A leaky top

[biglynny]

We have a 4dr with Freedom top. It drips 10-20 drops after sitting in the rain. Always from the center seam just above the radio. I don't really care - figuring its a Jeep - my wife says its too much money spent to have a leaky roof. It's like I've been thrust back to the mid 70's and my T-top is leaking. Anybody having these pesky little drips in your JK? I've tightend it all the way down and made sure the top's aligned properly. It's going to be a pain in the ass if I own this vehicle for 5 years, living in Seattle and the top leaks. Yikes!

[tolh13]

no leaks yet and i have had it for 3 weeks and seen rain,wind- rain and wind together and the top off and on may times even attack the panels with a hose and no leaks.my jk has a born on date of 10/06.
And as always your wife is right have jeep fix it.

[Phishjeep]

Better a leaky top than a leaky bottom, if you know what I mean.

[biglynny]

Phishjeep -
You da' Man! Oh the pearls of wisdom one can garner from this board are insightful. Yes a leaky bottom would cause an aura of concern.:eek!:

[BillX4]

Mine did the exact same thing when it was two days old, i took my freedom top off, put it back on and it stopped doing it, I think the dealer was having a little bit of "demo" time and put it back together wrong... anyway, I know it sounds simple but make sure the passenger side is put on first and that the little tiny seal is laying flat in the center of the roof toward the windshield, mine has little tiny hole in it where it allows the rain to run down the center of the top into the windshield channel and then it drains down the windshield channel... if its not draining it comes down right on the radio roof... if it all looks good, see jeep i guess:rolleyes:

[biglynny]

Thanks Bill - We'll give it a try later tonight:mad: ....when it stops raining.

[Jeep On]

Try resetting the drivers panel,
leave back screw loose and first close front clamp,
then side levers,
then tighten back screw post . Tighten them so they are "just snug"

Make sure when repositioning panel you lay it on to the gaskets vs. sliding it which may be the problem.

[Rubimon]

Better a leaky top than a leaky bottom, if you know what I mean.

I thought that is what the Essentials Fabric is for!:rotflmao:

[HappyCurmudgeon]

I thought that is what the Essentials Fabric is for!:rotflmao:

HaHA! :D




and Penicillin. :eek!:

[Bill]

Try resetting the drivers panel,
leave back screw loose and first close front clamp,
then side levers,
then tighten back screw post . Tighten them so they are "just snug"

Make sure when repositioning panel you lay it on to the gaskets vs. sliding it which may be the problem.

Good call. Mine leaked the first day and then I noticed that the screws had come loose which likely means I didn't have the panels seated correctly. It didn't leak at all after tightening them that day. After I took the entire hard top off to get the soft top out I followed the procedure you described and haven't had an issue. I even took it to a no touch car wash which blasted down on the roof and didn't leak a drop.

biglynny, if you're still leaking after trying this procedure out you should take it in, no reason it should do that. I think Jeep gets lucky sometimes cause a lot of people just say "it's a Jeep, what do you expect" rather than getting something corrected.

[biglynny]

Thanks Bill -of course you're right. If it kept leaking we'd take it in. Tonight we readjusted the top and no leaks. If you watched Monday Night Football you know it was raining hard here and we're dry.
Lynn

[JeepYak]

Better a leaky top than a leaky bottom, if you know what I mean.

That comment makes this one hard to read with a straight face...

biglynny, if you're still leaking after trying this procedure out you should take it in

:D

[motabus]

hey my 2 door rubi leaked 2 days after i got it. Same exact spot above the radio. i removed the top and put it back on like the guy posted above did and it also fixed the problem for me

[sahara07]

I just picked mine up last night, and I do have a slight leak above the
radio, center of windshield. I'll try resetting the tops as others have done.
It does need to go back anyway since some of my options were missing:
Locking gas cap
Spare tire cover

[BeerMonkey]

mine also leaks but im getting new front peices anyway as they were cracked from someone over tightining the screws, when the new ones get here ill see if they also leak

[OregonJK]

Mine has been at the dealer for the last 14 days with a VERY leaky top. My wife ran into a guy that has a red sahara. He has the same problem. Took the top off and gasketed it himself.

I figured for 30K, the dealer should be able to do this. Here in Salem,OR they seem to be leaking quite a bit. We get alot of rain.

Hoping to get mine back next week. I have had the loaner longer than the purchase.

[stockYJ]

I just had the dealer installl a hard top. We got a sprinkle today and sure enough, small puddle over the radio.

Followed Jeep On's advice on reseating the Driver Side tightened front to back.
Hit it with a direct blast from the hose (we don't get much rain down here) and NO MORE Leak.

[stockYJ]

I went out this morning an found several drops on the dash. @#$$%^!!!
None of the seals looked out of place last night.
I'll have to pull them both and try again. Maybe in the daylight this time.
Good thing I'm not in the northwest.

[joss097]

I have a problem of my top leaking too but on the sound bar. Maybe it's just because I fear a bit to overtighten the screw as it can bust the top. I see a little difference in height between the 2 section, can you tell me if yous is flat. I'm thinking of cutting about 1/4'' of the screw so I can tighten it harder. Can you tell me what you think about my idea so I will not make a mistake.

[Rubimon]

I have a problem of my top leaking too but on the sound bar. Maybe it's just because I fear a bit to overtighten the screw as it can bust the top. I see a little difference in height between the 2 section, can you tell me if yous is flat. I'm thinking of cutting about 1/4'' of the screw so I can tighten it harder. Can you tell me what you think about my idea so I will not make a mistake.

I am not sure if the cracked roof problem happens from the screws being too long or if it cracks from over tightening and pulling down on the attachment point so hard. Even if you cut them off, and you overtighten, you may still cause the damage. How far is overtight? I've seen roofs that were tight to the point of almost needing a pair of vise grips to loosen the knob. I think reasonably snug would be okay.

2nd warning: If you run the top panels without the back part (bikini top style) make sure you flip down the spacers on the panels. If you don't you will run the bolts right through the top. I read where someone else did that. Most people didn't know the spacers were there.

[FRDesign]

My Jeeps roof is leaky too. Right where the two front pieces meet at the front of the car.

[OregonJK]

2007 JK Unlimited Soft Top.

Well the beast has been at the dealer for 18 days now. New seals, liquid gasket, top adjustment, door adjustments, new door rubber, and today bolstering the door rubber. I was told today that they are water testing it and that they have made some positive progress.

I am really excited now. A bit irritated maybe. Starting to miss my 04 Unlimited, heck I am starting to miss my 83. Maybe not.

Good luck to all of you with leaky tops. Sounds like the hard tops fix a bit easier.


Ok. I received my phone call from the service manager. Still a scooner that don't float. Still working on it.

[kedelfor]

I have water building up in the rear of the JK where the storage compartment is. Any one else have this problem? I did have the back open for rain at one point and am wondering if it just all collected there and I didn't get it all the first time through. Its weird though. The little storage space gets water inside of it and everything in the storage area is wet. I lift the carpet and there was a puddle. I couldn't find any signs of leakage anywhere else in the Jeep so I was wondering if it just collected there and I am now just finding it.

Thanks,

K

[cmnah]

On a Hard Top - Anyone seen water drip from the two bolts that go up into the center bar of the Jeep into the rear front two sections of the hardtop?

I was driving the other day after a rain and had someone in the back seat and they saw a small drip from one of those.

I thought that it was just loose so I tightened it up. We've not had much rain sense so I've not been able to tell if it was just loose or what. I did remove those sections as well so they may have just been positioned wrong.

My jeep also is parked at a slight angle with the front up hill. Any thoughts on if that might contribute to a leak?

[FLJeep]

I have had my hard top JK for three weeks and it leaked the first time I washed it four days after I purchased it and then tonight it would leak really bad while braking I'm guessing water is collecting on the roof and coming forward when I brake. I have tried readjusting the tops, but that does not help. I guess I have a date with the service department after the Christmas.

[biglynny]

I have had my hard top JK for three weeks and it leaked the first time I washed it four days after I purchased it and then tonight it would leak really bad while braking I'm guessing water is collecting on the roof and coming forward when I brake. I have tried readjusting the tops, but that does not help. I guess I have a date with the service department after the Christmas.

Yep -that's what we saw too. I think I tried twice in following how the owners maual describes to put the tops back in and then our leak stopped. I also found if I parked on a incline -nose high- the top would leak when I came to the stop sign at the end of our block. It was a bugger.:thinking:

[jpzjk]

Is anyone having a leaking problem with the soft tops ?

[emtjeep]

I think no matter what top you have, they probably leak. I was hoping the JK wouldnt. My YJ leaks all over (soft top). I am waiting till next spring to buy in hopes of a fix by then.

[Rubidon]

I had my top off to remove the soft top, and no leaks. Then just the other day was waiting out side the store for my wife in the rain and turned one off the levers back and forth one time. After that it leaked for about an hour then nothing. I must have let a little in when the seel broke for that short moment.

