We've had a really dry summer here in central Mo. In early Sept. we took our '99 Sporty to visit my inlaws. The first night we were there it stormed like crazy. The next day I noticed that the passenger's side of the cargo area carpet was soaked. (along with some of our luggage).

My first thought was that for some reason (dried out rubber?) water was now getting in around the roof rack hardware and running down behind the interior panel and soaking the carpet. I never gave it another thought after we came home (not much rain since), until I was in the back of my '96 KIA the other day after a rain and the carpet was wet in the exact same area. But, this one doesn't have a roof rack. The hatch seals on both appear to be sealing well, and it appears that water wouldn't get in (while the vehicle was sitting still anyway) there even if the seal wasn't too good-there's sort of a channel there to direct the water down the sides. Neither one leaked before that I am aware of. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Has anybody else had this problem and successfully tracked it down? If not I guess I'm gonna have to tear one apart and get my sweety to squirt it down while I hang out inside looking <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> for a drip.

I appreciate any input that anyone may have.

Thanks!
ks

i have a similar problem with my truck. front passenger gets wet when it rains. i think its the front windshield. hasnt rained down here in a while so i havent checked.

I had the problem with the drivers side front and when I got my last windshield replaced it quit leaking. If you have had a windshield installed lately they could have reused some parts that should be replaced.

Dennis

same with the driver windshield, i hate the rain and car washes!!!! need to redo the windshield i guess.

Yeah, one of them has had a recent windshield, but these leaks are in the back cargo area-no way water from a windshield leak is getting back there.

ks

Could be a leak around one of the rear windows or possibly around the tail light.

Pop out the rear passenger side speaker grill and have a look inside. Might find where the leak is this way.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

You said you only thought it got wet back there when you were driving right? It could be the drain plugs we have throughout our floor boards. Just a thought, but if our tires are kicking around water it could be splashing up into the drain holes if any of them are missing the plugs.

Steve

Nope, both of them were sitting still. The '98 got wet overnight in a strong storm. The '96 got wet overnight in a long, slow rain. (I didn't think to check the '98 that time-my wife had it at work when I found mine wet)

The carpets in both wer wetter the farther to the right that I went. I am suspecting the seal around the side glasses...

It's raining right now, so when I head out I will look and see what I can see.

ks

On my 2002 4 door Sportage I found my leak at the corner of the driver side windshield. It took me a week to find it. I pealed back the rubber windshield gasket at the top and used some black silicone to effect the repair. This worked well and no more wet steering wheel and drivers side floor.

I have been just reading all the posts here for some time and decided to joing the board. There are some pretty smart KIA guys here and some of your ideas on repair issues I have found to be very good. Thank you.

Yesterday morning, after an all-night slow rain the '98 was bone dry, but the extreme rr corner of the cargo area carpet was starting to get wet. After sitting in the rain all day yesterday (and an hour commute in the rain on the way to work) the same corner was soaked, and the dampness had spread across the whole cargo area.

I pulled off the speaker cover and felt around-I didn't find any dampness along the underside of the side glass or at the top of the tail light. I am starting to suspect the seam under the black rubber trim where the quarter-panel meets the roof...a leak there would most likely run down the inside of the c-pillar. But, I would think that there would be dampness/stains on the headliner under that seam if that were the source?

and , of course, it's still raining...

ks