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JK Water Leak Diagnose & Repair Manual

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328K views 404 replies 149 participants last post by  rreiffer  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Here is a manual regarding Jeep Wrangler (JK) water leaks. The diagnostic information is accurate, but the part #'s may not be valid for all model years

http://wkjeeps.com/misc/Wrangler/JK_Water_Leaks_All.pdf

I posted this manual in a few threads but thought it might be easier to find for those interested if it had it's own thread, hope it helps out...
 

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#2 ·
Hmm. Trying to understand why this is not already in our sticky area... Done.

I took these 3 screen shots explaining how to fix the most common leak area. My passenger side leaks in the same area very bad. Seats, carpet, dash, ME. The water bounces off the door latch and soaks everything, I've already mentioned adjusting the door but haven't tried it yet. I do own a 07 so the seals could be worn as well.
 

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#6 ·
I do have some experience with the elusive "under door leak" that seems to leak from under the floor mats. The week before I picked up my 2014 JK it had rained heavily for a week. sure enough, the driver's side floor was wet under the floor mat. Passenger side was completely dry. Now, i ordered my Jeep from the factory, so it wasn't like I could just pick another one off of the lot.
Having gone through this experience on my 2012 without satisfactory resolution, I was concerned. But, I also know the passenger side leak could have many causes, hence the "elusive" part. Driver's side seems to have a straight forward, easier resolution from what I've read over the past two years on these forum pages.

So, those of you with DRIVER'S side leaks, I recommend that you try this. I read about it on the forum and it has worked to COMPLETELY resolve my leak: Door Entry guards. But, you have to install them as illustrated in the picture below:

The trick is to install the entry guards over the front seam. Try it and let me know. Mine is completely bone dry now, even after heavy rain.

BTW some dealers will try to tell you that the entry guards caused your leak, but mine was leaking before guards were ever put on! Good luck!
 
J
#8 ·
Mine was bone dry (07) until I cleaned the plastic and rubber in and on my ride. Then we had a gully washer... got in a day later and noticed that water was ON my floor mat... mercy! I'll try the remedies mentioned here and get back with results. In the mean time... caution on what you clean the gaskets with it seems... I used a spray on over the counter cleaner. Wondering if it didn't mix well with the Bestop roof... made it shine though!
jd
 
C
#10 ·
That manual is great. Left mine outside with the soft top on during an all night rainstorm this weekend and I think I might have several of these leaks. Both front seats, and all the carpets were soaked. Puddles under all the seats and all floorboards. The corners of the soft top had leaked from time to time in the past, but nothing like this. I do take my doors off a lot, so they may need to be adjusted.

I've also seen people refer to some kind of conditioner you can use on the a-pillar foam gaskets to restore them somewhat. Has anyone had good or bad experiences with those products? Any recommendations?
 
O
#13 ·
My problem is with the front passenger side. After any noticeable rain there could be as much as an inch of standing water. It has been to the jeep dealer twice and is going back again today. So far they have replaced the seal, which I assume is the seal where the soft top attaches to the windshield. The water leak diagnosis and repair manual referred to in #1 suggests that the source of the leak might not have anything to do with the seals around the door and windshield, but instead the source of the leak could be either the Rear Wheel Flare Holes or the Cowl Side Panel, particularly since it doesn't appear as if water is coming down the front slope of the passenger side floor.

Any thoughts anyone might have that I could share with the service tech would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Regards,
OBruce
 
R
#16 ·
Doesn't rain much where I live, but this issue really bothers me. My Hard Rock will be here soon and I will be spending a lot of money to buy my first Wrangler, it doesn't please me to know there are leak issues with this line of vehicles. I don't understand why after many years of production and apparently leaking, it can't finally be fixed from the factory. This seems insane to me.
 
