first gen windshield leak; by Thermo

[JUST4FUN]

The short of the story is that the upper corner on the driver's side will break away from the seal (due to flexing of the body most likely). Once the seal is broken, water running down the roof (and over the windshield) gets trapped between the windshield and the body. This allows the water to leak around the seal. At this point the water then sticks to the windshield (capillary effect) and works its way down to the lower driver's corner. Since this is the low point, the water will start to build up there. Once sufficient water is there, it will drip off of the windshield, at which point is falls straight down on to the GEM module. Since the GEM module sits in a little cup on top of the fuse box, the water builds up there and eventually finds its way into the GEM module. Once inside the GEM module, what circuits it shorts out or causes to go haywire is hard to say.

 

[JUST4FUN]

Well i at least saved your text, trying to delete my post everything was gone. so i reposted it. we can leave it open to add to it

 

[TurboPirate]

The short of the story is that the upper corner on the driver's side will break away from the seal (due to flexing of the body most likely). Once the seal is broken, water running down the roof (and over the windshield) gets trapped between the windshield and the body. This allows the water to leak around the seal. At this point the water then sticks to the windshield (capillary effect) and works its way down to the lower driver's corner. Since this is the low point, the water will start to build up there. Once sufficient water is there, it will drip off of the windshield, at which point is falls straight down on to the GEM module. Since the GEM module sits in a little cup on top of the fuse box, the water builds up there and eventually finds its way into the GEM module. Once inside the GEM module, what circuits it shorts out or causes to go haywire is hard to say.

Evidence of what JUST4FUN is saying, I have problem with A/C turning ON when ignition is OFF and SUV it's just parked. Check out the link
http://www.expeditionforum.com/showthread.php?t=16045

 

[aircargoo]

this is important post.......this problem will cost BIG money to fix. run a hose ove windshield with tissue from inside.run water for a while.i did and found leak. i got lucky....car dried and never happened again.wouldve cost over 1000 dollors.computer ect is there.

 

[kingpin]

That happened to me.
Radio started going funky, windows would work when they wanted to.
I found out when water started to come out of the "oh ****" handle on the pillar.

I had my windshield replaced and everthing is okay except the cruise control doesn't work any more.

 

[Bamfster]

I'm new to the Expeditions ... just bought an '01 XLT and had the wonky electronics start/wet carpet etc. It did have a new W/S put in prior to me buying it and not any evidence of prior leakage. Thanks to finding this forum, I was able to track it down and figure out what the heck was going on. I was able to dry everything out, and everything works correctly once again.

A basic question that I haven't seen answered yet after much searching:

What is the actual "fix" for the leaky windshield? I know everyone says to have it re-sealed, but what does that entail?.... New W/S gasket, just add some glass sealant when re-installing the glass, or????

 

[Big White]

Had the same issue with my04. Brought it to the glass shop, and he hit the inside upper edge with compressed air, and listened to the outside. You can immediately hear the leak. He then pushed on the window there, and you could see it was loose.

 

[Thermo]

Bamfster, the fix for the leaky windshield is really a function of how long you let it go before you enacted the fix. At a minimum, you need to have a new seal put on the windshield. This will prevent the water from intruding back into the truck.

As for other things, some members have been fortunate to simply pull the GEM module out, dump the water out of the module and all be good (yes, water came out of the module). Others have not been so fortunate and they had to replace their GEM modules. The GEM module pretty much controls everything electric inside the cab of the truck. So, when it starts going bonkers, you get lots of interesting things to happen.

 

[Bamfster]

Oh yea, I went nuts trying to figure out what the heck was going on. I let it sit outside for a few days with the windows down and so far no more problems. I did have my glass guy come out and we used compressed air from the inside and found a few spot where apparently there wasn't enough sealant laid down. He put a healthy bead around it, and a few days later I hit it with the pressure washer and so far so good.

 

[JCHUD]

I had water leak in same area but it did not effect anything electronic. I thought it was windshield after finding technical service bulletin on it and had windshield resealed but it didn't fix leak. The leak was actually coming from behind door weatherstripping near upper corner of windshield. I found a small hole in the body seam/pinch weld and filled with either a urethane or silicon sealer.

 

[tbirdrules]

2001 Water leaks from Windshield

Hi All:
I am new to the forum as well! I own a 2001 Expedition Sport with the off road package. It is all original and has 178,000 kms on it. Love the truck it handles great - even with the 4.6!! I also have water leaking from the windshield area. On the left side the water comes thru the grab handle and drops onto the A/C vent. I also have the wet spot on the carpet. I have to have the same issue on the right hand side where the blower motor rusts out. I am on the 3rd one. Other than that, I have experienced no electrical or computer issues as of yet. Is it the leaking windshield syndrome? Can they save the windshield?
( just in case if you noticed my name is based on my 91 t-bird I own. That too is original and still new looking - with the 5.0 H.O.)

 

[tbirdrules]

The leaking Windshield Saga continues

Thanks All for your inputs. So far in a real hard rain, I only get the dripping from the handrail and when I first open the door. Everything else is running fine. I will probably get the windshield tested out for leaks.

I had some yawhoo at a ford dealership tell me they would have to break the windshield and replace to fix the problem. Can you believe that load of crap!!

 

[M1757]

I have an 01 and water started coming out of both grab handles on the A pillars. I went to have it resealed but the laminate between the glass was separated so it was just completely replaced.

 

[tinman13kup]

Hmmm, this sounds strangely familiar. I own a 99 F350 (diesel) and one of the common problems is also the windshield leaking, which drips onto the gem, but the bigger issue is the water wicks into the back of the fusebox and starts connecting hot-at-all-times circuits to hot-in-run. Some issues include the truck not shutting off, auto's trying to start on their own, fans running, relays chattering.

 

[Erich Zeppelin]

Just replaced my windshield yesterday, and a rock hit it this morning on the freeway and cracked it..........sigh. Gotta get a new, new one.

 

[bedrck46]

Just replaced my windshield yesterday, and a rock hit it this morning on the freeway and cracked it..........sigh. Gotta get a new, new one.

Did you by chance look up and see a dark cloud hanging over your head

 

[IMINYOURCHAIR]

gravel truck was in the way

 

[lve2wheel]

please delete my post.

 

[Mammoth]

Where's the GEM module located exactly? I had my window sealed shortly after I bought my 2000 EB due to crazy electronic issues but my rear wiper works when it wants and when I adjust my passenger side mirror the radio stops while pressing the mirror adjust knob. Maybe there's some water in my module (????)

 

[1955moose]

I had same issue with my 2000 expedition 4x4 about a week back. Mine was so bad my starter would start grinding like I was turning key while it was running. You have to pull the fuse box/ gem module, their bolted together under drivers side dash. Like roxy 1255 told me last week, take a hair dryer to fuse box and gem module to dry it out. What I also did was put die electric grease on all the relay and fuse connection points on fuse box. I also sealed windshield on drivers side bottom, as well as side. Window weld is one of the better sealers. But black silicone will also work. Good luck.