Water Leak/Front and Rear Carpet Wet, Mildew Odor When A/C is Turned On or Blower Motor Inoperative (Reseal Body Seams)

This bulletin is being revised to add the 2009 model year. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 07-08-57-001B (Section 08 -- Body and Accessories).

Some customers may comment on the following concerns:

These conditions may be caused by the following:

Important: You must follow every detailed instruction or misdiagnosis may occur.

Water may be entering the vehicle in a number of areas. Technicians must complete the test in the sequence below.

1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the sill plate and the kick pad trim.
3. Pull the carpet and the barrier pad up and remove the rubber baffle plugs from both sides of the vehicle.



4. Water test the wire harness pass thrus on both front doors. Allow water to flow 60 seconds per side.



5. Install two trim sticks between the glass and the belt molding as seen in the illustration above. Apply water to the door for 30 seconds and inspect for water coming out between the door trim and deflector. If necessary, remove the door trims and inspect the water deflectors at all four doors for leaks. Refer to Front and Rear Side Door Trim Panel Replacement in SI.
6. After testing all four doors water/dust deflectors, inspect the front floor pan for water from step 4.





7. Tape the hose onto the windshield allowing water to flow over the entire hood hinge area for 8 minutes as seen in the illustration above. If water is noted in the baffle area , DO NOT STOP. The body sealer area below the base of the A pillar may also be leaking.



8. Run water onto the trailing edge of the front fender for a minimum of two minutes. Inspect for water in the baffle area again.
9. Run water onto the body seam at the rear of the strut tower for a minimum of two minutes and inspect for water in the baffle area.



10. Run water into the fender / hinge pillar alignment hole for two minutes. Inspect for water in the baffle area again.
11. Place the barrier pad back to its original position.
12. Lift the module plate barrier pad up.



13. Direct water onto the module plate as seen in the illustration above.
14. Inspect the module plate for leaks at the guide pin or the plate to the sheet metal.
15. Direct the water behind the engine insulator pad on the right side of the engine compartment, directly above the rear window washer hose. Water may be entering in this area.
16. Direct water under the cowl screen. Remove the cabin air filter and inspect for water coming in.

Carpet wet in the front or the rear.

The water deflector adhesive may not be sealed to the door and the drain hole may be covered over with adhesive.

Use two plastic trim sticks and install the sticks between the belt molding and the glass as seen in the illustration above. With the door open, apply water to the glass. Water should only come out of the drains. If water is seen coming from behind the door trim, replace the water deflector. Refer to Front Or Rear Side Door Water Deflector Replacement in SI.

Carpet wet in the front.

Water may be entering the mirror.

Remove the outside rear view mirror and seal the retention clip. Refer to Outside Rearview Mirror Replacement.

Carpet wet in the front.

Water may be entering the hinge baffle area and draining into the vehicle interior, water leak cowl area from the rear wiper washer hose grommet, door to hinge pillar wire harness pass thru, module plate or body seams.

Remove the hinge baffle (kidney plug). With a heat gun, heat the foam and compress it or cut a channel in the foam to allow water to drain through the rocker. Take a small cup of water and pour it into the baffle area on the right and left sides and observe the water draining out of the lower rockers. If water is coming from under the barrier pad or module plate pad, the complete IP and HVAC will have to be removed to make the repairs.

1. Recover the A/C refrigerant and drain the coolant.
2. Remove the console. Refer To Front Floor Console Extension Replacement Center.
3. Remove the instrument panel center support bracket. Refer to Instrument Center Support Bracket Replacement.
4. Remove the air bag. Refer to Inflatable Restraint Instrument Panel Module Replacement.
5. Remove the instrument panel center compartment. Refer to Instrument Panel Center Compartment Replacement.
6. Remove the instrument cluster. Refer to Instrument Cluster Replacement.
7. Remove the upper trim pad. Refer to Instrument Panel Upper trim Pad Replacement.
8. Remove the radio and HVAC controller.
9. Remove the steering column. Refer to Steering Column Replacement.
10. Remove the lower instrument panel (IP).
11. Without disconnecting the brake pipes from the master cylinder, reposition the master cylinder assembly to allow for the removal of the vacuum brake booster.
12. Remove the four nuts and the booster.
13. Remove the pushrod retaining clip. Loosen the brake booster mounting nuts to aid in releasing the pushrod from the brake pedal.
14. If equipped with a manual transmission, remove the clutch pedal retainer from the front of the clutch pedal assembly. Pull the clutch upward in order to disengage the clutch master cylinder pushrod from the clutch pedal.
15. Rotate the clutch master cylinder one 1/4 of a turn clockwise and remove the cylinder.
16. Remove the A/C lines from the evaporator and the heater hoses from the heater core.
17. Disconnect the accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor electrical connector. Remove the three nuts and APP sensor from the vehicle.
18. Remove the bolts from the module plate and the six bolts from the tie bar. Remove the module plate, tie bar and the A/C module as a one assembly.
19. Remove the barrier pad.



