Electrical Issues When it Rains
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Electrical Issues When it Rains
So, back in July I had some issues with my V10 F250 not cranking after a bad rain storm. (New battery was installed May 2011) and ended up recharging the battery & replacing the alternator. Have not had any problems since until yesterday as I was going to use the pickup. I drove it on Thursday with no problem and Friday Tropical Storm Lee came in with TONS of rain. Now NOTHING AGAIN. 
I also noticed a drop of water coming from overhead console (trip computer module that has not worked since I've had it). So I pulled the overhead console out and water was beaded around the center overhead clearance light opening. I dried that one with a paper towel and looked under the headliner and others were slowly leaking. After looking the center one already had a drop beaded again.
Would this cause a short that would drain the battery?
Also having the battery drained so bad twice in 2-3 months is this going to degrade the capacity of my 5 month old battery?
I also noticed a drop of water coming from overhead console (trip computer module that has not worked since I've had it). So I pulled the overhead console out and water was beaded around the center overhead clearance light opening. I dried that one with a paper towel and looked under the headliner and others were slowly leaking. After looking the center one already had a drop beaded again. Would this cause a short that would drain the battery?
Also having the battery drained so bad twice in 2-3 months is this going to degrade the capacity of my 5 month old battery?
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
If you have only the overhead console, I don't think there is any power up there when the truck is off. If you have a console with the map lights in it, then there might be some ignition-off power that could short to ground through water. Seems unlikely.
What is more likely is that the water is running down the A pillars and getting into the electronics under the dash. Leaking windshields is known to do that. Maybe you could feel around the carpet and insulation under the dash and see if you can feel any dampness.
Anytime you run truck batteries dead, you have reduced their life. It is never a good thing. How much damage is done is unpredictable. Only time will tell on that.
What is more likely is that the water is running down the A pillars and getting into the electronics under the dash. Leaking windshields is known to do that. Maybe you could feel around the carpet and insulation under the dash and see if you can feel any dampness.
Anytime you run truck batteries dead, you have reduced their life. It is never a good thing. How much damage is done is unpredictable. Only time will tell on that.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Thanks bpounds
I just went out and pulled out the drivers side A pillar and as suggested small amounts of water is running down the A pillars. The head liner is also wet. I took out the panel under the sterring wheel and couldn't confirm water under there but the carpet near door panel is damp.
Hmmm is this something I can fix with just letting dry out and seal overhead lights / charge battery or am I looking at much larger electrical problems?
I just went out and pulled out the drivers side A pillar and as suggested small amounts of water is running down the A pillars. The head liner is also wet. I took out the panel under the sterring wheel and couldn't confirm water under there but the carpet near door panel is damp.
Hmmm is this something I can fix with just letting dry out and seal overhead lights / charge battery or am I looking at much larger electrical problems?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 544
Likes: 2
If you don't have anything going wonky when you're dry then you're probably going to be ok if you just get the cab lights sealed good and get everything dried out. If the moisture has caused any electrical connections to corrode then you might have some issues crop up that you'd have to run down. Sounds like the moisture crapped out your overhead console though. Check for corroded connections and clean 'em. If it still don't work then you'd prob have to replace the console electronics to get it to work. Otherwise congrats on finding a problem before it got too big.
Hopefully your battery doesn't crap out on you. You could either replace it before it does (unnecessary in my opinion) or replace it when it goes out. If it goes out, try to get it replaced under battery warranty.
Hopefully your battery doesn't crap out on you. You could either replace it before it does (unnecessary in my opinion) or replace it when it goes out. If it goes out, try to get it replaced under battery warranty.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
New pictures added...
So after 8+ inches of rain yesterday and no rain first thing this morning I got out in the truck to look around to see how much damage... When I opened the door the water on the ground came from the cab.
Solution for the next couple of days (more rain on the way)
Solution for the next couple of days (more rain on the way)
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Wow, that's bad. You've got your work cut out for you.
That is a lot of water to leak through cab lights. So they may be leaking, but the windshields on these trucks are bad to leak too, and obviously a lot more water can come around a windshield. I would have it replaced, or at least resealed, just to be sure.
This is a bad time of year to have that problem, with winter approaching. You will want to leave the doors standing open as much as possible, and the windows open as much as possible when driving, so the cab can dry out. That would work for us here in CA, but maybe not for where ever you are. Maybe someone with experience can offer advice. Like dehumidifiers or something. You're probably going to have to replace all the carpet and headliner too. Doing that will get a lot of the water out. It might even come down to completely stripping the cab.
I don't envy this job.
That is a lot of water to leak through cab lights. So they may be leaking, but the windshields on these trucks are bad to leak too, and obviously a lot more water can come around a windshield. I would have it replaced, or at least resealed, just to be sure.
