Help! Mystery Leak

[SeaRay]

We are preparing to seal our roof cap with Eteranbond tape. However I have developed a leak that I can not identify the source. The carpet in front of the passenger seat is wet, all the way up under the dash. Not so much further back than half way the seat, so I am guessing the source is toward the front. Threre are no obvious leaks down the side walls by the window or above the dash, so I am looking for suggestions.
Thanks for your thoughts.
SeaRay

[kenyonman]

Are you stationary or is it leaking when traveling?

[SeaRay]

It is stationary.

[Mattpro]

I had a leak that was similar, It was on the drivers side. It ended up being the front cap, I had no noticeable traces of water I could follow to find the leak. I took it to the dealer and they found it, they did a pressure test, re-sealed the front cap and no more leaks

Mattpro

[Pusherman]

It may be your windshield seal around the metal frame. The frames tend to rust around the windshield mount. The only way to fix is to have the windshield removed, have the metal frame repaired, and then reinstall the windshield. The repair is not as bad as it sounds.

Look for any bulges around the windshield gasket. May be a telltale sign.

[Thudman]

I had a leaking windshield fan. Seriously. The left WS fan leaked water from the motor housing and it dripped down the fan blades to the instrument panel covering. The cause was a roof or windshield/window seam leak (static and moving) during rain. I had already Eternabonded the fwd roof cap seam (and the side edges). So I caulked (self-leveling) every protrusion/screw/hole on the fwd part of the roof. Also used clear caulk (good grade) along the windshield seam and the fwd side window seams.



But the residual water remained in the fan motor housing and continued to slowly drip, so I unscrewed the fan housing and let the fan hang by its wires. I tilted and shook the fan to get the water out & was amazed at how much was in the housing. Yes the fan works (for now). The water is visible on the pic below, on the lower rite fan blade.




Anyway, water leak origins are tough to find. I think (& hope) I stopped my leaks. But I recommend Eternabond.

Thudman

[kenyonman]

I agree with the screw caulking. If possible I will back the screw out a few threads and squirt caulk down in then retighten then a bead over it. Not sure if it is the best practice but it worked on my old 77 winnie.

[Gary CA]

Ray, I would check the front cap clearance lights. One of mine leaked and the water path ended a few feet from the source. Good luck.

[Thudman]

I agree with Gary CA about the clearance lights. Mine leaked pretty badly 'til I caulked them. The rubber backing got really dried out & I had to replace those gaskets, which I got from Lichtsinn.

Thudman

[Thudman]

Well, it rained today, outside & inside. So I'll have to recheck my clearance lights as well as all other protrusions & seams. The leaks are at the left fan (again) and the right overhead speaker. Of course determining the leak source(s) will be the key. To be continued.........

Thudman

[J Stemler]

Don't know where you are or the weather conditions, but I had a similar problem with a 1999 adventurer, turned out to be a clogged drain tube from A/C

[gordons1]

I would be suspicious of the mounting area of your air horn or any roof lights..make sure they are adequately caulked.

[Flagelpater]

FWIW If you are parked in very cold weather and the inside of the Cap is not properly insulated, condensation can build on the inside of the Cap. I have had this condensation freeze and continuously accumulate until the outside weather warms up and allow thawing, maybe days later! Obviously you would need outside temperatures low enough to cool the Cap and humidity inside the coach. It presents as a leak from the outside of the Cap.

[smlranger]

Another thing to check is the rubber ducky radio antenna on the roof. I has a pesky leak (dripped in behind the TV enclosure) and finally stopped it by caulking the antenna. It is a two part device which unscrews from the base. Mine was loose so I caulked the seam between the radial and the base and stopped that leak.