20. Remove the door wiring harness pass thru. Apply a bead of weatherstrip adhesive around the end of the pass thru as seen in the illustration above and reinstall.



21. Remove the wire harness retainer as seen in the illustration above and apply Kent High-Tech seam sealer to the retainer and reinstall.



22. Remove the rear washer hose grommet and apply sealant to the grommet and reinstall.



23. If resealing the old module plate, apply Kent Seam Sealer to the back side of the plate and to the guide pin head and studs.
24. If installing a new module plate, apply Kent Seam Sealer to the guide pin head and the studs on the new module plate.
25. Install the module plate and tape up the pass-thru holes in the plate.
26. Retest for water leaks.
27. Install the module plate barrier pad and barrier pad.
28. Install the A/C module and tie bar and tighten the bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).

29. Install the accelerator pedal assembly and the electrical connector. Install the nuts and tighten.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).

30. Install the A/C lines to the evaporator and the heater hoses to the heater core.
31. Apply a bead of RTV around the master cylinder gasket and install the master cylinder. Tighten the bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 22 N·m (16 lb ft).

32. Install the buster rod to the brake pedal and install the retainer.
33. If equipped with a manual transmission, install the clutch master cylinder. Apply a bead of RTV around the gasket of the cylinder. Install the cylinder to the module plate and turn the cylinder one 1/4 of a turn counterclockwise to lock it in place.
34. Install the lower instrument panel (IP).
35. Install the steering column. Refer to Steering Column Replacement in SI.
36. Install the radio and HVAC controller.
37. Install the upper trim pad. Refer to Instrument Panel Upper Trim Panel Replacement.
38. Install the instrument cluster. Refer to Instrument Cluster Replacement.
39. Install the instrument panel center compartment. Refer to Instrument Panel Center Compartment Replacement.
40. Install the air bag. Refer to Inflatable Restraint Instrument Panel Module Replacement.
41. Install the instrument panel center support bracket. Refer To Instrument Center Support Bracket Replacement.
42. Install the console. Refer to Front Floor Console Extension Replacement Center.
43. Recharge the A/C refrigerant and refill the coolant.
44. Apply Instant Gel Adhesive or an equivalent adhesive to the rubber baffle plug (kidney shape) and install.

Water leaking on the front passenger side floor of the vehicle or that the blower motor is inoperative.

This condition may be caused by a lifting butyl patch at the cowl air inlet.

Replace the cowl air inlet butyl patch.

1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the left and right wiper arms. Refer to SI if necessary.
3. Remove the four 7 mm screws and the two push-in retainers from each side of the grille panel.
4. Remove the five wire harness retainers from the grille panel.
5. Lift the panel up and place it on the engine.
6. Remove the butyl patch and clean the area with a 3M™ General Purpose Cleaner, or equivalent.
7. Install the sealing patch to the cowl opening and apply pressure to the outer edge of the patch.
8. Install the air inlet grille panel and tuck the weatherstrip into the side weatherstrip that runs down the fenders.
9. Install the four 7 mm screws and the two push-in retainers to each side of the grille panel.

Tighten
Tighten the four 7 mm bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).

10. Install the left and right wiper arms. Refer to SI if necessary.
11. Close the hood.

Important : If a customer comments about an odor or a smell in the vehicle, contact Technical Assistance.

Purchase High-Tech seam sealer P10075 from Kent-Automotive.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use: