vent window leaking?

[SonicCougar99]

Hey there, I have an 89 XJ with the vent windows, and whenever any water is sprayed directly on them, the water pours in from around them and down into the door. I have all power accessories, and am not big on the idea of water going onto electronics. I like being able to open the vent windows, so I don't want to permanently seal them, but is there anything I can do that will hold a better seal around them when closed? Whenever I'm on the highway and they're closed, I can hear the air leak, it's very loud. If there was some sort of rubber seal I can put on the front edge of it, I think that would stop it. Anyone have any ideas? I don't like washing my Jeep because of the water leaking in, but I don't want the dirt and stuff becoming a permanent fixture to the paint of my XJ.

 

[Mesh]

I changed mine out for the non vent type no more leaks. Another option new seals from team cherokee for $140 http://www.teamcherokee.com/Weatherstrip/index.html and a quick fix that may work put some loose change under the latch for a tighter seal.

 

[kujito]

Same issue here. The radio gets turned up so loud on the highway, that it blasts me out when I come to a stop. Phone calls are a joke while driving. Not willing to pony up for new seals, so I put a penny between the window frame and the latch. It works quite well, but I have since graduated from a penny to a nickel.

I have thought about running a small bead of silicone along the seal where it meets the window. Thought about running the bead along the glass instead also. Might be easier to undo if it doesn't work. Not sure how well the silicone would bond to the rubber seal either? :dunno: Seems to me like it should work, just haven't gotten around to trying.

 

[ehall]

Is the leak between the glass and the weatherstrip? Make sure the top and bottom hinges are good and not warbled out--if those are worn then replace the vent assembly with a junkyard unit. If the seal is weak due to worn out thumb latch, go to the dealer and buy another latch assembly. You can set the latch however tight you want when you install it.

If the leaks are between the weatherstrip and the door metal, remove the vent, clean both surfaces with the rubbing alcohol (or something that won't damage the rubber), apply some silicon dielectric grease to the rubber and reinstall.

 

[Joshooha]

If you don't want to replace the seal, I would recommend getting like and 1/8 or 1/16'' thick piece of rubber and silicone it all the way around the outside of the old seal. It will be a little bit harder to close the window, but it will have a tighter seal.

 

[SonicCougar99]

Its leaking between the glass and the weatherstripping. Is there some sort of thin rubber piece I can put on the leading edge of the window? That is where it is leaking from.

 

[shanesaw]

A cheap fix is to cut to size some old bicycle inner-tube and contact cement it to all glass contact points. Takes some time and patience, but is dirt cheap, blends well, and makes a difference.

 

[Matthew Currie]

I've been fighting those windows for years, and here are a few suggestions:

First of all, if the latch is loose, it will never close tightly. You can gently drive out the roll pin in the inner handle, and you'll find that the post is hollow, with a phillips screw inside. You can then tighten the post. Make sure that when you put it back together, you put the curly washer under the handle.

Second, you can make a slight adjustment to the window fit by loosening the screw in the top hinge, and moving the top of the glass around.

Make sure that the window gasket is not creased or folded anywhere. If it is, manually push it back into shape as you close the window. Eventually it will resume its proper shape.

For reasons I'm not sure I understand (this suggestion came years ago from someone else on the forum, by the way), if you lubricate the seal where it meets the glass with a light coating of silicone grease (don't use petroleum based grease), it will stop some leaks. (edit to add, I see ehall beat me to that one)