Rain leaking into cab

[karot]

I ran into two of my buds who have chevy trucks and peeled their carpet back and theirs was wet too. I bet there is alot of these and people dont even know it.

[CKTA]

Originally Posted by karot

I ran into two of my buds who have chevy trucks and peeled their carpet back and theirs was wet too. I bet there is alot of these and people dont even know it.

I bet you're right. I found out by dumb luck mine was leaking just a couple moths ago. Then I thought I fixed it and checked it after a couple of stroms and washings and it was still dry......then this thread comes up again and I lift the carpet...........

[jayspot]

I have a 2000 GMC and just noticed this evening that my driver's side capret was soaking wet. I sucked out as much as I could with a wet vac and have a fan blowing on it. We've had a lot of rain lately and had noticed a musty smell in the truck the past couple days. I guess it's my turn to start looking for the source

[jayspot]

Well, I ended up pulling out the seats, carpet, and insulation pad. The driver's side insulation was soaked. There was some water standing in the door sill area as well as in the cab corner area. I dried that up and then sprayed water all over the windshield and cowl area. No sign of any water leaking in

Then the next night it rained (still had the carpet out of the truck). The next morning there was a small amount of water at both rear cab corner areas. (My driveway has a slight incline so that explains why the water was pooling in the rear corners.) I couldn't see any sign of water leaking in near the driver's side kick panel. Of course that could have easily dried up after the rain had stoped. I guess I'll just keep an eye on it, maybe take it up to the car wash and look for signs of soapy water.

[CKTA]

I too have an inclined driveway that I back up. I wonder of my rear window or something is infact leaking. The back insulation pad (not carpet) was a little wet, but the front was just like you describe.....I wonder if it is running in from the back along the sill (because of the incline) and puddling in the front.

[DearJimmy]

Originally Posted by CKTA

I too have an inclined driveway that I back up. I wonder of my rear window or something is infact leaking. The back insulation pad (not carpet) was a little wet, but the front was just like you describe.....I wonder if it is running in from the back along the sill (because of the incline) and puddling in the front.

Two Ideas:

1) Could if be coming fron the rain that collects in the rear window tracks? Do you guy's have slider windows like I do? I'm thinking maybe that's why the rear corners always rust out in the areas where salt is used in the winter.
2) Could water that gets inside the doors past the window runer somehow make its way inside? Maybe through the door panel? How close are the door drain holes to where it seals? Maybe the front verticle door seal and the water collects in the sill?

Just thinking out loud!

[CKTA]

Originally Posted by DearJimmy

Two Ideas:

1) Could if be coming fron the rain that collects in the rear window tracks? Do you guy's have slider windows like I do? I'm thinking maybe that's why the rear corners always rust out in the areas where salt is used in the winter.
2) Could water that gets inside the doors past the window runer somehow make its way inside? Maybe through the door panel? How close are the door drain holes to where it seals? Maybe the front verticle door seal and the water collects in the sill?

Just thinking out loud!

1. I have a SOLID window. However, I have also replaced the cab corner on the same side. Although my body guy saw no signs of leakage/water marks in the area down there.

2. Nah, the door drains and anything associated w/ the door is it's own deal and drains outside of the door weatherstrip.

I would love to take my iterior out and leave it like that for a while to see where the problem is. However, i have a baby girl and need it all intact for the babyseat back there. If anyone could live w/ their interior some what out for a while to track it down that would be the way to go.

[jayspot]

I still have my interior out but it hasn't rained lately. Go figure. Took it to the car wash a few days ago but there was no sign of water leaking in. It must take a lot of rain for it to leak. When I first took out the interior, the metal behind the interior panels was dusty and I could see where some water had come in around the plastic cab vents on the back of the cab. I ran water over the vent on the drivers side but did't see any water come in. That is one area I'm going to keep my eye on. I'll let you guys know if I find anything.

[CKTA]

Originally Posted by jayspot

I still have my interior out but it hasn't rained lately. Go figure. Took it to the car wash a few days ago but there was no sign of water leaking in. It must take a lot of rain for it to leak. When I first took out the interior, the metal behind the interior panels was dusty and I could see where some water had come in around the plastic cab vents on the back of the cab. I ran water over the vent on the drivers side but did't see any water come in. That is one area I'm going to keep my eye on. I'll let you guys know if I find anything.

Cool, also check the rear window and under the rear window where the seam sealant is from the sides of the cab and the back of the cab. Looking at mine the other day the seam sealant has a couple hair-line cracks in it right under the window on the outside. I mean they are REAL SMALL, but they got me wondering.

[CKTA]

**UPDATE!**

I believe I found the problem. The last couple days it's been raining pretty good. After work today I stuck my hand under the carpet on the drivers side. The insulation was soaked again. I did some more looking into this while I was waiting for a ride and really can't believe what i found......

