Windshield Leak?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 79
Likes: 11
From: South Mississippi
Windshield Leak?
97 F-150 Lariat Extended cab
I have been seeing a leak from the top passenger side corner of my windshield for some tome now, but as the truck stays covered, it hasn't been a big deal.
The water drips onto the dash near the pillar.
The front edge of the headliner gets wet at that corner.
The windshield was replaced 13 years ago by Safelite.
I was going to pull the rubber trim strip at the top of the windshield, but it is
pretty well glued in place by the sealant along the edge of the windshield.
I have a hard time believing that the water is coming in there.
I have a satellite radio antenna in the middle of the front of the roof, with the lead in under the top rubber trim strip. I have applied sealant to the point in which it enters under the strip.
The lead enters thru the side rubber on the inside of the door jamb.
I have also applied sealant to the points where the 2 roof channels enter under the rubber trim.
These channels have noticeable cracking at the corners that are all along the channels. appears to be seams in the roof panels.
Could water be entering there??
Any ideas on the subject will be appreciated.
I have been seeing a leak from the top passenger side corner of my windshield for some tome now, but as the truck stays covered, it hasn't been a big deal.
The water drips onto the dash near the pillar.
The front edge of the headliner gets wet at that corner.
The windshield was replaced 13 years ago by Safelite.
I was going to pull the rubber trim strip at the top of the windshield, but it is
pretty well glued in place by the sealant along the edge of the windshield.
I have a hard time believing that the water is coming in there.
I have a satellite radio antenna in the middle of the front of the roof, with the lead in under the top rubber trim strip. I have applied sealant to the point in which it enters under the strip.
The lead enters thru the side rubber on the inside of the door jamb.
I have also applied sealant to the points where the 2 roof channels enter under the rubber trim.
These channels have noticeable cracking at the corners that are all along the channels. appears to be seams in the roof panels.
Could water be entering there??
Any ideas on the subject will be appreciated.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
Reroute the antenna wire out through the grommet on the drivers side firewall, and put the antenna on the center of the roof next to the center of the windshield moulding.
OR You could actually put the antenna on top of the radio in the dash,the dash will not block the satellites.Thats where my GPS antenna is and it hits all the sats.Flush with the dashboard facing sky. Radio maybe magnetic like mine....
Best of all it doesnt ever get old that way unless you smoke in your truck (thats what kills most electronics)
I am an electronics technician and ham radio operator.Truck is 2000 F150 with Android DVD GPS radio by Pumpkin.And yes I have Sirius Stiletto 2,remember them?
OR You could actually put the antenna on top of the radio in the dash,the dash will not block the satellites.Thats where my GPS antenna is and it hits all the sats.Flush with the dashboard facing sky. Radio maybe magnetic like mine....
Best of all it doesnt ever get old that way unless you smoke in your truck (thats what kills most electronics)
I am an electronics technician and ham radio operator.Truck is 2000 F150 with Android DVD GPS radio by Pumpkin.And yes I have Sirius Stiletto 2,remember them?
Last edited by k1nng; Aug 31, 2017 at 02:32 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 455
Likes: 22
My 97 regular cab does not have a seam on the roof, but on the rear window. I had to seal the seam around the rear window twice to stop rain leak. If I were you, I would seal the seam on the roof. Early year 150's of the 97-03 generation are known to develop a leak at the seam. Note that there is no sealant between overlapping sheets.
Whatever you do, don't use silicone. It is hard to prepare the surface for good silicone adhesion. If the first repair didn't go well, you will have to painstakingly remove the residue of silicone.
Whatever you do, don't use silicone. It is hard to prepare the surface for good silicone adhesion. If the first repair didn't go well, you will have to painstakingly remove the residue of silicone.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 79
Likes: 11
From: South Mississippi
My 97 regular cab does not have a seam on the roof, but on the rear window. I had to seal the seam around the rear window twice to stop rain leak. If I were you, I would seal the seam on the roof. Early year 150's of the 97-03 generation are known to develop a leak at the seam. Note that there is no sealant between overlapping sheets.
Whatever you do, don't use silicone. It is hard to prepare the surface for good silicone adhesion. If the first repair didn't go well, you will have to painstakingly remove the residue of silicone.
Whatever you do, don't use silicone. It is hard to prepare the surface for good silicone adhesion. If the first repair didn't go well, you will have to painstakingly remove the residue of silicone.
I am thinking Dow 5200 Marine sealant, which is white and may not show (who sees the roof of a truck anyway??)