Hi everyone, I’m new here but I’m having a couple issues with my ‘01 XLT v6 so I guess I’ll start with this one. Whenever it rains I find a puddle building in the floorboard on the driverside but there doesn't appear to be any obvious leaks. The door seal is solid, the windshield seal is also fine, the only possible thing I can come up with is a possible hole in the floor that water splashes up into as I’m driving. That being said, I have yet to discover said mysterious hole, leaving me quite perplexed. Anyone got any other ideas?
Thanks in advance!

The darkish spot there is the puddle I mentioned in the post

 

The last time I saw a Ranger with excessive water on the driver's side floor, the Windshield Mounting Lip and the area around it was rusted out !

Does that still happen not sure, but I might consider removing the Windshield Trim and take a look.

If the water was on the passenger side then we could talk heater but to me the Driver's side leaves no options.

Good Luck !

 

Get under the truck and have a look at the metal floor board, could be rust holes

Pull off the kick panel on drivers side, look for water trails, residue from water leaking in, that would usually be from windshield leak as mentioned above

Run some water into the Cowl holes on drivers side, water should come out just in front of the door, that can clog up and water can enter the cab
Also check Door Drains, holes on under side of door, but usually you would hear water sloshing around when you open and close the door

3rd brake light on rear of cab is a KNOWN leak point and yes it does end up in drivers side front and/or passenger side front, most trucks sit a little higher in the back so water runs forward, also depends on how its parked

 

Thank you all! It looks like I have some investigating to do, but now I have some definitive points to check. I’ll let y’all know what I find!

 

Didn't think about the third brake light but yes the gasket goes bad more often than not.

A lot of people put either gasket sealer or silicon but to me you would need a new gasket.

If it is the third third brake light, everyone has their problems but when I needed a new third brake light gasket I couldn't find one, I cut one out of an old beer can 12 pack I had laying around just for gaskets. (The beer case is the thin cardboard, tightly packed type)
Then I sprayed with High Tach Gasket Sealer; it is red and it needs to be sprayed let set for about 15 minutes, and then a light spray before putting it in place.

 

My '98 had that exact same problem. It didn't start until I had a windshield replaced. It was the windshield channel like the first guy said. Mine rusted through right in the corner, hard to find but big enough to be a pain. And unless they pile some extra sealer in the corners it might not catch it. Crawl up under the dash and see if the arm on the parking brake is rusty. Mine was.

 

Joseph,

How's this going ?

If you find a hole in the "Windshield Channel", and decide to try the Sealer route, make sure to clean up the area really well.
Then sand it some and apply a good "primer sealer" or "metal etching primer" let it set, then use a good quality, name brand, windshield sealer, not an Amazon item or Target special.
I might even go to a local Windshield Replacement Shop, see if they have a method or a sealer you can buy; commercial sealers are usually better quality.

Just me thinking out loud, don't even know what your path is.

Ltr

 

I am getting a water leak too on the drivers side of my 98. I pulled my carpet out yesterday. Seems to be running down the firewall, the insulation on the firewall is soaked.
My windshield is cracked anyway so I might get that replaced first.

 

If you could get the windshield out.
Check for damaged flange and repair it if necessary !
Then call the Mobile Replacement Service to put a new one in !

Pull the trim, you might see the damage before removing the old one.

 

I will try to get the windshield trim off and see if there is a hole behind it where water is getting in

 

ALL OF THIS came from the cowl!!! Removed the plate in middle of cowl in engine bay: small vacuum hose taped to a .22 gun cleaning rod: no dang wonder water was coming in cab!!! John in MD