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Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
I doubt that floorpan plug is the issue. Looks like its been leaking from somewhere higher up. Pull the carpet back and check the firewall for leaks. Could be the seams around the fender and cowl from the outside. Water gets in and runs down to the floor. Could even be from the windshield. Anywhere there is a seam. Take care of any rusty spots under the carpet while you are there.
There is nothing wet up on firewall forward of the rubber pad. There used to be, back when the firewall had an open hole that I recently plugged with a body plug.
When I had a similar problem, it was caused by a leaking windshield. It took me ages to find - it was leaking at the top, then discretely running down the A-pillar and under the side of the carpet, all below the trim. There was nothing wet on the firewall and no visible leak from anywhere else.
I eventually found it by removing the kick panel trim, pulling the carpet back, then putting talcum powder all over the floor to see where it was coming from!
Check that water isn't leaking from the fuse panel. That's where mine was leaking until I caulked the hell out of the connector under the hood. When it would rain, the water would somehow drip drip drip directly onto this connector. That took me a long time to figure out. I finally went out there when it was pouring, pulled up the carpet, and sure enough, that was the source.
When I had a similar problem, it was caused by a leaking windshield. It took me ages to find - it was leaking at the top, then discretely running down the A-pillar and under the side of the carpet, all below the trim. There was nothing wet on the firewall and no visible leak from anywhere else.
I eventually found it by removing the kick panel trim, pulling the carpet back, then putting talcum powder all over the floor to see where it was coming from!
I replaced the windshield around 2004 on advice to stop a leak. It was cracked too.
They used what looks like a black urethane to seal it. And the leak it solved was different than this one.
Edit: Important bit, the carpet doesn't get wet when it is raining. Only when I drive on wet roads.
Last edited by 318SixPack; 02-08-2022 at 07:33 AM.
Found a possible culprit. When I pulled the carpet back I found some rust in the low points, and a few spots here and there where carpet gets foot pressure.
However, right behind the highest part of the carpet that gets wet near bottom of the door frame, I found yet another hole that appears should have had a body plug. Hole is up above paper towel in picture, and the black plug to the left looks like what should be in there.
BTW, the body paint there does not hold up to brake cleaner very well.
Filled it with Permatex Copper high temp silicone gasket maker, just because that's what I had laying around. Putting phosphoric acid based metal prep on the rust.
Personally, I'd want to pull out all the carpet for now to assess the rust and see if anything else is leaking. Looks like the padding needs to dry anyway.
Personally, I'd want to pull out all the carpet for now to assess the rust and see if anything else is leaking. Looks like the padding needs to dry anyway.
Padding is a little damp still. It's all pulled back for at least tonight so the rust converter can dry. I have some rattle can Rustoleum laying around to spritz it with tomorrow. Going to look like a YouTuber rig under the carpet by the time I put it back together.
Pull out the carpet, dry your jeep completely. Then have someone help you with this, but have one person in the Jeep, and the other outside with a hose.
Start in the front and work your way back, but have them run water over the front window, around the doors, the top of the jeep, rear quarter windows, and if you get nothing then go under the jeep.
Check that water isn't leaking from the fuse panel. That's where mine was leaking until I caulked the hell out of the connector under the hood. When it would rain, the water would somehow drip drip drip directly onto this connector. That took me a long time to figure out. I finally went out there when it was pouring, pulled up the carpet, and sure enough, that was the source.
Good luck.
After getting the major sources plugged to the point where I thought everything was good (we've had a couple days of hard rain this week), I still found a moist spot in the carpet at the tunnel after it poured huge today. When I got everything pulled back even more again, I found the padding under the closed cell foam beneath the pedals was wet, soaked. Pulled that up as far as I could and felt up by the fuse box wiring harness at the firewall and it was damp back there. The connector monstrosity in the engine bay had a puddle on top of it too. Also found completely dry rust spot on the tunnel back closer to the stick opening. Seems like the missing firewall body plug was the culprit for that one.
Going to find a tutorial for removing the center console to pull the carpet back to that point and fix everything. Nothing else is leaking yet.
Noticed that the hood weather strip doesn't go all the way out to the fenders, and the rear of the inner wheel wells are wet, but no apparent paint failures or rust there. Above the fuse box connector, the clutch master cylinder has some discoloration and some rust around the firewall where it mounts. So, at least taking that
Did you remove the connector and urethane seam seal around it, or did you do something else?
02-05-2022, 09:43 AM
Water infiltration drivers footwell
