Alright guys, I am taking a shot in the dark here. On my 99XJ, I am getting water in around rear hatch area, somewhere, and I canÆt pin point the source. I now have all the interior out trying of the jeep trying to find the source of the water. It only comes in on the passenger side, I can see it pool up down in rear the quarter area behind the rear wheel, and in that little corner box area right inside the tail light. I have checked the weather strip, put a coat of glue on all the seams in the metal in the back, I glued in that 1.5ö plastic plug by the tail light, I checked around the tail light grommet, but water is still coming in. I am pretty sure water has to be coming in from above the tail light height from the water droplets I can see along the wall inside that corner of the uni-body frame or what ever you want to call that back corner area that goes from the floor to the roof. Unfortunately I canÆt see specifically where the water comes in with my bare eyes or with an inspection mirror, and I donÆt have a borescope to use. Has anyone experienced a similar leak that may be able to help direct my search?

Thanks,

Sean

Fill up a gallon bucket of water and add some food coloring to it. Then dump it where you think the leak might be and look for the colored water, or the traces of it.
Does yours have the roof rack?

i had a similer problem in my xj and it turnd out to be the seal around the rear window.

Sunder,
The food coloring idea would not work, I can not see the area where its coming in, so it would not be any different than what I see now when everything is dry, and I hit it with the hose, and I get water in the rear quarter, and that rear corner pillar thing.

I do have the roof rack.

Kingfoss,
I was thinking the seal around the rear side window at first, but it feels more aft then side to me. I will poke around the side window a little more carefully though. What did you do to fix the seal around your side window?


The next thing I was going to try since I think I sealed up all the holes, is to start low and run water over the outside, and see if water comes in, and gradually work my way up until water comes in. I get the impression this has been going on almost since the beginning of the jeeps life, because the passenger side floor board (low spot of the passenger side) has some pretty good rust on it.

One more comment, I am not sure if this makes a difference or not, but I have a 2 door XJ and it has factory tinted rear windows.

Thanks for the comments.

Sean

i just went to a glass shop and they put the seal in right they said it looked like someone tried to steal my window

Is the roof rack held on by bolts or is it glued on? Could it be leaking from the rack?

I looked around the side back window, and I couldnt see any evidence of water.

The roof rack is held on by bolts, as soon as you mentioned the roof rack that was my first thought. I haven't ruled it out yet, but my first though with that is the inside of the roof has not gotten wet yet.

I still have to water the outside bottom to top to see if that helps too.

Thanks again

Sean