Wet driver's side floor (under mat)

[VladCZ]

I absolutely, guarantee if anyone has had their windshield replaced and the reveal molding fastener was removed/not replaced - you will get water on your front floors. If not, the each vertical side of the windshield would have to be filled with a toothpaste tubes worth of caulk.

I cannot believe the engineering that went into the design of the A-pillars. There are THREE holes that the reveal molding fastener snaps into - two holes near the TOP of the A-pillar and one hole near the bottom.

Vlad - the A-pillars have three holes!!!

I have purchased the molding fastener and now must have the windshield removed to place the fasteners into position.

More to come...

I know Matt but only 2 of them were partially exposed - the 3rd one was completely covered by the glue already.
I am just amazed by "professionalism" of some glass shops ..... I'm a licensed trained commercial and car mechanic in my country in Europe - if I ever did anything like that in earlier years working there I would loose my job immediately that hour! I'm not saying everything is perfect there but lack of any accountability and absolute disrespect of so many repair shops at this continent is just blowing my mind away ....

 

[phishtaco]

OK, happy to inform you that the problem of wet floor is solved (with help of many people here giving their input - thank you guys for that)

I discovered, after pulling out the side windshield weatherstrip away from A-pillar, that there were 2 holes partially covered by glue when windshield was replaced (sometimes in past). However, they were not plugged by anything nor fully covered by glue. They were just open right to the A-pillar!!
Assuming (hoping) this could be the entry for the water seeping through I used marine silicone and sealed both holes, let it dry overnight and tested it with garden hose for over an hour - floor came out dry. No signs of any water anywhere.
When I was hosing down the windshield before, water appeared on the floor in few minutes. I could also see water seeping through between metal edge of A-pillar and the glue (of the windshield).

So I hope I'm done with this issue. I post few pics of the holes - 1st of the pics was taken from the roof-down direction so don't get confused. Somebody here mentioned 3 holes - I saw only 2, maybe 3rd one was covered by the glue already ... Either way - how could glass guys replacing the windshield miss that???

BTW, an interesting article about quality of glass replacement shops: Why auto glass service isn't all it's cracked up to be - The Globe and Mail

What's the best way to remove this windshield trim to access these holes to fill? After multiple different tests I've come to the conclusion that this is where my leak is coming from. Thanks.

 

[VladCZ]

What's the best way to remove this windshield trim to access these holes to fill? After multiple different tests I've come to the conclusion that this is where my leak is coming from. Thanks.

I just opened the hood, removed the plastic cover at the bottom of the weatherstrip and pulled the strip up

 

[VladCZ]

Check-in after rainy season

I'm pleased to inform that the holes in A-Pillar were definitely source of the leak.
Since I sealed them, there's absolutely no water coming in - and we have a lot of rain poring down during the winter.
Marine silicone is holding up so far ;-)

 

[phishtaco]

Thanks. I actually had my windshield crack a day or two after posting this. New installation has taken care of my wet floor.

 

[black4vcobra]

I bought my 4Runner in November and as far as I know it's the original windshield. My driver's side floor has been wet all winter. I just figured it was from the holes in the floor mat but I sealed those and it's been dry lately yet the carpet would be wet. I pulled up the carpet and the insulation pad was SOAKED! I wrung it out and water was pouring out of it. Anyway, I pulled the weather stripping back and my A pillar doesn't seem to have the same holes in it like the other guys who posted in this thread.

Can someone who's been through this give me some guidance on what I should do to correct the leak? tHere are some pics that I took with everything apart.

Floor


Not really pleased about the surface rust. It must have been wet for a long time under there -



A-pillar



These aren't holes, rather just notches. I filled them with sealant anyway.



Cowl. The rubber edging was coming off of the cowl so I snapped it back on.


Drain hole



Firewall


Inside of A-pillar


Thanks for any help guys.

 

[Atlanta_man]

I had the same problem, passenger side. Front sunroof drain needed the weed eater cord roto rooter.

 

[Brutalguyracing]

how does one remove the outside windshield trim pieces?
right and left sides?
i want to check to make sure the 3 holes are sealed up
thanks

 

[Brutalguyracing]

how does one remove the outside windshield trim pieces?
right and left sides?
i want to check to make sure the 3 holes are sealed up
thanks

bump ^^^^
also how far should the weed eater wire go into the ac drain line
i can only get about 5" into the drain line....
i don't want to force it, was thinking of using a piece of wire but dont want to wreck anything....
idea's

 

[Atlanta_man]

At least 3 feet in my case, probably could have been more but that was enough

 

[Brutalguyracing]

At least 3 feet in my case, probably could have been more but that was enough

so do you think i should use a piece of wire to try and push past whats stopping me at 5 inches in?