O
#17 ·
I know how you feel. My Wrangler is still leaking after 4 visits to the dealer. They have replaced seals and the gaskets around the doors. What concerns me is that it doesn't appear to me, at least, that they have spent any time looking at the repair manual even though we have brought it to their attention several times. It is back in the shop again and this time it has the attention of the dealership's owner. If it still leaks after this trip I am planning to change out the soft top and put the hard top back on. Will try to keep the forum posted on how I make out.

Regards,
Bruce
 
O
#22 ·
Good morning. As promised here is an update on my leak situation. This time the Service Manager got personally involved and he assigned one of his best technicians. The tech pulled out the front passenger seat, took up all the carpet (front and back) on the passenger side and then water tested the jeep. The source of the leak was where the door seal/weatherstripping came in contact with the soft cover frame. The water was coming down the frame that separates the front and back doors, along the floor and emptied out into the floor board depression in front of the passenger seat. Although the earlier attempts to fix the leak had included new sealer around the seal/weatherstripping it wasn't enough. New seal/weatherstripping has been installed around the front door and the dealer is waiting for the "part" do do the same around the rear passenger door and then will water test before putting everything back again. The problem area was -when looking at the door from the outside- in the upper left hand corner of the seal where it meets the upper left hand corner of the door frame. Three additional comments. First, the problem is associated with the soft top and the soft top frame. Apparently, we would not have had the leak if the hard top was installed. Second, the dealership said that there has been an increasing number of leak issues in the last 3 years or so. And, lastly, the seal/weatherstripping is not covered under warranty.

Oh, there is one other thing. The technician working on the leak did pull the back bumper per the manual referenced above to confirm that that issue was not the source of the leak.

Regards,
Bruce
 
J
#20 ·
An update to my leaking Wrangler. I went and paid about $45 for the seal kit (mentioned above) from the dealer. Reg auto shops had nothing to use. No instructions and weird looking shape on several. But I cleaned off the piece that had "rolled up" some on the leading edge of the driver's door.
I cut ( with a knife) the patch that had some foam look to it.
The leak slowed down a lot yet still leaked.
I then looked at where I thought water was passing at the harder foam next to area I had already addressed. A straight piece this time. In three weeks no leakage!
That second piece of foam was difficult to get the paper tape off to apply. But I did get to a piece that the paper came off quickly and clean. I just applied the new over the area of the larger foam piece.
I carry the rest of the small kit in the glove box. It came with a small baggy to keep the extras secure.
After seeing how much others here have spent on the sealing from dealerships, I'd suggest to everyone to get the kit and try it yourself. It is not complicated and will save a lot of time, frustration and money to try this yourselves. Good luck and stay dry.
jdh
 
#21 ·
Researching door seals I saw more then a few superseding part numbers.
My passenger side leaked bad. A Constant stream of water poured in, bouncing off the door latch and soaking everything. I bought and installed the new seal yesterday, it rained HARD last night, and there was only a drop or two on the door. The new designed door seal did the trick :iamhappy:
 
#25 ·
I experienced the same. Leaked bad with the soft top from the same area. 0 leaks with the hard top. The front door seal (assuming it's the same 2/4 door ? Cost $100 Depending on the year of your jeep, there maybe a new part number. like said in my previous comment, replacing the seal fixed my leak.
Labor ? 5 minutes. Pull off old/install new. Pretty straightforward.
 
#28 ·
Water under floor matt

Hi All!
I'm pretty sure I have condition #4 on page 20 "Scuff trim foam missing". Found a broken plastic plug stem and a round piece of foam on the drivers side (where my leak is). How can I take this piece of trim off to inspect it without possibly breaking it more (if that is the case)?

Thanks
 
#29 ·
Recently bought a 07 jk soft top 4d. Removed doors and top saw flattened foam seals. Replaced all foam seals installed new door hinge bushings. Before all foam was replaced the carpet LF, and all REAR seat carpeting was soaked. Removed drains sun dried all carpet disinfected and dried floor boards. Water tested after foam was replaced and still leaking from b-pillars or the framing between front and rear doors on both sides. Headed to the dealer tomorrow 10-09. Any ideas so I don't get screwed??
 
