You may not have heard: Jeep Wranglers Leak

"ClassicDatsunDebate" (gmagnusson)
10/09/2020 at 16:45 • Filed to: None

Shocking, I know, but our 2007 Wrangler’s Freedom Top (USA, USA) has pretty much leaked since the get-go. The Wrangler’s top relies heavily on rubber seals, mouldings, gravity and hope to channel water not into but out of the insides. Jeep was kind enough to provide drain plugs in the footwells for when the hope part of their engineering design turns to despair. We’ve used them a lot.

There is approximately 10 different ways that water can wind -up inside the Wrangler. Each route has a tell. Water on the dash? Ahh, fron t seal failure. Water in the front foot wells? There you have an A-pillar seal failure. Water in the roll-bar valance? Rear seal failure. Water in the rear foot wells? Classic mucket seal failure. What’s a mucket you say?

A mucket is what they call this moulded rubber piece that seals the top of the B-pillar to the roof panel. The problem is that there’s a lot going on in this area. you’ve got the removable roof interface, you’ve got the joint between the panels which cascades water down into this area, you’ve got the door jambs and the door seals, as well as a gap in the roof panel’s gutters all transpiring to make your carpet moist. The water, as it comes off the roof, doesn’t simply drip down and out, no. Through surface tension, it rolls under and onto the top of the B-pillar and into what I will call the bucket of the mucket. The hole gives the water somewhere to go...other than overflowing and up and over the door seals. That hole is a revision that our original muckets didn’t have. The Jeep engineers had more HOPE back in 2007 I suppose.

We employed every trick in the book over the years to prevent our embarrassing wetness with little success. Tape, sprays, RTV, all half-assed attempts to keep the Jeep dry. Looking back, I wonder why we lived with it so long. I guess because it doesn’t rain much here in Vancouver.

I called in a professional leak stop guy this week. He told me that he’s been doing it for around 5 years now and that he’s probably done at least 1 Freedom top a week since the start. He is contracted to many dealerships for warranty work and even new vehicles that are leaking upon arrival before they leave the lot . He peroused the shape of the existing seals told me all the parts he had to replace and gave me a price. He also said, with grim, steely -eyed confidence, that it WILL fix the leak and he gets very few call-backs. I couldn’t say no. So far, it’s been raining all day and the carpet is still dry...so fingers crossed.

I also took the opportunity to re-insert the rubber floor plugs, re-lay the carpet and shampoo the upholstery and carpets with our carpet steam cleaner. Now, instead of smelling like, oh I dunno...a dog kennel next to a cheese factory(?) it smells less so. Actually, all the mustiness is pretty much gone.

So there you have it. Next on the list is an EGR replacement and tune-up.

DISCUSSION (11)

ibRAD > ClassicDatsunDebate
10/09/2020 at 16:56

Nice try, jeep. My 4runner doesn’t have that problem.

It leaks through the rust around the windshield like God intended.

66P1800inpieces > ClassicDatsunDebate
10/09/2020 at 16:57

I thought you meant from the mechanicals underneath, and I was going to say even as a non SUV owner I know that is them marking their territory .

facw > ClassicDatsunDebate
10/09/2020 at 17:13

all transpiring to make your carpet moist

Honestly I would have thought they would have “fixed” this by just doing a rubber floor instead of carpet. Feels more on-brand anyway.

ClassicDatsunDebate > facw
10/09/2020 at 17:24

Next to piling a bunch of stupid stuff onto the roof, c onverting to a Rhino lined floor is a standard “overlander” mod.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > ClassicDatsunDebate
10/09/2020 at 18:05

I had the strangest door seal leak on my extended cab pickup with the rear suicide doors . See the rain was fine it never got wet in the cab , but when it snowed I would always find snow on my seat (on the outer bolster) af ter parking.

I sold it before I figured out what bizarre seal would let in snow but not rain. I know it had 2 seals at the top for the door.

DipodomysDeserti > facw
10/09/2020 at 18:05

The carpet in Wrangler is basically just set on the floor. You could pull it out in ten minutes, but there is insulation on the driver and passenger floor boards.

sn4cktimes > ClassicDatsunDebate
10/09/2020 at 18:06

Throw that top out and install a soft-top. Problem sorted.

But in all honesty that sucks. My 2 door 07’ had a soft-top and never leaked though. Not to say it never got wet inside. Just never with the top up and panels put in. I did hear from others with the hardtop that there were issues.

ClassicDatsunDebate > sn4cktimes
10/09/2020 at 18:09

I’ve got a soft top as well...which also has its own issues. The 2-doors don’t have the same issues. But hey, it’s the price of admission .

sn4cktimes > ClassicDatsunDebate
10/09/2020 at 20:01

Ahhhh, 4 door probs. Glad the problem(s) seem to be ironed out.

I b ed- lined the entire inside of my Jeep when I started off-roading it, so I usually had the carpets and plug out, had the top down and doors off most of each summer. If I knew it was going to rain I’d flip the top up and just do the two “clips” up. Kept the dash dry enough that I never cared. Doors went on for highway trips or vacation with the wife. I’d put everything back for winter. Usually the doors first, then sail panels later. Plugs and c arpets last, once it was a “normal” vehicle again.

ClassicDatsunDebate > sn4cktimes
10/09/2020 at 22:17

Your Jeep is living it’s best life

sn4cktimes > ClassicDatsunDebate
10/09/2020 at 23:14

Well, it hasn’t been my Jeep in a while, so I hope it’s still having a good time. If I knew how to track it down I’d consider looking it up and seeing if I could get it back.