Windshied Drains Into Interior

[themechanic]

Whenever I washed the car I had wet floors. I had a badly scratched original windshield that I had replaced with new glass and gasket. The installer used calk inside the gasket and all around the metal surface where the gasket would sit. However, I still got wet floors after a wash.

So, I did some trouble shooting. The wiper pivot seals look new (replaced by the previous owner) and do not leak. When I put water in the cowl vent it drains rapidly outside the car just behind the tires; I assume this is by design. Finally, both the driver and passenger floors get wet rather quickly when I put water just below the windshield gasket where it meets the cowl. The water can be seen inside the car running down the metal where the kick panel cover mounts, then it pools on the floor.



When I had the windshield replaced I noticed what appeared to be drain holes along where the glass meets the metal (ie the trough where the molding clips go).

1. Are these really drain holes?

2. If so, where are they supposed to drain water away from the windshield?

 

[moes]

There's a collar around the cowls fresh air openings so water has to pond in there a good inch or more deep before flowing over the collar and into the vent boxes. Then the vent boxes have 2 different type gaskets that could fail letting some of that water bleed between underside of cowl and vent boxes. That is unless there's a lot of rust through. The cowls drain openings are at each end so what goes out there runs down behind the dogleg end of the front fenders. A space between 2 bolts under that with whatever spacers were needed to get panel alignment are supposed to let the water and debris out to the ground. So if you do have a lot of leaves, pine needles, etc.., in the cowl, it can take some effort to flush it all completely out of the car.
Wiper pivots can leak water to the interior but not a lot of water, it's a pretty common leak. It involves removing the wiper pivots from under the dash and replacing the seal and foam gasket For now I would assume the usual suspect, windshield gasket.

 

[themechanic]

As stated above, the cowls are not leaking.

The cowls were cleaned prior to me buying the car from the guy who restored it. The car is garaged. So, the cowls are clean. My oem vents were removed and blocked with metal plates and gasket sealer per Classic Auto Air instructions for an aftermarket AC system.

Are there supposed to be drain holes in the area near the bottom of the windshield below the gasket?

 

[slimt]

what was removed replaced in that area during the resto? caulking?

 

[Sixpactogo]

B body windshield gaskets are hard to seal up properly. I have heard a quite a few guys complain about theirs leaking after a new windshield install. I don't know what the trick is but I had mine installed by a glass shop that does lots of them for the old car hobby. I would consult a shop that has been around and has someone in the know if I were you.

 

[themechanic]

what was removed replaced in that area during the resto? caulking?

I do not know of anything replaced. The instruction say remove stock air vents and use supplied block off plates on both sides.

 

[dadsbee]

We found where mine was leaking for years!! 2nd last picture shows the drain slot you are talking about, it is designed to drain into the lower cowl and out of it behind the tires from the poorly positioned hole shown in the last picture. No wonder they rust out, as the water sits in there.

 

[themechanic]

Last picture shows the drain slot you are talking about, it is designed to drain into the lower cowl and out of it behind the tires.

Thanks for the photo. I'll see if I squirt some water directly into the drain holes and see where that goes. If it comes out through the cowl and on the floor behind the tires then the windshield gasket must be leaking. Right?

 

[dadsbee]

If it's coming down the firewall.. your lower cowl is leaking, probably from rust just like mine was. If your windshield seal leaks it should be dripping on the back of your instrument cluster / brake pedal support.

 

[moes]

We found where mine was leaking for years!! 2nd last picture shows the drain slot you are talking about, it is designed to drain into the lower cowl and out of it behind the tires from the poorly positioned hole shown in the last picture. No wonder they rust out, as the water sits in there.

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what you showed in the pictures is what exactly what I was talking about in post #2. It's a common problem with our older Mopar cars

 

[dadsbee]

Yep.. sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words!

 

[themechanic]

what you showed in the pictures is what exactly what I was talking about in post #2. It's a common problem with our older Mopar cars

Why wouldn't it leak inside the car when I pour water directly into the cowl, then?

 

[moes]

Why wouldn't it leak inside the car when I pour water directly into the cowl, then?

I was commenting on the pictures that dadsbee posted about the cowl area and how that can cause a water leak, my posting #2 talks about that and his pictures shows how that could be the cause of water leaking into the car. Obviously that is not your problem as you said both the driver and passenger floors get wet, unless it is rusted in that area on both side

 

[themechanic]

I was commenting on the pictures that dadsbee posted about the cowl area and how that can cause a water leak, my posting #2 talks about that and his pictures shows how that could be the cause of water leaking into the car.

I misunderstood what you were saying. Thanks for clarifying that to me.

Does the top of the cowl bolt on?

 

[dadsbee]

NO..

 

[themechanic]

NO..

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Thanks. I just found another thread saying it is a structural component.

I guess I could take off the vent covers and stick my inspection camera up there for a look to see if the previous owner/restorer addressed any rust issues that may have been there.

 

[67belvedere/225]

I replaced my wind shield rubber cause of leak , and it still leaks, my glass guy who is really good says that the design is not good and we might need to caulk it. well ... it leaks , so I'm going to put some silicone and hope for the best.

 

[Dennis H]

The last windshield install took care of about 90% of the leak. Now just damp on the passenger side foot rest. Doesn't end up on the mat, seems wet higher then that. I just let the door open for a few hours to dry it. Battery off with about 10% humidity. Volume or lack of water flow during wash does not seem to have any effect.

 

[Ranger16]

Mine leaked like a sieve when I got it (front & back). I cracked the windshield trying to remove the trim in an attempt to reseal it. Replaced the seal along with the windshield (had it done by a local guy who was very familiar with these old cars). That solved 99% of the windshield leak. I had a damp spot in the carpet in the same place as you describe. Went back and had him add some sealant. Not sure if it is 100% water tight or not as I don't hose it down. The only way I'll know is if I get caught in the rain.

I resealed the rear window myself and solved that leak.

I think windshield and rear window leaks where standard so the H2O option code was never put on the fender tags.

 

[Billccm]

Mine leaked like a sieve when I got it (front & back). I cracked the windshield trying to remove the trim in an attempt to reseal it. Replaced the seal along with the windshield (had it done by a local guy who was very familiar with these old cars). That solved 99% of the windshield leak. I had a damp spot in the carpet in the same place as you describe. Went back and had him add some sealant. Not sure if it is 100% water tight or not as I don't hose it down. The only way I'll know is if I get caught in the rain.

I resealed the rear window myself and solved that leak.

I think windshield and rear window leaks where standard so the H2O option code was never put on the fender tags.

Over at allpar there used to be a retired body shop man who worked at a Chrysler dealer throughout the 60s to 80s. He claimed every mopar sold at his dealership had a leaking trunk.