help locating a leak

[cros]

ok, so i am officially out of ideas so i am turning here for help. i bought my truck on 6/26 and i LOVE it, except for one small issue that i can not seem to fix. i have some sort of weird leak. i have taken my truck to 3 different places (2 dealerships and 1 auto glass specialist) and none of them were able to fix the leak. all 3 places have cleaned out the drains in the sunroof and the auto glass shop has ruled out the windshield causing this.

ok, so this is the issue. i have some sort of small leak that is leaving streaks of water marks running down my windshield, top to bottom. i feel that the truck has to be moving or moved for them to appear, usually 1-3 streaks at a time. the frustrating part is that i have never seen the water causing this. :chair: could it be the roof rack? maybe a lose screw letting in water? i dunno, but i am out of ideas what it could be. water has never dripped down from the sunroof, no watermarks on the headliner, no mildew odors, and no wet carpets. its like phantom water :roll:

i should note that the first time i noticed this, i actaully saw water ( :roll: ) in between the a-pillars and windshield on both sides. since the drains have been cleaned i haven't noticed that again. does anyone have any ideas where the water is coming from? please help. i am out of ideas and the dealerships aren't much help. TIA.

[cooldry]

If it's possible that it's the roof rack, have you tried taking it off and see if the problem persists? That my be a place to start.

[cros]

If it's possible that it's the roof rack, have you tried taking it off and see if the problem persists? That my be a place to start.


i have not. i just saw a thread where it could be ppl have seen that happen. would it be as simple has taking out the screws, adding a silicone sealant and screwing back in?

[fustercluck]

Have you tried to force it to happen with a hose?

[cros]

Have you tried to force it to happen with a hose?

yes, all 3 places i have taken it to had try with a hose, but they couldn't recreate the issue.

[MTL_4runner]

i have not. i just saw a thread where it could be ppl have seen that happen. would it be as simple has taking out the screws, adding a silicone sealant and screwing back in?


Yes, silicone should solve the issue if the roof rack is causing this.

[Bob98SR5]

i am pretty confident it is the roof rack holes. this is a problem other owners have complained about and solved by silicone on the roof rack holes

[04 Rocko Taco]

No more trouble than it is, I would go ahead and seal up those roof rack holes, and see if my problem persists. :)

[cros]

No more trouble than it is, I would go ahead and seal up those roof rack holes, and see if my problem persists. :)


thanks guys. do i need to do all screws or just the 4 holding the end caps?

also, can anyone recommend a sealant?

[04 Rocko Taco]

Aquarium Sealant. :) They sell it at Lowes. In relaity, any type of silicone will work. I'd opt for black, as it will blend better with the rack.

[MTL_4runner]

Just get some black RTV from an auto parts store.
Clean the area to be siliconed well with rubbing alcohol beforehand.

[cros]

Just get some black RTV from an auto parts store.
Clean the area to be siliconed well with rubbing alcohol beforehand.


do i apply it around the screw while its still screwed in or rather apply it to the threads of the screw and then screw back in to place?

[04 Rocko Taco]

I would pull out the screws, and then put a little silicone or RTV in the hole, and then screw em back in.

[cros]

I would pull out the screws, and then put a little silicone or RTV in the hole, and then screw em back in.


ok, thanks. anything i should look out for when doing this?

[04 Rocko Taco]

nope, not really. :) Just dont get to overzealous and make a mess.

[MTL_4runner]

nope, not really. :) Just dont get to overzealous and make a mess.


.....but make sure to use a liberal enough amount to ensure you'll be sealing it 100%

[04 Rocko Taco]

Always a fine line, be on the safe side, make a mess and clean it up later.

[cros]

thanks so much for you help. this will be my little weekend project...

[cros]

OK guys..well the leak is back. this time i was able to do my best locating where it was coming from. just behind the headliner, where the windshield meets the rubber seal, that is where it is coming from. basically from the rear view mirror over to the A-pillar on the drivers side. suggestions? rubber seal that whole area?

[MTL_4runner]

Have you had a windshield replaced fairly recently?

[cros]

Have you had a windshield replaced fairly recently?


no. i bought it used back in June. to my knowledge, and the opinion of a auto glass specialists, the windshield has never been replaced...

[MTL_4runner]

IMHO it has to either be the roof rack or the front windshield. There's nothing else that high which could leak and be running down the windshield as you describe. Do you think this could just be condensation or something simple instead?

[cros]

IMHO it has to either be the roof rack or the front windshield. There's nothing else that high which could leak and be running down the windshield as you describe. Do you think this could just be condensation or something simple instead?


i sealed up some screws on the rack that looked like water could seep into, but a majority of them were so tight that i couldnt get them out...so im pretty sure it isnt the rack anymore.