#31 ·
I have a 14 JKUWW with the half doors. The front doors leak at the bottom and the back leak at the top. Took it to Bedford Jeep, they water tested it, made it worse then applied the repair kit. Now its back to its regular leaking. The dealer told my customer care agent that they could not fix it. So I am at another dealer since Monday. The service manager said they adjusted the doors and they were going to do another water test. I could pick it up tonight. Under PA law, one more trip for this repair and I qualify for a replacement under the lemon law. Since they are so proud of production since 1941, you would think they could build them without so many leaks. I love the half doors and if I would get a replacement, I still want the half doors. It wasn't so long ago that half doors was the standard issue not full doors. I had a JK with full doors and the soft top but it never felt "right" to me.
 
P
#32 ·
I have a 2014 JKU with half doors. It's got about 5k miles and leaks at the front passenger side and the rear driver's side. The rear leak is really bad. When it rains the water dribbles constantly in from above the window.

We took it in the other day (the power steering pump went) and they said that Chrysler told them that leaks in Jeeps with half doors can't be fixed. I just got off the phone with the Chrysler Customer Assistance Center and the nice woman said there is a "star case" open. She said that's when the dealer asks for assistance from Jeep's techs. She also said that nothing had been approved or denied and that she'd have the "management team" get back to me.

The kicker is that our 2011 JKU with half doors also leaked and after 10+ times in the shop we settled with Chrysler and traded for our 2014. I can't believe we have to go through all that again!:pullinghair:
 
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#33 ·
After the second dealer tried to fix mine, i have a very crooked drivers door and still leaks, all four doors. Last Saturday, i took it back to the dealer i purchased it at. The sales manager ordered me a new 15 Monday. They gave what i paid for it 10 weeks ago. They are trying to get Chrysler to give me some cash towards the price difference since i didnt get the lawyers involved. I asked for the identical build. He asked,"what if new one leakes?" I simply replied,"we will do it all over again." I thought that once it would snow that the leaking was over. Wrong! I got to work and all snow around the door leaked and ran in.
 
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#34 ·
Update: Talked to someone at Chrysler who confirmed what the STAR paperwork said, that due to the 1/2 doors the leak may be a characteristic of the build and there is no repair. She did say I could take it to another dealer which I did tonight. The guys there saw several things that needed to be fixed, including realigning the doors (the gaps are way off when you compare one side to the other) and one of the uppers is very loose, due to no center pin. In short, they laughed at the idea that it can't be fixed, couldn't believe the other dealer didn't try anything, and we made an appointment.

They did say it could be a process, but they seemed optimistic that they could help me out. They also said they've seen other leaks, in hard and soft top, full doors as well as 1/2.
 
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#35 ·
My 2015 JKUR drips on stereo after a hard rain when I turn corners or brake hard. Comes in above windshield where the two freedom hard top panels meet. I have tried the trick to loosen panels and lift them straight up and back down to make sure seals are not folded. Didn't seem to help. Will those water drops hurt the 430 stereo? It's getting on the LCD and rolling down and pooling at the bottom edge of lcd where it meets the plastic. I need to try that stuff everyone is rubbing on their seals. It's a jeep so it doesn't bother me much, I just don't want the screen or stereo damaged from it or have it drip on my phone and ruin it. The picture is after a little wiping with finger. It seems after it did its leaking that it stops because there is no puddle left up there. When taking off freedom panels there is a little water in the "trench" of the front rubber seal above the windshield. Just think I paid a good chunk of change for a vehicle, it shouldn't leak.
 

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#390 ·
My 2016 has this exact issue... sometimes. My driveway has a slightly nose up angle, after a rain I get the same results, water dripping on the center dash/radio for a bit when hitting the brakes. However if it rains and it's parked on a level surface (at work) I get no leaks at all, I can also go through a car wash and get no leaks.
 
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