passing wind

[QDM]

Have noticed in addition to the normal problems associated with my 91 GW that there is a pretty substantial draft coming from the bottom corner of my windshield at the edge of the dash, on both sides. Is this the vent or a faulty windshield seal? Just took it to the windshield repair guys in my town and they sealed the inner edge of the windshield but still has a draft. Many questions hopefully someone has the answer.

Thanks,

John

[Ralph]

I don't think that's a draft as much as it's just cold corners. Cold air hitting the windshield, no warm air from the defrost vents getting there, adds up to a pair of cold spots. One of the idiosyncracies of FSJ's.

[Brazzy]

No I think he's got a point! I too have a leak in this exact same area and have asssumed it comes from the vent system somehow. I have closed my vents due to old rusty cable controls so I cant easily open them to test the theory. I too would like to know if anybody knows a fix for the free air conditioner, short of closeing the air intake on the hood.

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Brazzy
Formerly abused 87 G.W. 162k stock
TOW,PKG,727,229,360
The Chariot

[QDM]

To elaborate on the cool spot..it is an actual "breeze" that increases with speed at which I am traveling. The previous owner had put up weather stripping on the side edges of the dash. Didn't really notice it until it got cooler and I was trying to track down a leak. Hopefully the leak is fixed but I'm not so sure with this extra "fresh air option" I have encountered. Am curious to know if brazzy has any water troubles with his "fresh air".

John

[Ralph]

There are a few small holes in the firewall for wires and such to pass through, and that might cause a draft. But I still think it's just a fluke of aerodynamics; blame Mr. Bernoulli...

By the way, I have a Green Beret occupying the top of the dash on the driver's side corner, like some folks have baseball caps on their dashes and rear decks. And even though it's for decoration it may provide a bit of insulation. Funny thing, since wearing it as a part of a uniform allowed my left ear to get frostbitten, as seen in this 20-year-old photo:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1326319&a=9858031&p=34107600

[This message has been edited by Ralph (edited November 27, 2000).]

[BobBarry]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by QDM:
Have noticed in addition to the normal problems associated with my 91 GW that there is a pretty substantial draft coming from the bottom corner of my windshield at the edge of the dash, on both sides. Is this the vent or a faulty windshield seal?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The cowl box that feeds air from the vent in front of the windshield to the vents in the kickpanels runs right past there. Best-case scenario is that you've got a poorly-fitted seam that lets air pass through. No simple solution (aside from simply turning up the heat), but if you're ever up under the dash doing work, you can seal it off with a silicone caulk.

Worst-case scenario (and not unlikely, either) is that that cowl air box has gotten clogged with leaves, pine-needles, debris, etc, causing water to back up and rust out the metal behind the kickpanels, giving you "permanent" vents. Then it's simply a matter of rust-repair (choose your methods) in a very hard-to-reach area.

I just turn up the heat and live with my air leaks in that area.

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Bob Barry<UL TYPE=SQUARE>* '78 Cherokee 4-door
* '88 Grand Wagoneer[/list]http://studentweb.providence.edu/~rbarry/wheels/

[Rob]

Nice polished shoes, Ralph!
Wouldn't they fit well on the dash at the right edge? http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

[bignblue]

Doc Bob is correct regarding the permanent vents...I just uncovered this same problem in my Chero, and had to resort to the magical angle grinder to fix it. I cut a roughly square hole under the vent (but still in the vent box) and scooped out the 22-year old accumulation of leaves, needles etc. that had turned to soil (!) over the years. Seriously--I could plant corn in this stuff! Anyway, now I have the vents (stuck open b/c I had to cut the wires that control them) plus the holes under the vents to contend with. I wear thick socks!

Seriously, it's Bondo time for the kickplates. I'll tackle that after I repair the floorboards, I think. I haven't noticed any air leaking from the dash area. It may just be getting lost in the combined gale from the above-mentioned holes.

[Ralph]

They were size 15, specially ordered from a Frankenstein's Footwear outlet!

[Brazzy]

I've had my kickpanels off and sealed the air vents so my feet don't think Im Nanook, and I havn't seen any rust in that area so that leaves the intake that I suspected, and was mentioned in a previous post, hmmm maybe I could turn up the heat. Yeah Thats the ticket.

------------------
Brazzy
Formerly abused 87 G.W. 162k stock
TOW,PKG,727,229,360
The Chariot