02 Water Leak

[Smith1000]

I have narrowed down a water leak to the front of the vehicle, where the water runs off the windshield. Water continues to show up on the back floor, passenger side. I have checked out the passenger side doors and other options above and below the doors. I have reached the conclusion that the water must be running through the drain area below the windshield, and then, it somehow makes it way inside the car and runs under the front floor mat to the rear passenger floor.

Before I remove the wiper blades and plastic cowling and screen below, does anyone know where the water that enters this area is supposed to drain out? Is there a drain that exits near the right front fender? If I take the plastic off under the fender, near the wheel well, can the drain be viewed? Thanks.

[ceaser]

well im not totally sure what your getting at.
ther is not usually a drain. thers just kind of a chanell whre the water runs down the side of the fire wall tell it gets to the ground.
i would assume that your car is a sedan and the water is leaking in through the windshield gasket or maybe your heater core is leaking also. i would take your car through one of those fancy car washes with all the pressureised water. have a helper sit in the back seat and look for any leaks around the door seals. if none are to be found.

does it happen when its parked (leaking heater core) or do you have to drive around through puddels? you could have a hole in a floor pan
a quick but usually messy test for the heater core is let car warm up put on front defrosters and turn the heat and blower to max. if your windshield mists up with antifreeze you got a leaky core. by the way the anti freeze makes it very hard to clean mist off and is best cleaned with rubbing alcohol.
good luck

[Smith1000]

It will happen when it is parked. I am certain it is not the heater core. Once last spring it had about 2 inches of water on the floor. Besides, the coolant is not going down. It has got to be running into the car through the area below the windshield where the wipers connect. Also, there is no hole in the floor pan. I did add some small drain holes to let the water out. It seems to channel back from the front of the vehicle.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by Smith1000

It will happen when it is parked. I am certain it is not the heater core. Once last spring it had about 2 inches of water on the floor. Besides, the coolant is not going down. It has got to be running into the car through the area below the windshield where the wipers connect. Also, there is no hole in the floor pan. I did add some small drain holes to let the water out. It seems to channel back from the front of the vehicle.

Does it have a sunroof?

Those drains come loose or break near the floor pan area in the front...?

[Smith1000]

It doesn't have a sunroof. There is no evidence of the water running through the doors and on to the floor. I believe it is making its way through the area below the windshield. Instead of draining off, it somehow channels back inside and gravity pulls it to the back where it puddles. I'm wondering if I removed the plastic inside the right front wheel well if I would see where it is supposed to drain out. If I could find where the water is to exit, I would shoot some compressed air up there to make sure there is no blockage.

I bought the car in December of 09. The right front wiper arm does not fully seat when the wipers are off. I bet someone has worked on it before in an attempt to stop the leak. The wiper arm was probably pulled off for that reason.

[Smith1000]

I am getting closer to getting this leak stopped. I did find that the water is running from the front, below the windshield on the very right corner of the windshield and down. The water runs inside the right front fender and into the black plastic cowling that covers the rocker panel. From there, it some how makes its way inside the rocker panel and then into the vehicle onto the floor of the right front passenger side. It then, very rapidly, channels back to the rear, passenger side floor. The water does not enter through the door seals at all. It all happens in front of the front passenger side door. I can't figure out exactly where the water is supposed to go when it enters this area.

The majority of the water that runs down the windshield is captured and exits through a drain hole that is covered by a flap with a weight in it. There is a drain hole on each side at the top, rear of each front fender well. These are draining fine, but, unfortunately, not all of the water that rolls down the windshield is able to exit through these drain holes. On the very edge, water runs down and inside the fender well right in front of where the door meets the fender (in front of the hinges). Once it hits this area, it rapidly appears in the rear of the vehicle on the floor. I now need to look closer and see if I can tell where the water is supposed to go in this area. Maybe something is clogged. I am hoping I do not need to take the black plastic, or out cowling off the rocker. The water also seeps through both sides of the floor plan seems in the rear, in addition to coming through the channel. A pretty good stream runs through the channel in the floor.

[Smith1000]

After looking at it closer and watching the water flow, I am more inclined to believe the water is entering the support column that is behind the fender. I removed the plastic wheel well cover. When running the water below the windshield near the corner, the water wraps back and enters the column near the top portion. There is an opening up there and what looks like spray foam insulation can be felt and seen. The water enters this square opening and goes somewhere into the support column. Alot of the water runs out and down, but some goes down below into the column--I think.This column goes downward and it appears it opens into the rocker panel. At the same time, water runs on the outside of the column and down, but this water appears to run off at the bottom, although some does go on the inside of the plastic cowling. I don't think it is getting inside the rocker panel through there.