Leaking water under the dash area

[Stormtrooper52]

Hey guys. Been lurking here for a few months now but came across an issue today and I was hoping you could help.

I'm located in Atlanta and for over the past month it's been raining almost every day, be it a sun shower, daytime rain, or just plain old heavy thunderstorms. During that time I have noticed that every once in a while I would get a tiny leak under the drivers dash where my shins would be. It's been on my list of things to really dig into and figure out where it's coming from but it's hard to duplicate to narrow down.

Well today it was raining cats and dogs for a good 20 mins. During that time there was a sizable leak in my interior in the same spot where it's happened previously.

So the question posed is do you think the seal on my windshield is bad somewhere causing water (during heavy storms) to drain into the interior of my car? Would you have any suggestions on how to narrow this down as to where this leak is coming from? Or do you have any other ideas on what would have caused this leakage?

I purchased the vehicle used and am not a 100% sure if the windshield is factory or not. If I had to put my money on it I would guess the windshield is not OEM. I do not have a sunroof.

Any help or suggestions you could provide would be great!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7qzsynw2w17er55/Video Jul 11, 2 22 28 PM.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xkcz0p12cmo07b7/Video Jul 11, 2 26 29 PM.mov?dl=0


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[mvt4r]

Hey guys. Been lurking here for a few months now but came across an issue today and I was hoping you could help.

I'm located in Atlanta and for over the past month it's been raining almost every day, be it a sun shower, daytime rain, or just plain old heavy thunderstorms. During that time I have noticed that every once in a while I would get a tiny leak under the drivers dash where my shins would be. It's been on my list of things to really dig into and figure out where it's coming from but it's hard to duplicate to narrow down.

Well today it was raining cats and dogs for a good 20 mins. During that time there was a sizable leak in my interior in the same spot where it's happened previously.

So the question posed is do you think the seal on my windshield is bad somewhere causing water (during heavy storms) to drain into the interior of my car? Would you have any suggestions on how to narrow this down as to where this leak is coming from? Or do you have any other ideas on what would have caused this leakage?

I purchased the vehicle used and am not a 100% sure if the windshield is factory or not. If I had to put my money on it I would guess the windshield is not OEM. I do not have a sunroof.

Any help or suggestions you could provide would be great!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7qzsynw2w17er55/Video Jul 11, 2 22 28 PM.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xkcz0p12cmo07b7/Video Jul 11, 2 26 29 PM.mov?dl=0


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right in that area, behind the parking brake lever that holds the pedal, there is a grommet/gasket that seals water out from the engine compartment but still allows the wiring harnesses to pass from the engine bay to the passenger compartment. Is that gasket still seated properly, and in tact?

You want to look up under the dash to the left of the steering wheel. It is a big round rubber gasket with a big wiring harness coming through the center and the hood release cable through a second hole. (at least it is on my 2017).

Without this grommet in place, water that splashes up from below into the engine bay can enter the passenger area and would collect about where you are seeing water collect.

 

[b407driver]

Perhaps you should stick your head underneath the dash, use a flashlight and follow the route the water is taking?

 

[Stormtrooper52]

Right in that area, behind the parking brake lever that holds the pedal, there is a grommet/gasket that seals water out from the engine compartment but still allows the wiring harnesses to pass from the engine bay to the passenger compartment. Is that gasket still seated properly, and in tact?



You want to look up under the dash to the left of the steering wheel. It is a big round rubber gasket with a big wiring harness coming through the center and the hood release cable through a second hole. (at least it is on my 2017).



Without this grommet in place, water that splashes up from below into the engine bay can enter the passenger area and would collect about where you are seeing water collect.

I will take a look at those today. Thanks for the help.


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[Stormtrooper52]

Perhaps you should stick your head underneath the dash, use a flashlight and follow the route the water is taking?

Unfortunately, I wasn't driving the vehicle yesterday when this happened if I was obviously I would have. And again this is difficult to replicate on my own.


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[philsey]

Without this grommet in place, water that splashes up from below into the engine bay can enter the passenger area and would collect about where you are seeing water collect.

Unfortunately, I wasn't driving the vehicle yesterday when this happened...

Here's the thing - sounds to me like this happens when it's raining, and the car is stationary, when kind of negates the "splashing up" theory. Sounding more like a windshield or other weather strip issue to me.

 

[mvt4r]

Here's the thing - sounds to me like this happens when it's raining, and the car is stationary, when kind of negates the "splashing up" theory. Sounding more like a windshield or other weather strip issue to me.

Yeah, if it only happens when the car is stationary, this seems less like the issue, though it is pretty easy to check. Just look up there with a flashlight.

Can you reproduce it with a hose on the windshield?

 

[e60ral]

i suspect its the windshield, you should be able to verify this by reproducing the leak with a hose

 

[BigredTEX]

Sun roof drain is clogged. That's where water shows up in mine when the front left drain is clogged and it only leaks if the truck is parked in the rain, not when moving.

 

[ToyoT4R]

Sun roof drain is clogged. That's where water shows up in mine when the front left drain is clogged and it only leaks if the truck is parked in the rain, not when moving.