[MTL_4runner]

Have you pulled down the headliner to have a look?
You need to trace the water marks back to the source.

[cros]

Have you pulled down the headliner to have a look?
You need to trace the water marks back to the source.


yes, the water is seeping through between the windshield and rubber seal just behind the headliner...iv tried to recreate it but with no luck

[SupermanWV]

Seems to me...if it is leaking in between the windshield and the rubber seal...you won't be able to recreate with a hose....unless you have a fan blowing air on your windshield at 70mph. It probably occurs when you are driving in rain...and the water sits in the headliner with force of the truck moving holding it back towards the rear of cab. Then when you stop and park for the evening or whatever...the water runs back forward to the lowest point and flows down the windshield. Which is probably why you never see it happen...cause it happens when your not in the vehicle. Unless you make it a habbit to sit in your truck for a while after you turn off the ignition.

I'd say....smear some rtv silicone where the spot is you believe it is leaking through...if that doesn't help...go to the window repair shop and have them peal back the rubber seal around the outside of your window and re-seal it for you, then put the rubber seal back on.

Hope you work it out soon with SNOW comming.

Clark (SupermanWV)

[cros]

Seems to me...if it is leaking in between the windshield and the rubber seal...you won't be able to recreate with a hose....unless you have a fan blowing air on your windshield at 70mph. It probably occurs when you are driving in rain...and the water sits in the headliner with force of the truck moving holding it back towards the rear of cab. Then when you stop and park for the evening or whatever...the water runs back forward to the lowest point and flows down the windshield. Which is probably why you never see it happen...cause it happens when your not in the vehicle. Unless you make it a habbit to sit in your truck for a while after you turn off the ignition.

I'd say....smear some rtv silicone where the spot is you believe it is leaking through...if that doesn't help...go to the window repair shop and have them peal back the rubber seal around the outside of your window and re-seal it for you, then put the rubber seal back on.

Hope you work it out soon with SNOW comming.

Clark (SupermanWV)


Yes, exactly. I went ahead and did just what you mentioned yesterday afternoon...now i hope the leak stops and the smell from the sealant goes away too :rolleyes:

[MTL_4runner]

go to the window repair shop and have them peal back the rubber seal around the outside of your window and re-seal it for you, then put the rubber seal back on.


X2

I would have just gone to a glass repair shop and had them peel back the trim so I could inspect myself.
If all looked good, replace with brand new trim.

[cros]

go to the window repair shop and have them peal back the rubber seal around the outside of your window and re-seal it for you, then put the rubber seal back on.


X2

I would have just gone to a glass repair shop and had them peel back the trim so I could inspect myself.
If all looked good, replace with brand new trim.


Im going to try the RTV around the outside...see if thats helps. unfortunatly money is real tight right now...

i think the issue came about when i had best buy install a sirius unit. they stuck the wire for the receiver in the rubber seal along the oultside of the windshield...the same side that has the water leak...

[MTL_4runner]

i think the issue came about when i had best buy install a sirius unit. they stuck the wire for the receiver in the rubber seal along the oultside of the windshield...the same side that has the water leak...


I just got my windshield replaced and asked the glass shop about your issue. Up here the first thought he had was rust under the weather stripping. After hearing about the Sirius install though, I think that's a pretty key part of the issue. If money's tight, hopefully the RTV does the trick for you.

[cros]

i think the issue came about when i had best buy install a sirius unit. they stuck the wire for the receiver in the rubber seal along the oultside of the windshield...the same side that has the water leak...


I just got my windshield replaced and asked the glass shop about your issue. Up here the first thought he had was rust under the weather stripping. After hearing about the Sirius install though, I think that's a pretty key part of the issue. If money's tight, hopefully the RTV does the trick for you.


thanks for your concern. when i get home tonight im going to go around the edge with the RTV where the wire use to be. *crosses fingers in hopes of finally solving the issue*

[cros]

Ok, here is the update.

It started raining yesterday afternoon while at work. No water was seen after driving home...good sign. Once back I was prepared to add some RTV sealant around the rubber stripping on the outside of the windshield. However, the seal was so tight that i couldn't even pry it up with my fingernail. So after messing around with the for 20mins, with no luck, I focused my attention back to the inside. I touched up some areas I felt didn't look completely sealed and left it at that. Now, should there be any concern with only sealing the inside of the windshield and not the outside? My main concern is sealing the inside where I know it was coming in from, only to have it start leaking somewhere else without my knowledge...

suggestions?

[MTL_4runner]

Seriously , just pay the money to have a glass specialist pull off the molding and have a look underneath. You may be surprised by what you find because I can't think of any other ways you can get water coming in where you're talking about. At the very least you can then rule out the windshield as a possibility. The guy at the glass shop was pretty sure that was your cause.