Water Leak Mystery

[Morphyne]

I have a GX470 which is pretty much a 4th gen but this issue is pretty generic.



The above picture show a water leak under the glovebox. this only happens when I get it washed. I need to get this fixed as it shorts out my backup mirrors and eventually its gonna cause a bigger issue.

The molding for the windshield on that side is loose, which is clearly the issue. But I don't know how to secure it. I have slid it down as far as it will go and even tacked it in with a little rtv. but to no avail. Anyone have any experience on this?

Conversely, I have three chips in my 4runners windshield so I was thinking about having safelight come out to do that and then just flip the guy $20 to fix that too.

Thoughts?

 

[d_clark]

I'm sure someone will be by with more help, but do you have a sunroof? Could be the drain lines are blocked.

 

[Ezlife45]

The drain line is a good first choice, if not has the windshield been replaced? Perhaps it wasn't sealed well. Maybe take different color food coloring (if you feel daring) and squirt some on the windshield and a different color on the sunroof.

 

[Morphyne]

The sunroof has drain lines?

 

[e60ral]

I'm not sure on the GX470 exactly, but generally sunroof trays have drains in the front and the rear. The main gasket is just a first line of defense, the whole tray will also have drains that can be clogged (typical reason for sunroofs leaking)

You can easily check this by using some vinyl to cover the sunroof or using electrical tape to seal up the sunroof gasket and see if the water is still coming in

 

[Morphyne]

I don't thenk it's the sunroof drains bc it doesn't happen even in the worst of rains. It onky happened when sprayed with hi th pressure water from the car wash.

 

[cashmoney]

Take a high pressure washer and aim it at a few places and see which one causes your leak.

 

[denikena]

I'm sure someone will be by with more help

 

[BigredTEX]

I had plugged sunroof drain lines and that's exactly where the water came in. It will run down the inside of the A pillars, through the dash and run down the kick panels to the floor. The sun visor and roof liner were also wet.

The sun roof is not water tight at all and relies on the drains to keep the water out. There are drains at each corner. The rears are almost impossible to reach but the fronts can easily be reached. They are small holes in the sides of the rails. Both fronts were plugged on mine, left by a small stick and the right by gunk farther down the tube. Use weed trimmer line and/or compressed air to clear them.

 

[fwak1234]

Self-Fusing Silicone Tape

Pick up some of this cover suspect areas one at a time. When the leak stops you found the problem area. This is similar to what the navy uses to seal the canopies of the jets when they wash them. Just make sure to peel it off shortly after using or it can become a hassle to get off.

 

[wadle5]

Yes I agree with sunroof drains. Very common occurrence more than you think and usually the culprit in these matters. The only other way to be sure is to have a specialist do a leak test.
Or you can do a redneck version yourself and hold a hose over an area of that side of the car and see if water comes through and keep moving it until you get a soaking wet result?

 

[Fubar22]

2016 4Runner Water Leak

I just bought a brand new 2016 4Runner from a dealer and I have been driving around for 3 months with a bad smell. One dealer I brought it to said it is the new car smell. I took it back to the dealer I bought it from and the looked at it and said the drain line in the sunroof was not connected and I have mold spots on the metal underneath the passenger floorboard. Brand new and now I have mild. I told the dealership I don't want the vehicle anymore and I would like a new one. I spoke to the gm and he said it is up to Toyota on how they handle. I called Toyota and made a case as well. They are coming out tomorrow to take pics but I have my own pics as I stopped by the
Dealership today. Even if they fix it which Toyota will want to do it is a safety concern for me and my family as I have kids. The car seats are ruined. Any suggestions. I am new to the forum. I do not want this vehicle back after they said mold.

 

[wadle5]

I just bought a brand new 2016 4Runner from a dealer and I have been driving around for 3 months with a bad smell. One dealer I brought it to said it is the new car smell. I took it back to the dealer I bought it from and the looked at it and said the drain line in the sunroof was not connected and I have mold spots on the metal underneath the passenger floorboard. Brand new and now I have mild. I told the dealership I don't want the vehicle anymore and I would like a new one. I spoke to the gm and he said it is up to Toyota on how they handle. I called Toyota and made a case as well. They are coming out tomorrow to take pics but I have my own pics as I stopped by the
Dealership today. Even if they fix it which Toyota will want to do it is a safety concern for me and my family as I have kids. The car seats are ruined. Any suggestions. I am new to the forum. I do not want this vehicle back after they said mold.

