July 2nd, 2017
2008 Chrysler Pacifica - Touring, 4.0 L, FWD
Good Day Eric,
I've read a post that John responded to on your site "2005 Pacifica leaks badly on drivers side", and have a similar issue. I've been working on cars on a DIY/hobby basis for 45-years, yet realize I can greatly benefit from your insight and experience. I have highlighted places in this document where I have questions for you to respond to please. Feel free to add your insight/suggestions.
I purchased an '08 Pacifica Touring with 54k miles last month, and have found that from our last flurry of heavy afternoon thunderstorms here in Northern Florida, that the front and rear carpets on both drivers and passengers sides were soaking wet.
The vehicle is parked with the nose going slightly up-hill in our driveway, but I have it in the garage while it’s being worked on.
I've read about the sunroof drains and have gone through the two front drains with trimmer-line and have confirmed with a water bottle that water poured into the two forward drain locations will find its way to the drains.
However, in inspecting the headliner more closely, I have seen what appear to be old water tracks.
I realize that while the drains may not be clogged in the front, that this does not rule out the potential for a failed or damaged drain line and so I've removed the interior covers for the A-pillars and have found a hole in the drivers-side flex-tube, just before it goes under the dash. The accordian-like tube appears to be flexible, i.e. not dry rotted and not brittle, but the hole has opened up the possibility that there may be other damage upstream.
Therefore I have proceeded to remove the headliner to fully inspect the front lines, but also to inspect the rear lines. I've finished removing the headliner since this morning when I made my first inquiry to your site.
The rear lines appear to be in-tact and not damaged. I’m thinking of disconnecting them at the drain fitting of the sunroof and will rod them out with trimmer line to make sure they’re clear. But I can’t see where they discharge to, as there is a fitting that goes into the sill on each site, just forward of the rear wheel well. Do these drain into the fender-well?
I have also read that problems with cowl-drain can cause cabin leaks, and have removed that cover. While trying to find that drain location and comparing to pictures on-line and in my factory service manual set, I realized that the cowl drain-tube is not present and it appears that drain flow in this location could make its way through the steering penetration. Do you think that could be a source of leakage into the cabin?
To summarize: two problems found, no cowl drain tube, and at least one hole in the drivers side drain tube.
Possible leakage sources: leaks in front or rear drain tubes, blockage in rear drain tubes, cowl drain tube missing, possible leakage between sunroof frame and roof of vehicle.
Question: I have also read that there are possible leaks from body sheet metal joints and find several such joins under the cowl vent cover. Is this the location known to cause leaks? Or are there other locations that I should be inspecting?
My apologies for the long post, but I respect your time and don't want to be going back/forth with obvious and key information.
Thank you in advance,
Terry
St Augustine, FL