Where's all this water coming from?!?!

[banjoguy]

The rainy season is back. When I bought my wagoneer, the front and back drivers side and tailgate windows wouldn't roll up. The back carpet was soaked and the headliner was missing. Some plastic, a little money, and some knuckle busting, I was able to completely repair the windows and dry the rig out just in time for summer. Well now that the rain is back, so is the damp carpet and now there's mold growing on everything. Water was actually raining from the cargo area roof from major condensation buildup. I bought new window wipes all the way around when I fixed the window issue. All the doors seal just fine. But where the heck is this water coming from???
My first guess was the sunroof. It's rusted shut and I've never been able to open it even though the motor works. I've just not gotten around to fixing that yet. But when I take a garden hose and stick it on the sunroof, no leaks.
Seems like the roof rack gaskets are okay.
I'm lost. Any thoughts? I even found mushrooms growing under a cardboard box I had in the back with a spare powersteering pump in it.

Sean Kelly

[men in black]

check the tailgate center panel gasket and the screws that hold the metal
strips on. maybe leaking

[hookedup50]

With a hose, check the rear quarter panel windows. Water was coming through the bottom gasket on both mine. Rust bubbles up the gasket on the bottom breaking the seal. PITA to get windows back in. I had to use sealant on the bottom also. Hope this helps

[18cherokee]

i 2nd what MIB said - you may see a deteriorated gasket that sits underneath the access panel thats under the tail gate carpet. i replaced mine with new adhesive foam on a roll, on the gate & the plate & she's dry as a bone - i would never have thought this to be the culprit.

water gets into the cabin whilst you're driving via the front fresh air vents under the dash/side kick panels, also from under the rear wheel wells - the outside wheel well sheet metal joins often aren't the best so a bit of silicone beaded along up & under the wheel wells/joins may help too. i did the outside & it has helped a lot, when i pull the carpet i'll add a few squirts inside too.

make sure your rear quarter panels behind the rear wheels, hidden & inside the cargo area side panels aren't full of water too - you may have to get a wire hanger & pry out some old gunk from the drain holes along the under side of the body there too.

[banjoguy]

No carpet on my tailgate. As a matter of fact, the access panel to the tailgate has been open since I bought the rig since nothing in the tailgate worked, including the tailgate it's self. I've since fixed all of that and just recently closed it all up. Good seal, I don't think that's the issue.
Not the kick panel vent's either since my waggy's been sitting for the last couple months (another issue with water pump and I'm lazy to fix it).

Now I did check in the side access panels behind the wheels and on the drivers side there was about 5" of water (nearly up to the speaker). I was wondering why that speaker suddenly quit working the other day.

How would water be getting in there? I noticed the drain hose from the sunroof goes back there, think it might be plugged and cracked?

I figured out the sunroof issue and it opens and closes now too and I'm thinkin it wasn't closed all the way either which might help. I sucked all the water out with my wet/dry vac and bought a Dry-Z-Air chemical dehumidifier. Maybe I'll just drill a couple holes back there so it drains...

Thoughts?

[18cherokee]

the rear panels you mentioned that had 5" of water have drain holes already - run your hand along - behind the rear wheel - just where the body painted metal turns under - you will feel an obvious lip under there - poke it with a small screw driver or something to clear it out.

id check the rear cargo window seals for rust etc as mentioned earlier.

if water can - it will - find a way.

[banjoguy]

Originally Posted by 18cherokee

the rear panels you mentioned that had 5" of water have drain holes already - run your hand along - behind the rear wheel - just where the body painted metal turns under - you will feel an obvious lip under there - poke it with a small screw driver or something to clear it out.

id check the rear cargo window seals for rust etc as mentioned earlier.

if water can - it will - find a way.

Thanks, definately will check those both out tomorrow. Glad I didn't drill a bunch of holes in my wag if there were ones from the factory. lol.

The passenger side where the jack and tire iron are, is completely dry and dusty. So the water must be coming from the drivers side for sure. I'll post an update tomorrow. Probably gunna order a whole window wipe set and roof rack gaskets + grommets tomorrow too if the Mrs. gives the okay, from Bj's offroad. Oh yeah, need a replacement tailgate window lift channel too. Mines twisted and using duct tape as a window to lift channel seal (previous owner's handy work).

Sean

[710 Burner]

The well nuts holding the roof rack on are leaking.

[newtojeeps]

I've had problems with mine having condensation on the inside of the roof and rolling down the sides.

[banjoguy]

Not sure if it's the roof rack that's the problem, but just in case I ordered new rack gaskets and screw grommets.

Newtojeeps, what did you do to fix the condensation issue?

I wish I had a carport or garage...

Sean

[Dirt Wag]

There are factory drain holes in the bottom of the doors also - you might want to check those are clear.