05 LJ Water Passenger Side

[freebo86]

Found water in the passenger footwell. I’ve read of the obvious culprit but the jeep is garage kept, low miles. The cowl area is spotless.

Some posts point towards the HVAC area where they enter and there is like a foam - but I’m not sure is the foam supposed to have some other part over it or what? Does the foam suck up the water and pass it through the firewall into the footwell? What’s the solution here?

Also, I noticed that my AC drain doesn’t have a 90deg elbow on it - anyone know the size of the stub so I can find a suitable 90deg elbow to slip over it?

Thanks!!

 

[JKP]

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-evaporator-housing-tube-56000724ab
Pretty sure that's it.

If it's antifreeze, the heater core is shot.

 

[TJ4Jim]

Found water in the passenger footwell. I’ve read of the obvious culprit but the jeep is garage kept, low miles. The cowl area is spotless.

Some posts point towards the HVAC area where they enter and there is like a foam - but I’m not sure is the foam supposed to have some other part over it or what? Does the foam suck up the water and pass it through the firewall into the footwell? What’s the solution here?

Also, I noticed that my AC drain doesn’t have a 90deg elbow on it - anyone know the size of the stub so I can find a suitable 90deg elbow to slip over it?

Thanks!!

This is the Cowl panel seal around the outside air intake on my 99. Not sure it relates to the later models.

 

[freebo86]

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-evaporator-housing-tube-56000724ab
Pretty sure that's it.

If it's antifreeze, the heater core is shot.

No, it’s not the heater core, it’s water. I doubt my issue is the drain hose either as I rarely run the AC.

The foam part where the lines run in are a dumb design. Further research says that some hood / cowl seals are too short and the replacement part is longer and covers the sides better prevent water from getting into the engine bay which then lead to leaks inside the cabin?

This is the Cowl panel seal around the outside air intake on my 99. Not sure it relates to the later models.

View attachment 666424

Which part are you saying it’s bad?

 

[JKP]

If it's wet during/after heavy rain, the cowl drain is probably plugged, which then spills over the air intake to the HVAC fan.

If wet after running AC, it's the lack of a drain turn down and driving at hwy speeds.

Water comes through the grill hits the fan and goes everywhere during rain. If the foam is shot around the HVAC lines, it might get in through there.

And water can leak around the doors and pool in the footwells.

 

[TJ4Jim]

No, it’s not the heater core, it’s water. I doubt my issue is the drain hose either as I rarely run the AC.

The foam part where the lines run in are a dumb design. Further research says that some hood / cowl seals are too short and the replacement part is longer and covers the sides better prevent water from getting into the engine bay which then lead to leaks inside the cabin?



Which part are you saying it’s bad?

Just showing the factory seal since they can go missing via previous owners...

 

[KennethS]

No, it’s not the heater core, it’s water. I doubt my issue is the drain hose either as I rarely run the AC.

The AC will run when the defrost is selected in order to dry the incoming air.

 

[freebo86]

Just showing the factory seal since they can go missing via previous owners...

Are you talking about this seal?

 

[TJ4Jim]

Are you talking about this seal?
View attachment 666545

Yep, it was missing on my son's Jeep.

 

[JeepDrivesBest]

I'd check that foam around the HVAC lines first since you mentioned it looks questionable - when that stuff deteriorates it lets water right through into the cabin.

 

[freebo86]

I'd check that foam around the HVAC lines first since you mentioned it looks questionable - when that stuff deteriorates it lets water right through into the cabin.

The hvac foam looks fine, the idea / design behind it looks odd and weak for an easy cause for a leak. I’ll take a photo of mine.

Is there a part number for the part @TJ4Jim your pointing at?

 

[OHFIVETJ]

You gotta tell your passenger if they drink beer, even if it's 40 miles away, they gotta hold it in until the next rest stop

 

[freebo86]

Here is a couple of photos, my cowl - hood sea actually goes all the way to the fender, so it’s not the short seal issue I read about.

Also a phot of the heater core lines foam area, foam looks good and solid.

I did order a 90deg elbow for the ac drain, but doubt that’s it.

 

[KennethS]

I did order a 90deg elbow for the ac drain, but doubt that’s it.

That’s what it was on mine.

 

[freebo86]

That’s what it was on mine.

Thing is, I rarely if at all run the AC lol. My jeep has the top off all summer, garage kept, so if its out its a sunny day and the top off and no point in running the AC. Additionally it's not winter driven.. so im doubtful this is what my issue is.

I do know that a couple of weeks ago, I parked it outside as I mentioned in my OG post (with hard top ) , and that night it rained hard, and few days later I was pulling the carpets for a general cleaning off it and spotted the water under there.

Given the thing is 21 years old, 25k miles, I may look at getting 303 protectant and wiping down all the door seals etc, even though they look fine too.

 

[chili_pepper]

Yep, it was missing on my son's Jeep.

This foam does not exist on an '05, suspect it was a poor attempt by Chrysler to keep water out of the fresh air intake on earlier models.

Rather interesting non-factory plug welds in that photo...

I do know that a couple of weeks ago, I parked it outside as I mentioned in my OG post (with hard top ) , and that night it rained hard, and few days later I was pulling the carpets for a general cleaning off it and spotted the water under there.

Poorly aligned doors or bad door seals are often overlooked for items like leaking heater cores and plugged drains, but are quite often a leak source. Replacement seals are shit, unfortunately.

 

[freebo86]

This foam does not exist on an '05, suspect it was a poor attempt by Chrysler to keep water out of the fresh air intake on earlier models.

Rather interesting non-factory plug welds in that photo...

Is there a part number for that foam that TJ4Jim shows? If it’s not on the 05s what was their idea behind how to prevent water from entering? Is there a better fix than installing that foam?

 

[chili_pepper]

Is there a part number for that foam that TJ4Jim shows?

No idea, you'd have to check the parts lists in the resource section for his model year. I wouldn't bother with it though, it didn't do the job.

If it’s not on the 05s what was their idea behind how to prevent water from entering? Is there a better fix than installing that foam?

This is what was installed on some later models to keep water out of the HVAC airbox. Have you removed your cowl panel yet?

 

[freebo86]

No idea, you'd have to check the parts lists in the resource section for his model year. I wouldn't bother with it though, it didn't do the job.



This is what was installed on some later models to keep water out of the HVAC airbox. Have you removed your cowl panel yet?

View attachment 667264

When you say later years you mean 05-06? That photo looks like a good solution a bit beefier than TJ4Jims thing

 

[chili_pepper]

When you say later years you mean 05-06?

At least, maybe earlier years as well. I have an '05 LJ, for reference.