood appears warped on the passenger side, and I'm sure water can get down in that opening. I'm thinking that with this really heavy rain, it ran down along the firewall somehow, and under the carpet?



At any rate, I towel-dried the carpet, and let it dry to the open air. I certainly don't want this to mildew out, or rust out the floorboard. Any ideas? Would the plastic cowl be a warranty item?



Thanks for any help you can give.



Scott

 

[Alan Reagan]

My wife's Grand Cherokee was doing the same thing in heavy rain. It was the windshield. They replaced it and the problem disappeared.

 

[swexlin]

Thanks Alan. Then I may be on the right track - the water is leaking in under the windshield and running down the back of the firewall, I think.

 

[The patriot]

I doubt it's the same thing, but my Dads new Dakota was doing the same thing. It was back to the dealer 3 or 4 times before they got it right.

It was a gasket in the dashboard heating/cooling system that wasnt installed right.

Possibly something similar?

 

[Alan Reagan]

There's no doubt these things are tough to find.

 

[swexlin]

It was a gasket in the dashboard heating/cooling system that wasnt installed right.

Thought of that too. It's definitely water, and not coolant. I smelled it, and my coolant level is where it's been for a couple years. I was just out looking again. I even checked my clearance lights on the roof, but the headliner and b pillar are dry.



I think Alan is on the right track with the windshield issue. I just HATE the thought of going to the dealer. I'm sure they will call with the famous "cannot duplicate problem" on the invoice.

 

[klenger]

There is a TSB for leaking cab lights. Mine does it occasionally, but I have not taken it in to be fixed yet.

 

[swexlin]

I don't think it's the lights. But I will look into it.

 

[JFaughn]

Find a shop that has the special tool for this , its a 2 part tool one of the other things its used for is wind noise getting by door seals ect. , the 1st part is a electronic noise maker , the 2nd part is a reciever , and you go around the seams until the reciever tells you your close , it can be tuned so that its is almost touching the spot in ?
Can save a lot of greaf , time & money .
A other thought with the rain issue could be the vent infront of the window filling up .

 

[swexlin]

A other thought with the rain issue could be the vent infront of the window filling up

That's what I was thinking in my original post - the plastic cowl between the windshield and hood has a gap where it is slightly warped.