Like stated before I park on a inclined driveway (not much of an incline) w/ the nose down. As I was looking I noticed water sitting in the weather stripping right around the kick panel to sill plate. I also noticed that the weather stripping is the SAME EXACT height as where the weather strip clips onto the body....hmmmmmmm.....well when you close the door the weather stripping gets bunched up like it's supposed to however, now it's HIGHER then where it clips to the body allowing water to take the easiest route to drain.....into the cab. So then I took off the sill plate and the water was just sitting in there and you could see on the weather stripping where water was sitting/overflowing over it. (it was a little more discolored then the rest of the weather stip.

I soaked up all the water and left the sill plate off to look next time it rains. I believe this IS the problem. If it is I will be cutting a slice out of the weather stripping in that spot so the water has a place to go other then going over into the cab.

I will keep you updated, but this should work for alot of you that have leaks on EITHER side.

[jayspot]

You know, I was wondering it the weatherstripping might be the culprit. It has a metal "spline" inside and I noticed that the ends were rusty where they meet at the middle of the door sill. I'll have to check that out this evening. I'd sure love to put my carpet back in!

[CKTA]

Originally Posted by jayspot

You know, I was wondering it the weatherstripping might be the culprit. It has a metal "spline" inside and I noticed that the ends were rusty where they meet at the middle of the door sill. I'll have to check that out this evening. I'd sure love to put my carpet back in!

Yup, today is nice out, but the rest of the week it's supposed to rain.......we'll find out shorty! I hope that's it.

[jayspot]

FOUND IT!

I'll post some pics and a video shortly.......

[jayspot]

OK, I found water leaking in around the lower parking brake assembly bolt/stud. (Oh, by the way, my truck is a 2000 GMC NBS). I ran the hose over various parts of the cab and noticed the water leaking in when the hose was placed here.......



Here is a little movie I made called "Spring Rain in My Cab"

In the movie it appears that water is leaking from above the bolt/stud but it's just an illusion. I watched above it and saw no sign of water. I didn't have the water on very high but the water was leaking in at a pretty steady pace as you can clearly see in the movie. I put some strip caulk around the stud, put the nut back on and tightened it down. Turned the hose back on and NO MORE LEAK! Oh, and the water sound on the video wasn't made from that little leak, although it seems like it ;)

SO, all of you members of the "driver's side leak club", pull off your kick panel, place a hose as pictured, turn on the water, and see if this is the culprit on your trucks also.
Now I can put my carpet back in the truck!!

[rycen]

CKTA,
Any chance of pics of where you are going to cut out a space in the weatherstrip?

[CKTA]

Great find jayspot and thanks for the video. I have a OBS truck but i will definately look there too. I'm a bit confused tho (not looking at my truck right now) in your video there is threaded rod showing. Is it always like that or did you loosen something to shoot the video. And also what exactly did you tighten?

Thanks!

[CKTA]

Originally Posted by rycen

CKTA,
Any chance of pics of where you are going to cut out a space in the weatherstrip?

No, not yet but if I find it to be it I will get some. However, just so you know ot's the weatherstripping that mounts to the body that goes all around the door frame. Where it looks to puddle up and come in is in the front right where it starts to curve up....the reason i think mine leaks there is because of the angle i park on.

[CKTA]

OK, Last night it rained (no sure on how hard) when i open the truck in the moring I saw/felt no water. I park in a mostly level spot here at work. It just got done raining HARD so i went out to check the truck. There was no water in the weather stripping or under the sill plate. However, the insulation is still very wet (from previous leaking) so I'm not sure what the deal is yet. I'm going to leave that area apart (carpet spaced up) and see for a leak like jayspot shows or wait to see of it puddles in the weatherstrip in my driveway like i stated above. Stay tuned......

[jayspot]

That threaded rod/stud is one of three mounting points for the parking break assembly. There are two at the top and the one shown is the bottom one. It is also a mounting point for some type of control module located next to the kick panel. The video shows the module removed as well as the mounting nut. I ran water all over the cab and that was the only place it was leaking in. However I did notice that behind the kick panels there is a void near the lower door hinge. Water was leaking into this void but was draining out also. If that area was to become plugged up it would fill with water and leak into the cab. You might check to see if there is a similar void on the OBS trucks.

[CKTA]

Will do, thanks! I'm going out at lunch to look.

Ok just came in....It's nice out now, but again rained real hard. Still no sign of water inside. However, I was looking at the E-brake assembly to see if I had a leak like jayspot. My area looked fine w/ no signs of water ever coming through. plus the insulation behind the kick panel was dry.

Now, I also think I found another spot that could be causing the leak. While under the dash I was looking at all the grommets in the firewall. None of them had any signs of water running except a FAINT trace in the dust by the hood release grommet. I pulled on the grommet and there WAS water present. Now is this enough to make the leak i have? Maybe, maybe not. Sitting level I think not, but mabe facing down in my driveway water "overflows" the cowl under the hood and runs down the firewall? Sure does'nt show under hood.

Again, I'm keeping the truck apart and will keep you all updated.