OP said he doesn't have a sunroof.

I do not have a sunroof.

I had a similar situation on my other car. It's a pain to do alone but spray area with a hose, go under dash and inspect. Repeat as necessary....

 

[philsey]

Sun roof drain is clogged.

:ybrick: .....

 

[BigredTEX]

OP said he doesn't have a sunroof.

My bad. I didn't see that tidbit of information.

 

[Stormtrooper52]

Yeah, if it only happens when the car is stationary, this seems less like the issue, though it is pretty easy to check. Just look up there with a flashlight.



Can you reproduce it with a hose on the windshield?

So I was able to play around a little this evening and test the windshield with a hose to see if I could duplicate the leaking. I took off (I'm not sure what you'd call them) the rubber gaskets on the bottom corners between the windshield and the hood and put a hose to the windshield and that area. I was able to get some leakage in the interior (the same spot as before). I was able to narrow down that it wasn't the gasket behind the emergency break. But I couldn't really tell where exactly the leaking was coming from. It's definitely coming in much m higher than that interior gasket by the break. I may have to remove the lower part of the dash to really get in there and figure it out.

I was really hoping I wouldn't have to do that as my mom is in town this week and I'm out of town next. [emoji19]

After taking off those corner gaskets between the windshield and the hood I did notice that on the side that is leaking the seal on the windshield doesn't look like it's fully flush with the windshield vs the other side of the windshield. I'm not sure if water is getting between the windshield and the front dash and is working it's way down into the interior? Any tips on removing the dash easily guys?

See the attached pic.

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[Ivy Mike]

If you're hunting leaks, don't forget the plastic water deflector sheet in the doors. That's where I finally found my leak. The carpet on the driver's side (front and back seats) was wet. Doors were the last place I looked. Part of the sheet had pulled away and slid down. Reattached it with butyl tape (3M Strip-Calk 08578 from NAPA). The deflector is Toyota part 67842-60070 should you need it.

 

[mc2pvb]

I'm having the same issue. Happens only when it rains hard. Not sunroof (drain lines are clear). Where are the drain lines for the vent inlet between the hood and windshield? I think they're clogged so water is building up and flowing into the car through the vent channels. This is a common problem on my old Mustang, where the fix is to cut away sheet metal. I hope this is easier.

 

[WallyT4R]

I would think this would be covered under warranty??? What year is your 4? I would take it in and let the yahoos deal with it before tearing the dash apart if it was mine.

 

[Jack Gallivan]

Possible Solution to Water Leak Under Dash Area

For a while, I had water underneath the passenger side carpet. I used the forum and what I found out was that plenty of people have had the same issue. Some of the solutions I read involved pulling off the weather stripping for the passenger side of the windshield. These people had noticed holes that weren't supposed to be there, but they were easily patched using marine silicon.

What I did to fix the issue was to un-clog the drainage holes in the sunroof area (on my 4th gen) and the water suddenly started draining to the outside, where it's supposed to be, rather than inside under the carpet. Try this and see if that fixes your problem. Hope this helps!

 

[TC4R]

Any resolution to the water leaking in the dash and floor? I have the same issue. I’m the original owner of a 2013 Trail and the factory windshield has not been replaced. I believe it is from the cowl gasket that rests at the bottom of the windshield (exterior). It is warped and not flush to the windshield particularly the area above the cabin air filter. Unfortunately Toyota doesn’t sell the gasket separately; they want you to buy the entire cowl for $400+. I found a similar cowl gasket for 2013 Highlander for $14. Toyota calls it a cowl protector (part # 55788-0E040). It is very similar to the 4Runner’s, but not as good of a fit. So don’t how long it will work. Not happy that Toyota doesn’t sell one for the 4Runner. I did also notice that the rubber gaskets / seals on the bottom corners of the windshield had gaps like the OP. I’m going to use silicon sealer there. I did check the sunroof and AC drains and all good there.

 

[flyrv9]

If your windshield is an OEM part it will have a Toyota stencil in one of the corners. If you feel that gasket is not properly seated, you can try some RTV to fix the leak - or take it to Safelight or a glass place and have them remove, check the gasket for damage and reseat or replace it.

 

[TC4R]

My windshield is original with the Toyota stencil in the driver side corner (I’m the original owner). I believe that the main reason for the leak that causes water to get in the dash and on the front floor is the cowl protector / gasket getting warped, not the windshield gasket. The cowl protector / gasket is part of the cowl grille, which is the plastic piece between the windshield and hood. It is supposed to sit flush against the lower windshield. When the cowl protector / gasket gets warped (from snow / ice?) it is no longer flush. When not flush above the passenger side water enters the dash, likely via the cabin air filter. Unfortunately Toyota doesn’t sell the cowl protector / gasket separately; they want you to buy the entire cowl grille for $500+. Toyota sells a similar cowl protector / gasket for 2013 Highlander for $17. Toyota calls it a cowl protector (part # 55788-0E040). It is very similar to the 4Runner’s, but not as good of a fit. So don’t how long it will work.

My other concern is with all the water getting in the dash will it adversely impact the Takata air bag issue.