[mwilkie]

My Sahara was leaking also at the same spot. I took off both tops and repostioned them three times before I got them to seal correctly. Before the drvers side was slightly off, about 1/8", when you look at it from the top. Now it completely lines up with the passenger side.

1. Do NOT slide the top over into place. Place it at an angle on the seal and then just lower it down. There is a small hole in the seal at the front that allows the water to drip into the channel. You have to be very careful that the hole does not get closed.

2. My bolts kept on coming lose before I got the tops to sit correctly. Now they stay snug and tight.

Just my 2 cents..... no leaks on my top!

Marc

[biglynny]

Mwilkie- I looked at those tops for an hour and never noticed the hole. Go figure- thanks

[FLJeep]

One other thing. Does everyone else have a waterfall in their Jeep everytime you open the door. It happens towards the front frame of the door and the water just pours in. My Wrangler sport did the same thing is there something I can do to stop this.

[tolh13]

One other thing. Does everyone else have a waterfall in their Jeep everytime you open the door. It happens towards the front frame of the door and the water just pours in. My Wrangler sport did the same thing is there something I can do to stop this.

park on a 20 deg angle nose up(it's a jeep thing)

[biglynny]

One other thing. Does everyone else have a waterfall in their Jeep everytime you open the door. It happens towards the front frame of the door and the water just pours in. My Wrangler sport did the same thing is there something I can do to stop this.

It's the one thing my wife complains about- it seems the water drips on her uniform skirt - she finds it annoying- I suppose my issue with it is it rains a lot here in Seattle and the water sits on the floor below the carpets which in time = rust.:thinking:

[BAArcher]

My 4 door Unlimited soft top leaked just a little (droplets would form on the front securing latches while driving).

I removed the top and inspected the seal and the plastic front lip of the soft top. The seal was fine but on the front lip of the soft top that rides in the seal (almost directly in the center of the lip), I noticed an area about three inches long and about 5/8 inches thick that was slightly raised and looked to be in an area where the seal would be interfeared with (looks to be the place where the plastic lip assembly was injection molded).

I took some 220 grit sand paper and blended it to match the rest ot the lip, wiped it down with some armor all and reseated the lip assembly. Last night, I drive in some pretty heavy rain and no leaks!

[fraynes1]

I had a leak at first not much after a heavy rain I noticed a drop of water in the middle front. Reseated the tops and haven't had any more seepage.

I do have a lot of wind noise though.......Is this normal or should there be none. When I hit approximately 60 km/h I get almost a whistling noise.

Not enough to drive me totally insane but I definitely know it's there.

[FLJeep]

It's the one thing my wife complains about- it seems the water drips on her uniform skirt - she finds it annoying- I suppose my issue with it is it rains a lot here in Seattle and the water sits on the floor below the carpets which in time = rust.

Not only the rust, but in my Wrangler Sport the inside started to smell like mildew.

[Piginajeep]

One other thing. Does everyone else have a waterfall in their Jeep everytime you open the door. It happens towards the front frame of the door and the water just pours in. My Wrangler sport did the same thing is there something I can do to stop this.


My YJ, TJ and now JK all do that... its very annoying..

[Rubidon]

One other thing. Does everyone else have a waterfall in their Jeep everytime you open the door. It happens towards the front frame of the door and the water just pours in. My Wrangler sport did the same thing is there something I can do to stop this.
Push you Jeep side to side a few times will get rid of most of the water.

[Spozzie]

Was hanging out on the 4wd forums and someone suggested this site..and I am glad I found it. I had/have the Freedom Top leak was thinking it was a Jeep thing and was gonna live with it, but I will give the top installation a careful re-try and see if it helps and look out for the drainage hole.

Cherers

[Piginajeep]

Was hanging out on the 4wd forums and someone suggested this site..and I am glad I found it. I had/have the Freedom Top leak was thinking it was a Jeep thing and was gonna live with it, but I will give the top installation a careful re-try and see if it helps and look out for the drainage hole.

Cherers

i think that was me!!

welcome to the site:yup:

[Spozzie]

i think that was me!!

welcome to the site:yup:


Well Cheers... and glad you posted on 4wd.