 

[HokieRunner]

how does one remove the outside windshield trim pieces?
right and left sides?
i want to check to make sure the 3 holes are sealed up
thanks

Outer trim should just pull off. Unless it was glued down at some point. Definitely do not force the snake down the drain tubes. Sorry if I missed it but are they backing up? You can open the sunroof and slowly pour water into the holes on either side to see if it's draining.

 

[Brutalguyracing]

Outer trim should just pull off. Unless it was glued down at some point. Definitely do not force the snake down the drain tubes. Sorry if I missed it but are they backing up? You can open the sunroof and slowly pour water into the holes on either side to see if it's draining.

sunroof drains are all fine.....
im getting water from either the windshield or ac drain
ran the ac the other day for 30 mins not a drop
tried to run weed wacker wire through it but it would only go 5" into the tube

 

[trailrazer]

Yep... glad I found this thread. Misery loves company I suppose. It's rather annoying having soaked carpet on the drivers side only.

The windshield was replaced by the previous owner. They checked it an ensured me that the windshield was not leaking. I still question that. The sunroof drains are clear. Luckily no rust around the sunroof.

I pulled the trim around the windshield. There is no sign of the holes. I found some white square channel glued between the a-pillar and glass. Previously it appeared to be damp around the a-pillar.

The carpet and floor pan was soaked. I pulled back the carpet and cushion to dry out. Tomorrow I'll try a leak test with the garden hose outside.

I suspect windshield issues, but we'll see. Thanks for everyones input.

 

[damen]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to go outside and check my windshield now because my truck is leaking the same way.

After pulling the carpet back yesterday, the pad and carpet was SOAKED. I pulled the weather strip back on the windshield from the outside and didn't see any of the holes that some of you have. I have a 97 limited. going to go outside now and see how hard it is to pull out the carpet. i need for it to dry and out and in the mean time see if i can find where the leak is coming from. it's supposed to rain tonight so maybe i'll be able to find where it's coming from.

 

[CFM]

I'm having these same issues, the previous owner installed a new windshield 2 weeks before I bought it. It leaks out of the compartment near the sunroof where you can put glasses and such in. As well as down each side of the two front doors/pillars. Mostly on the passenger side.... I'm hoping I can find it because this is driving me nuts...

 

[BrightLight7]

​

For awhile now I've had people tell me it smelt musky or some weird odor in my car and I never smelt anything. I guess I had just gotten so used to it sadly enough. So last night I saw something as I was getting into my 4R and got me to pull up my weather tech floor mats and BOOM, soaked flooring.

​

Glad I found this and two other threads to help me figure the issue. As I think about water leaking in somewhere, I remember randomly feeling water drops on my shoulder as I've entered the car after nights of rain but never figuring where it came from so figured it just my mind playing tricks on me. I'm going to try all these suggestions from this thread this week. I have original windshield in my 03. I just wanted to thanks the awesome folks from our community that have participated; as victims and aids, to this crazy ordeal.

 

[sr3tlaw]

Surfing through countless threads I came across this. There is a God!

 

[007Tacoma]

So... it might be the windshield, but what about water on the Cabin Filter?

Here is the gist of what is going on:
Step 1) Add my 2003 4Runner to a car wash or a rain storm
Step 2) Have AC on with recirculation on - no problem.
Step 3) Turn Recirculation off
Step 4) Watch water come out of the blower motor housing and all over the floor.
Step 5) Get soaking wet passenger floor board
Step 6) Remove glove box
Step 7) Observe water all over cabin air filter behind glove box

We got several inches of rain last night, and with the carpet pulled back I got 1/2 an inch of water on the passenger floor board. The 4Runner was parked at an angle facing down hill. So, the water was limited to the passenger front floor.

:rain:

My wife and I were able to duplicate the problem with a hose in our driveway today. It appears that water gets into the fresh air intake of the A/C system. It then fills up the blower housing until it starts to leak out on the floor.

Oh yeah - the REALLY wonderful part. I bought this 4Runner from the previous owner with water stains all over the passenger floor board. That's right. He had this problem too, and he made no mention of it when he sold it to me.

The windshield has been replaced twice. The windshield on there now is not OEM and not the highest quality. However, I feel like this is a problem with rain getting into the HVAC fresh air intake... I will know more tomorrow when we have sunlight.

 

[sr3tlaw]

part number

So whats the part number for that exterior A pillar trim? Im going to call my windshield guy and have him come and reinstall.

Looking through this thread I found only one link that takes me to a main page.