2002 Discovery NO SUNROOFS. I have a leak when it rains that runs right down the rear view mirror and drips on to the little shelf by the radio. I have re-caulked the front windscreen including lifting the top trim and getting under it. I have caulked the luggage rack I have caulked the alpine window. I have spent countless hours with a garden hose trying the replicate the leak. All to no avail. ANY help would be appreciated. Did I mention there is no sunroof? I thought I would be immune.
Leaking Roof
- Thread starter wrldky
- Start date
The headliner is not that difficult to remove - in order to follow the water trail (which can head in a multitude of directions) much like trying to trace a leak from the top of the motor to the bottom, the headliner needs to be removed, all A-pillar trim, B-pillar etc. Then turn on the hose/sprinkler and you will be amazed how easy it is to find the leak. My guess (with no sunroofs) is you have leaks in the corners of the windshield which may require a re-seal. Do this with the headliner out as well. I know it sounds like a PIA but caulking here and bubble gumming there is not the answer.
I had this exact problem and addressed it this weekend; maybe what I did can help. From inside the car you can see the gap between the headliner and body where it meets the windshield. The body here is actually two pieces fused together and corrosion can set in between the two pieces - corrosion that expands the gap and allows water in. On my truck that gap was just enough to allow water from somewhere else to drip in. Therefore I sealed it from that point upward (using a small nozzle on some easy flowing caulk) and then went all around the drains putting a thin layer all around. I also put sealant along the outside edge of the windshield seal because hydrostatic pressure can allow water to flow up and over and air pressure (when driving) can simply force it through the seal.
Lots of silicone caulk on my truck now. I consider it a safety device as well.
Lots of silicone caulk on my truck now. I consider it a safety device as well.
I've pulled the headliner before and I recall it being a PITA. Good advice though that is what I will do. Probably wait for the boy top get home from college so he can help. Thank you!
My experience was a bit different. With the headliner out on my RRC I wanted to check sunroof drains. After 5+ minutes of dousing the roof with a hose I couldn't pinpoint any water ingress. The deduction from this experiment is that moisture is getting into my truck through other entry points, but at best all I have done is eliminate one possibility.