[mwilkie]

Well, after all my great suggestions...my top was still leaking. We had a down pour on Tuesday and I had a steady drip. So, yesterday I took out the garden hose and pinpointed where the leak was coming from. It was dripping from the grove running front to back between the two tops, slowly seaping in and then just dripping away. When I would put the brakes on the water would run forward adn the drip would increase a lot. Again, I took the drivers side top off trying to figure out what is the deal. Well after carefully looking, I have finally come to the conclusion that...... rough, bumpy fiberglass does not seal very well against a rubber seal. So I went down to the local part store and picked up a roll of 3M tape that is made for sealing of pick up beds to camper tops. It is about 1" wide, less than an 1/8" thick and has a sticky side. I placed two pieces on the drivers side top only, one running front to back, and another along the front edge. Now when the top is put in place, you have a rubber to rubber seal. I closed up the top per the manual. The lever was slightly tigher that without it, but not so much that I thought it would be a problem. So far......?????? well I took the hose to the top after I was finished, for about 15 minutes and not a drop. Today I washed the JK and again not even a damp seal..... I will let you know if it holds. Now you may be asking "all that seal, does it make the top ride higher?" Well no, not as far as I can tell. My tops still sit level and if there is anymore noise than usual, I can't hear it. I'll take wind noise anyday over a wet radio!

Marc
Black Sahara 2dr

[Colonel Angus]

Good post Marc.

[NMJK07]

After reading this thread I was able to fix my leak. With all the snow we have received the water was freezing in between the rubber. The tops where never installed correct.

[MJS_Jeep_888]

One other thing. Does everyone else have a waterfall in their Jeep everytime you open the door. It happens towards the front frame of the door and the water just pours in. My Wrangler sport did the same thing is there something I can do to stop this.

I posted this on the CT thread, in response to a question about how I was enjoying my Jeep so far... wrote this before I found this specific post (above) but figured I'd share with everyone:

<snip>...

Side note: It's pouring rain like nobody's business this morning, and I'm working from home today... so I think I'll throw on my boots and run out to check on my Freedom Top in a bit - if there was ever a perfect opportunity for it to leak, it'd be today!

Edit: Update on the torrential downpour and its effect on the Freedom Top: Mixed results. :rotflmao1:

I laced up the boots and went outside for an inspection of the Freedom Top, as per above... Mixed results: It DIDN'T leak... until I opened the door, that is! Then, I experienced the "pant-leg waterfall" ;) that other posters on the forum have written about; with the door open in heavy rain, the water is fed right along the windshield channel and down from the side of that channel, right onto the door sill and into the footwell area... and there's NO way to enter the vehicle without crossing underneath that steady stream of water!

So, in summary, it was FINE until I decided to go look at it, and then it leaked while the door was open. So, I'M wet, but after I wiped out some of the water, my Jeep's fine. Once I was inside the cabin and shut the door, the seal was restored, and the leak stopped almost immediately. I was getting poured on, so didn't spend too much time outside, but did try to push on the channel from the side, hoping that I could cause it to "lip" upwards and retain the water a little better: no dice. :naw:

Guess this'll just be one of those "Jeep things" that I'll grow to love, or, uh, tolerate. :D The next time I'm at the dealership, I'll see if they have heard any similar stories, and see if they have a fix for it from DCX. On a scale of 1 to 10, this issue is a 0.5... only happens for the brief seconds that the door is open, and your pants will absorb most of the water if you're quick getting in. :rotflmao1: Maybe this is an effort by DCX to force us to exercise?

[MC22958]

My top didn't leak until I removed the hard top to take out the soft top. I took of the drivers panel, let it stay in the sun for a while, re-installed the top and wola it hasn't leaked since. From the front that is....

I have a leak from the rear window area. It leaks down onto my storage matt. any idea's????????

[Packman]

:2thumbs: My top leaked all around the rear window too. It was hard to see out of due to all the water streaks on the inside. My dealership replaced all the gaskets and hosed it for almost 5 minutes and no more leaks. YAY!!

[emtjeep]

My 2dr Sahara leaks a little at the front drivers side pillar. Taking it in on Monday after work but will be taking out the soft top first. Hopefully after taking the top all the way off, it wont leak any more.

[deadspot]

My X hasn't leaked (yet) but I found this thread most interesting of all the treads because I think it was the first time a lot of people suggested removing the tops to try and re-seat them. I guess who knows who may have taken them off and tried to put them back on without much thought. Jeeps on the lot could have been fooled with by someone test driving the vehicle.

I did take the two panels off twice now (on one nice day and to remove the soft top) and it sure seems like you have to be careful about how you place them back on. When I first placed the panels on the roof it was clear I didn't seat it correctly and I can see how easily it could be misaligned. It almost seems like the design screams leakage and I do hope the seal material has longevity.

I also worried when I saw the ice freezing between the seals. Seems there is a chance to have water forced in during freezing/thawing. When it snowed here recently I paid attention to removing the snow off the roof asap and (like others mention) parked the jeep so the incline was from front to back (I have barely an incline in the parking area).