What's missing?

[bbaldwin237]

I tried searching but haven't had any luck. Sorry for the super long post!

Is there supposed to be a seal or gasket here? It seems like there should be. I'll explain below but wanted to get my question up front. I added a "wall" around the cabin intake to prevent water from getting in there, but it looks like water is able to go straight into that intake. It seems like it may be the "hood to cowl" weatherstrip (item 6), but maybe I'm looking at it wrong. Is this what goes there?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3614341899...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
So, I woke up feeling crummy and decided to take the day off work. After laying on the couch for a couple hours, I decided to ride to town with my wife and son, and he wanted to take the Jeep. I went out to get his car seat installed and start it to warm up. I was quickly greeted by this amazing sight in the passenger floorboard.

Looking underneath, I could see that the water appeared to be coming from the firewall where the blower housing mounts.

Up to this point, we've been having some very heavy rains. Occasionally, there will be a very small amount of water that makes it way through and drips onto the rubber mat. It's been so little and only with heavy rain, so I wasn't concerned. This, however, is on a whole new level. I verified that my cowl drain was clear, add a wall/edge around the cabin intake with a heavy outdoor tape to raise that lip, and added a layer of tape over an old foam weatherstrip that looked to be part of the problem. With that last part, I was able to wrap a thick layer of the tape over the seam that should keep water from hitting it and then just run off. There was a little water under the mat too on the carpet so I've got everything back together with the Jeep in the garage with a fan to dry out.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Sure looks like the rubber weatherstrip is missing which #6 in the above drawing. I'd go look at mine to verify it but my son borrowed my Jeep last week.

 

[John Cooper]

Sure looks like the rubber weatherstrip is missing which #6 in the above drawing. I'd go look at mine to verify it but my son borrowed my Jeep last week.

Oh no!!! Mud bogging time!!!!!!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Oh no!!! Mud bogging time!!!!!!

Hah he knows better than to even get it close to mud. His diesel truck is getting some warranty repairs done so I was happy to loan him my TJ so he can use it for work. He grew up in it.

 

[mrblaine]

I tried searching but haven't had any luck. Sorry for the super long post!

Is there supposed to be a seal or gasket here? It seems like there should be. I'll explain below but wanted to get my question up front. I added a "wall" around the cabin intake to prevent water from getting in there, but it looks like water is able to go straight into that intake. It seems like it may be the "hood to cowl" weatherstrip (item 6), but maybe I'm looking at it wrong. Is this what goes there?
View attachment 481295

View attachment 481296

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3614341899...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
So, I woke up feeling crummy and decided to take the day off work. After laying on the couch for a couple hours, I decided to ride to town with my wife and son, and he wanted to take the Jeep. I went out to get his car seat installed and start it to warm up. I was quickly greeted by this amazing sight in the passenger floorboard.
View attachment 481290

Looking underneath, I could see that the water appeared to be coming from the firewall where the blower housing mounts.
View attachment 481299

Up to this point, we've been having some very heavy rains. Occasionally, there will be a very small amount of water that makes it way through and drips onto the rubber mat. It's been so little and only with heavy rain, so I wasn't concerned. This, however, is on a whole new level. I verified that my cowl drain was clear, add a wall/edge around the cabin intake with a heavy outdoor tape to raise that lip, and added a layer of tape over an old foam weatherstrip that looked to be part of the problem. With that last part, I was able to wrap a thick layer of the tape over the seam that should keep water from hitting it and then just run off. There was a little water under the mat too on the carpet so I've got everything back together with the Jeep in the garage with a fan to dry out.

What does the HVAC drain look like on the outside of the firewall?

 

[bbaldwin237]

What does the HVAC drain look like on the outside of the firewall?

It sticks out straight, maybe 1 to 1.5". Also, forgot to add it's a '97 without AC, and the water accumulated while parked and not running or being driven.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Sure looks like the rubber weatherstrip is missing which #6 in the above drawing. I'd go look at mine to verify it but my son borrowed my Jeep last week.

Ok, that's what I'm thinking. Maybe someone will be able to chime in with a picture. Going to try looking around and avoid the $15 shipping on eBay!

 

[Wildman]

The 97 model as far as I know didn't come with a cover over the HVAC box. You can get the cover from a 98 or newer and it fits. There are 3 screw holes you can use to secure it or just use the cowl cover to hold it in place.

I bought mine off Ebay.

Then put your cowl cover back on.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Here's some photos from my 06, which looks basically the same as my 99 did, which I would expect is not too much unlike your 97.

With hood closed:

 

[bbaldwin237]

Here's some photos from my 06, which looks basically the same as my 99 did, which I would expect is not too much unlike your 97.

View attachment 481393

View attachment 481394

With hood closed:
View attachment 481395

Thank you! That's definitely the weatherstrip that's missing and that looks like it would seal up exactly where it needs it. Maybe I'll order the weatherstrip and a 98+ cowl like @Wildman showed.

 

[Wildman]

Thank you! That's definitely the weatherstrip that's missing and that looks like it would seal up exactly where it needs it. Maybe I'll order the weatherstrip and a 98+ cowl like @Wildman showed.

My 97 doesn't have that weatherstrip either. It's been a long time since I've had it parked outside in the weather but I don't remember my floorboard getting wet. I wonder when they changed and that weatherstrip became standard?

 

[bbaldwin237]

My 97 doesn't have that weatherstrip either. It's been a long time since I've had it parked outside in the weather but I don't remember my floorboard getting wet. I wonder when they changed and that weatherstrip became standard?

I hadn't had any issues up to this point. I had even checked on it after some heavy rain last week. But a couple days ago we had a torrential downpour with wind and I think it was just the perfect conditions to get in there. Or with all of the rain we had it had flooded the cowl? There was water down inside the intake.

 

[Wildman]

I hadn't had any issues up to this point. I had even checked on it after some heavy rain last week. But a couple days ago we had a torrential downpour with wind and I think it was just the perfect conditions to get in there. Or with all of the rain we had it had flooded the cowl? There was water down inside the intake.
View attachment 481403

I think the rain cover would fix that... Here's one on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3258808486...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

 

[bbaldwin237]

I think the rain cover would fix that... Here's one on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3258808486...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

Ordering now, thank you!

 

[bbaldwin237]

Went ahead and ordered the lid piece and the weatherstrip just to be on the safe side. $60 for both pieces shipped is pretty cheap peace of mind (as long as it works ). Thanks for the help!

 

[Wildman]

Went ahead and ordered the lid piece and the weatherstrip just to be on the safe side. $60 for both pieces shipped is pretty cheap peace of mind (as long as it works ). Thanks for the help!

The one thing I can say from looking at it is that I wouldn't want the weatherstrip on mine due to my V-8. That seals that area up more and right now some of the heat can escape out of that space.

 

[bbaldwin237]

The one thing I can say from looking at it is that I wouldn't want the weatherstrip on mine due to my V-8. That seals that area up more and right now some of the heat can escape out of that space.

It rarely gets super hot on this side but when it's hot, it's not raining. So if I feel like it's getting hot I can pull the weatherstrip in the summer and put it back on for rainy season. Of course that's all if it even makes a difference with the water.

 

[MountaineerTom]

Make sure that cowl drain on the firewall
isn’t plugged up. If it is, it can overflow into the passengers floor area. You can clear it with a piece of stiff wire or something similar.

Also pull your carpet back and get the floorboard dried up If it got wet.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Make sure that cowl drain on the firewall
isn’t plugged up. If it is, it can overflow into the passengers floor area. You can clear it with a piece of stiff wire or something similar.

Also pull your carpet back and get the floorboard dried up If it got wet.

Yep, I ran a drain clog tool through and there was no blockage. I've had the Jeep in the garage all afternoon with a fan going and the carpet rolled back