My Excursion center console water puddle
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New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 13
From: Los Angeles, CA
My Excursion center console water puddle
I have a 2001, 4X4 XLT Excursion and water puddles in the lower, front external cubbie of the center console and I cannot locate where the water is coming from. Inside the console is dry. There are no signs of dripping from the headliner. At the same time, I also have a water leak during a rain coming down around the E-brake area. As a result, the water caused a ground short in the fuse box and I removed it and completely disassembled it to clean the rust and corrosion buildup. I'm looking into the source of the water leaking above the fuse box but baffold where the water source is located that's puddling in the center console. Anyone have any ideas? Please see attached photo.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 164
Likes: 12
From: South Jersey
I had a similar leak at the fuse box. I found it was due to the failure of the self leveling seam sealer where the body panels are welded together on the roof. as far as the center console, pull the overhead console down and check under there.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
For the fuse.e-brake area: Windshield seal along the top. Peel the seal back a little and look for rust underneath. The seal should be replaced by now if you have not done it.
For the center console: no idea how water could get in there...
For the center console: no idea how water could get in there...
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New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
Likes: 13
From: Los Angeles, CA
Thank you for the suggestion. I'll post my progress identifying this water intrusion once I've located it.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
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From: Los Angeles, CA
I appreciate the suggestion... Thank you!
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 644
Likes: 29
From: Toronto, Canada
Unless there is water leaking from the roof or something directly above the center console I have no idea how that could happen.
Is the carpet around that area dry?
There are a few rubber grommets under the carpet but that still wouldn't explain how it got into the front part.
Is the carpet around that area dry?
There are a few rubber grommets under the carpet but that still wouldn't explain how it got into the front part.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 42
From: Almost back in TX biotche
It is coming from underneath. Ground water is getting splashed up and soaking the carpet, water is then running from the soaked carpet into the center console.
Remove seats, remove console and pull back the carpet. I can not remember if there are any access panels under there that might have lost a seal or you may have a hole from rust. Please post pics of the process because I am very curious.
Remove seats, remove console and pull back the carpet. I can not remember if there are any access panels under there that might have lost a seal or you may have a hole from rust. Please post pics of the process because I am very curious.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 582
Likes: 7
From: Charles Town, WV
I believe there is a panel where the t-case shifter would be for a manual shift case.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 385
Likes: 13
From: Stanwood, WA
I was going to ask if you drink a lot of iced drinks and it's compensating and dripping off the bottom of the cup holder? It seems like an awfully odd spot for moisture to collect, especially if there isn't moisture anywhere else.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Getting closer to identifying the water source
Today while the wife was in the cab, I took a garden hose and methodically concentrated on wetting small areas at a time with the thought there may be more than one source being I have at least 2 leaks.
I began by wetting the passenger side, lower front windshield and wiper cowl concentrating the water a couple feet towards the drivers side for a few minutes. While doing so, my partner in crime after searching high and low gave me the finger, sorry, the thumbs up to move on.
After covering the entire lower portion and receiving multiple fingers, I mean thumbs, I started to wet the roof just above the windshield passenger side. Like the lower side, I spent a few minutes wetting the area before moving on. Once I got to the center all heck broke loose. Water started pouring down from the rear view mirror right into the center console cubbie. And the area around the E-brake started to show signs of water but nothing like the mirror. Unfortunately, it was starting to get dark and began to rain so I was unable to continue. More to follow
I began by wetting the passenger side, lower front windshield and wiper cowl concentrating the water a couple feet towards the drivers side for a few minutes. While doing so, my partner in crime after searching high and low gave me the finger, sorry, the thumbs up to move on.
After covering the entire lower portion and receiving multiple fingers, I mean thumbs, I started to wet the roof just above the windshield passenger side. Like the lower side, I spent a few minutes wetting the area before moving on. Once I got to the center all heck broke loose. Water started pouring down from the rear view mirror right into the center console cubbie. And the area around the E-brake started to show signs of water but nothing like the mirror. Unfortunately, it was starting to get dark and began to rain so I was unable to continue. More to follow
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
Rust under the top of the windshield seal....very common on these and super duty trucks as they age.
You will need to remove the windshield to repair the rust. Then reseal it or have a glass installer do it. When I had my windshield replaced, there was a little rust up there after 16 years in this Texas climate. Folks in wetter/colder areas have more of a problem.
You will need to remove the windshield to repair the rust. Then reseal it or have a glass installer do it. When I had my windshield replaced, there was a little rust up there after 16 years in this Texas climate. Folks in wetter/colder areas have more of a problem.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
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From: Los Angeles, CA
How I remedied the leak... For now
I'm a firm believer that to cure an effect, one must eliminate the cause. But there are times when for one reason or another a band-aid will have to do.
In short, after discovering the general area of the leak (windshield top center), I used a caulking gun with a tube of silicone and starting from the center, pulled back the rubber seal just enough to insert the tip of the tube and packed the gap while slowly moving outwards.
After applying the silicone, that evening while the truck sat in my driveway, Southern California experienced one of the heaviest rainfall events ever. After the storm blew over, I checked the center console and the area of the E-brake and to my delight they were bone dry!!!
Obviously, to terminate the "effect", I will need to remove the weather stripping and windshield to expose the "cause" and repair as needed. But for now I'm a happy camper 🤗
In short, after discovering the general area of the leak (windshield top center), I used a caulking gun with a tube of silicone and starting from the center, pulled back the rubber seal just enough to insert the tip of the tube and packed the gap while slowly moving outwards.
After applying the silicone, that evening while the truck sat in my driveway, Southern California experienced one of the heaviest rainfall events ever. After the storm blew over, I checked the center console and the area of the E-brake and to my delight they were bone dry!!!
Obviously, to terminate the "effect", I will need to remove the weather stripping and windshield to expose the "cause" and repair as needed. But for now I'm a happy camper 🤗
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 644
Likes: 29
From: Toronto, Canada
Even if there was a 4" hole directly underneath that console there is no way the water would be able to get through the plastic.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 644
Likes: 29
From: Toronto, Canada
I started to wet the roof just above the windshield passenger side. Like the lower side, I spent a few minutes wetting the area before moving on. Once I got to the center all heck broke loose. Water started pouring down from the rear view mirror right into the center console cubbie. And the area around the E-brake started to show signs of water but nothing like the mirror. Unfortunately, it was starting to get dark and began to rain so I was unable to continue. More to follow
There was no way that water would be able to creep UP into that console from below.
Wet carpet? yes
water creeping somewhere else? Sure why not.
Making it's way IN to that particular spot could only have happened from above.
Glad to see you found the culprit. I would have fixed it same as you at least in the short run.
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