Believed windshield leak
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Believed windshield leak
I beleive my windshield is leaking. right foot gets wet when driving. Anyways, i stuck my finger between the dash and windshield i could feel water. I searched the forums and couldn't find anything on that. And it only leaks when i am driving. How would you check and make sure that the windshield is leaking. Thanks
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622
Likes: 5
From: Missouri - Lake of the Oz
stamp out wetness...
If you recently had your windshield replaced, it is quite likely that that is the source of your leak. If so, contact the shop that did the work. If not, a more likely place is one of the many points where 2 or more sheet metal panels come together & are spot welded then sealed with a caulk. This caulk, over time, can dry out, crack, and allow water (and yes, exhaust fumes) to enter the vehicle. Or, if a vehicle has panels that have been replaced as part of post accident repairs & the shop doing the work failed to properly reseal the areas, you may also experience leaks.
Finding the source can be difficult since the water can wick along a surface for some distance before and / or after entering the vehicle's interior. If you can narrow down the suspect area, seal up the cabin as tightly as possible with duct tape and pressurize it with the exhaust port of a large shop vacuum. Remember that many vehicles, Ford Trucks included, have one-way vents either in the doors or the back walls of the cabs that will need to be be blocked off for this method to work. Using a dropper or spray bottle, apply soapy water to the suspected leak spot and look for bubbles to appear.
It may sound easy, but unfortunately many times to get to the area you must partially or totally dismantle the interior.
dn.
Finding the source can be difficult since the water can wick along a surface for some distance before and / or after entering the vehicle's interior. If you can narrow down the suspect area, seal up the cabin as tightly as possible with duct tape and pressurize it with the exhaust port of a large shop vacuum. Remember that many vehicles, Ford Trucks included, have one-way vents either in the doors or the back walls of the cabs that will need to be be blocked off for this method to work. Using a dropper or spray bottle, apply soapy water to the suspected leak spot and look for bubbles to appear.
It may sound easy, but unfortunately many times to get to the area you must partially or totally dismantle the interior.
dn.
Last edited by donnor; Oct 11, 2006 at 08:38 AM. Reason: typo
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee
Most Ford's I've seen have windshield rubbers that are split, instead of being joined. Where they are split they tend to leak in that area due to weather changes. Softening-Hardening back and forth. That is why there is such an issue with floor boards rusting out. Nasty flaw! I simply pumped some clear silicone in that area underneath the rubber. I have a 1973 f250 and the driverside floorboard is rusted through but not the pass. side hmmmmm, wonder why! You usually do not see it because it leaks down the rubber then behind the dash and underneath the carpet or rubber mat. Mine started leaking like yours recently. I hope this helps. Chad
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Well i had a friend poor water down the windshield. And i could see where the water aws coming in at. It is coming from under the windshield..... Its on a 1990 f250. I can push the top of the dash down a little so i can see a little bit of the windshield and metal dash. When he poured water in there i watched it come out and run. So therefore i found my leak.