Sorry about what has occured, but as this thread discusses mold more specifically from and expert
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-topic/212894-efflorescence-cinder-blocks-attic.html

Mainly referencing post#11
"I am an environmental consultant that does IAQ and mold testing etc., and I agree with the above. Many kinds of mold are black. While the so-called toxic molds (usually Stachybotrys) can contain tiny amounts of toxins, you would have to eat it by the bagful to ingest enough for any toxic effect. You are almost always dealing with allergenic effects rather than toxic."

I'm just confused as to how your childrens seats are ruined? And they(Toyota) will try rectifying the problem which would consist of re-attaching the drainage tube, and deep cleaning the effected surfaces and detailing the vehicle. Getting an entirely new vehicle after having that one for 3 months, the only other way would be you would still have to pay some for another new vehicle, since yours is now technically used.

I hope it gets resolved and am interested in what will come of this. Again sorry man. Nothing ruins a person more than buying a new vehicle and have some quips along the way.

 

[revox92]

Welcome aboard Fubar! Just curious how bad the issue was, do you have some pics to share?

 

[higgy]

if it only leaks during high pressure car wash, might be a poor door seal or something like that

 

[Morphyne]

I had plugged sunroof drain lines and that's exactly where the water came in. It will run down the inside of the A pillars, through the dash and run down the kick panels to the floor. The sun visor and roof liner were also wet.

The sun roof is not water tight at all and relies on the drains to keep the water out. There are drains at each corner. The rears are almost impossible to reach but the fronts can easily be reached. They are small holes in the sides of the rails. Both fronts were plugged on mine, left by a small stick and the right by gunk farther down the tube. Use weed trimmer line and/or compressed air to clear them.

OK so can you help me out here? Where are the drains? I found the drains in the sun roof and was only able to run about 6 feet of trimmer string down. I would like to come up from the bottom.

By rails do you mean the frame?

 

[Morphyne]

I just bought a brand new 2016 4Runner from a dealer and I have been driving around for 3 months with a bad smell. One dealer I brought it to said it is the new car smell. I took it back to the dealer I bought it from and the looked at it and said the drain line in the sunroof was not connected and I have mold spots on the metal underneath the passenger floorboard. Brand new and now I have mild. I told the dealership I don't want the vehicle anymore and I would like a new one. I spoke to the gm and he said it is up to Toyota on how they handle. I called Toyota and made a case as well. They are coming out tomorrow to take pics but I have my own pics as I stopped by the
Dealership today. Even if they fix it which Toyota will want to do it is a safety concern for me and my family as I have kids. The car seats are ruined. Any suggestions. I am new to the forum. I do not want this vehicle back after they said mold.

Ok. I recognize you bought a brand new car and wanted to keep it that way and I probably would feel the same way considering how much they cost.

But here's the deal, you sound like a jackass saying that your family's safety is at risk because of some mold in the floor board. Holy shit you are breathing it right now. It's part of nature. Deal with it. I just can't even right now...

 

[Morphyne]

On the bright side, I may have fixed my issue (maybe). I got some thicker trimmer string and ran it down farther. and then I ran some water down and it came out the drain underneath. I will be running through the offending car wash tomorrow morning for my $4 wash (it's awesome for $40 and see if that does the trick. otherwise back to the windshield for more work.

FYI here is a link to where the drains are.

Major Water Leak - Desperately Need Some Help - Page 2 - Club Lexus Forums

 

[BigredTEX]

OK so can you help me out here? Where are the drains? I found the drains in the sun roof and was only able to run about 6 feet of trimmer string down. I would like to come up from the bottom.

By rails do you mean the frame?

I don't know exactly where they are on the bottom side. Once I got them cleared water came out but I couldn't tell where. My wife drives a VW Tiguan and I was able to run trimmer string all the way through until it poked out the drain hole, but on the T4R only until water started coming out. From your next post it appears you got them cleared. The car wash will be the final determination whether the drains are the real problem. I would presume that the sunroof drains are a much more probable water entry location than the windshield.

 

[Morphyne]

well went to the car wash today and the leak is still there. I guess it has to be the windshield. at this point the easiest thing to do is hand wash the car...