Jeep Cherokee XJ Wet Passenger Floor from Cowl Leak

this is a possible fix for your wet passenger side floor which leaks from the fresh air intake under the cowl area

[@Industrialitis]

Very creative, I'm about to start on fixing this leak myself and I appreciate your approach.

[@MajorWeakness]

See my later videos on the heater core and ac condenser, and the blower motor gasket area that leaks

[@Mudslidex1]

I haven't had this issue on my '99.....yet. But I'll now know where to start looking if it happens. Thanks

[@MajorWeakness]

Thanks for watching

[@steveblankenship5474]

I have the same problem with my XJ and applying sealant around that white box didn’t change anything, it was a lot of work. I noticed since it was raining last night that panel which you drilled a hole has a channel forming with the fender and the water goes into the engine bay and right in where the fan is mounted on the firewall. So I drilled a hole just outside the base of the fan motor on the engine side and I plan to jam rubber in that channel along the fender. Interesting thing is the channel is just a little bit wider on the passenger side than the driver’s side, water drains in the engine bay from both sides just having the fan mounted on one side means water drips in.

[@MajorWeakness]

I have a couple of XJ's. Another common place for this leakage is the gasket around the blower motor, might want to mut water in this area and sew if leaks. I've fixed by putting self leveling sealant for RVs in this area

[@simpleoverlander]

I have the same problem. I realized it only happened when I parked the Jeep on an incline. I need to fix the issue eventually, but until then I park on a decline or flat. That has worked for a couple of years now so I am not in a hurry lol

[@MajorWeakness]

Thanks for watching, looking forward to seeing your trip. It's my daughters XJ and she dont want moldy carpet..lol

[@toddbrady9778]

You know I had the same problem with my 1965 mustang. You would think that automakers would be able to make this work better... Nice solution. I do have a question about the silicone though.

[@MajorWeakness]

I will check to see if the silicone has an corrosive effect on the metal. It was brought to my attention from the lake and the window. If so, then I will make a removal video...which will be a viral video I'm sure!.I believe I can take the fender off and access some of the area. Stay tuned...

[@MajorWeakness]

Ok, the roofing material is approved to use on both metal steel and aluminium roofs so it is non corrosive...and it Worked!!!!! I flooded the thing and no water leak!

[@e.e.c9232]

good idea!!!👍👍👍😉

[@user-xl1jw4mb2u]

Some masking tape and thin cardboard would help keeping things cleaner. Good idea on your part.

[@MajorWeakness]

You are correct!

[@nickjonson6996]

Do you believe you could have just poured the silicone through the half inch hole and avoid having to have cut out the access panel?

[@MajorWeakness]

That is a possibility and if u have access to a bore scope you can look at it without cutting

[@nickjonson6996]

@@MajorWeakness Thanks! I may try this. The bore scope is a great suggestion.

[@wallacesheckells7095]

I had a 98 Cherokee Which leaked from the ac unit. It was caused by the drain tube getting clogged from dirt and such. The drain tube down Into the frame. So I he'd to drill a hole and clean the tube out and all the water just drained out from the ac box under the dashboard. It is a poor design of this tube. Had to plug the hole and every couple months I had to open it back up and repeat this. But the leaking stopped.

[@MajorWeakness]

Unfortunately the XJ had quite a few quirks but the bones of them are solid...unless you live in the rust belt :) i appreciate your sub and thanks again for watching

[@shoreguyeast]

Can you just remove the cowl cover and make a large gasket to cover up the entire area like it is from the factory on the passenger side?

[@MajorWeakness]

Yes but then there would be no fresh air intake for the HVAC

[@shoreguyeast]

@@MajorWeakness In reality, does that really matter. Wondering how much of a impact does that really make? It the water has a way to escape between the fender/firewall metal, it can get air from those areas, correct?

[@MajorWeakness]

@@shoreguyeast yes you are correct

[@marquinimb4073]

That is like fixing one issue, but creating another one.

[@MajorWeakness]

See my video where I fixed it the right way with oem new gaskets kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGisXpegnad6Y68

[@robertberryman5747]

Won't that clog up the drain gap in firewall?

[@MajorWeakness]

Great question. Possibly but it didn't

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

Great video man! Just subscribed. That seems like it will work well. How has it held up?

[@MajorWeakness]

Thanks for subscribing. So far it has held up good, only a few weeks though.

[@garrettjohnson8978]

Trying this fix on my 2001 right now. Still holding up?

[@MajorWeakness]

johnson still working!

[@fogstain]

This is definitely an XJ repair. Hahah😂

[@Steeda04SVT]

How is it holding up now?

[@MajorWeakness]

Still works great, no leakage

[@Steeda04SVT]

Major Weakness Thank you. Thinking of doing that here soon. Over all was it a pain in the butt?

[@MajorWeakness]

@@Steeda04SVT it was an pain but worth it

[@Steeda04SVT]

Major Weakness was getting ready to do this project but was curious when the liquid silicone fills up around the box, the water that drains into it after it rains is still able to drain and not get backed up since the box is covered around the base with the liquid silicone ?

[@elibrass4171]

I have the same question as steeda

[@ewoudvandenberg1]

where is the rain water going now????

[@MajorWeakness]

On the ground and not in the cab of the jeep

[@MajorWeakness]

The water is supposed to travel between the cowl and fender to land on the ground

[@ewoudvandenberg1]

Is it possible to get your hand behind it. Instead drilling the small hole?

[@MajorWeakness]

@@ewoudvandenberg1 , I tried and could not, but small hands might.

[@Steeda04SVT]

@@MajorWeakness even with this done the drain didn’t get covered up by the liquid silicone? That’s my main concern is that after the liquid silicone is in that it can still drain out of the cowl area afterwards.

[@Danktitties]

a tube would have cost you a dollar for the silicone part, no hole needed

[@MajorWeakness]

It would be hard to get to the lateral side but you are correct there are more ways to this

[@zh9119]

I don't have the time and place to remove the dashboard so I paid a mechanic, $850, problem solved in one day. My Jeep is 100% original. I don't agree to do this kind of jobs, unless you are using it as a mud toy, is a third world country repair engineering.

[@MajorWeakness]

Since this video the entire dash was removed, the hvac box rebuilt and entire OEM gasket seals used to reassemble. You are correct, but most people with a 500.00 jeep cannot afford this repair.

[@ibberman]

@@MajorWeakness Where can I find a $500 Jeep XJ ? Do they really exist for something that is drivable ? Great video, thank you.

[@MajorWeakness]

@ibberman I look at Facebook market place and Craigslist every day. They pop up. But this was a few years ago. I find 1000-2000 regularly

[@zh9119]

@@MajorWeakness A few days ago, I just sold my 2001 XJ with 168K miles for $12K cash, in just one week. There are not even Jeep wheels for $500 dollars.

[@MajorWeakness]

@@zh9119 getting rarer by the day