This is a bad time of year to have that problem, with winter approaching. You will want to leave the doors standing open as much as possible, and the windows open as much as possible when driving, so the cab can dry out. That would work for us here in CA, but maybe not for where ever you are. Maybe someone with experience can offer advice. Like dehumidifiers or something. You're probably going to have to replace all the carpet and headliner too. Doing that will get a lot of the water out. It might even come down to completely stripping the cab.
I don't envy this job.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
So I used the wet/dry shop vac to get most of the water out before I put the tarp on. As far as the weather, I have time. On the Mississippi gulf coast I have time before it gets "cold" (typically still in shorts until thanksgiving time frame or maybe christmas). Luckily all the water was confined to that one area. The drivers side was damp (with a little in the A-pillar) but the bulk of water was in that one spot.
So, my next move is to get the battery charged (once Tropical Storm Lee is gone) and then get the windshield resealed (no chips or cracks right now) and then get the cab lights resealed. I agree that is a lot of water from only the lights. Not a daily driver so I can leave tarp on while it rains. But I do wanna get that thing open ASAP so I don't get mold/mildew. (hopefully tomorrow).
So, my next move is to get the battery charged (once Tropical Storm Lee is gone) and then get the windshield resealed (no chips or cracks right now) and then get the cab lights resealed. I agree that is a lot of water from only the lights. Not a daily driver so I can leave tarp on while it rains. But I do wanna get that thing open ASAP so I don't get mold/mildew. (hopefully tomorrow).
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 819
Likes: 3
From: Putnam Valley, New York
WATER LEAK
Another place water can come in, is under the upper part of the door opening weatherstripping. With the doors open, pull the weatherstripping from the upper door openings, and flood the pinchwelds (the metal part that the weatherstrip mounts to) with silicone or some type of body sealer. There was a Ford TSB about this many years ago.
RON
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Another place water can come in, is under the upper part of the door opening weatherstripping. With the doors open, pull the weatherstripping from the upper door openings, and flood the pinchwelds (the metal part that the weatherstrip mounts to) with silicone or some type of body sealer. There was a Ford TSB about this many years ago.
RON
Thanks Ron I'll look at that also.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: Central FL
Although i cant help you with the fix or problem (unless you have a sunroof)i can help with getting the water out of your truck. Its called damp rid, Lowes and Home depot carry it. Its a little white bucket with stuff in it that will absorb the water in the air. When my mother's equinox was leaking from the sunroof track i used it to dry it out.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Didn't really read all the posts on here for your problem but I've read in a lot of places that these years trucks have leaky windshields. As far as i've seen you've found your leak but your battery drain could be part of water getting on your GEM module under the dash. Do all your electronics still work? Your GEM module is connected to the back of your fuse box. So if you have water leaking on it, it could short your system out and drain your battery. Just a thought that I figured I'd share. Good luck!
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
My Fixes for electrical issuses & Water leaks
Just to come back and inform others of what I found out after the issues I had a month ago just to help others if they have similar issues.
First of all I had 2 SEPARATE issues that occurred at the same time from TONS of rain (approximately 12 inches in 3 days.)
First, Water in passenger floorboard.
Figured out the water came after a hard rain, from the blower motors bottom weep hole this is a little more common on the Taurus cars. I just climbed underneath the truck drilled two small drain holes into the blower housing on the engine side of the firewall. (after a friend told me about it I searched and came up with https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ml#post3976580 )
Second, Battery drain.
Figured out the water was leaking from the clearance lights down the A-pillar and getting on the GEM module under the dash. I took the lights off and replaced the gaskets (as a bit of overkill, I added sealant around the larger of the 3 holes from the underside since I had taken the headliner off anyway).
Those fixes were completed several weeks ago and no issues since.
Boy, did I ever have fun getting the carpet dried out without getting a moldy mildew smell. I used the Damp-Rid along with a large fan blowing constantly when I could.
No problems since
Thanks for everyone that added ideas !!!!
First of all I had 2 SEPARATE issues that occurred at the same time from TONS of rain (approximately 12 inches in 3 days.)
First, Water in passenger floorboard.
Figured out the water came after a hard rain, from the blower motors bottom weep hole this is a little more common on the Taurus cars. I just climbed underneath the truck drilled two small drain holes into the blower housing on the engine side of the firewall. (after a friend told me about it I searched and came up with https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ml#post3976580 )
Second, Battery drain.
Figured out the water was leaking from the clearance lights down the A-pillar and getting on the GEM module under the dash. I took the lights off and replaced the gaskets (as a bit of overkill, I added sealant around the larger of the 3 holes from the underside since I had taken the headliner off anyway).
Those fixes were completed several weeks ago and no issues since.
Boy, did I ever have fun getting the carpet dried out without getting a moldy mildew smell. I used the Damp-Rid along with a large fan blowing constantly when I could.
No problems since
Thanks for everyone that added ideas !!!!