97 Reg cab 1500 sport. I have a leak and I think it's behind dash. Passenger side floor just under dash, I pulled back the damp carpet and can see where there is evidence of water leaking down from somewhere. It's right where the floor/slanted part meets the side behind kick panel. There is a channel there right in that crease and the leak is further up behind dash. I thought it was could be a leak from around the windshield so I had that glass changed last week (had a huge stone chip right in front of driver). Tech said he saw nothing that indicated leak from around there and sealed new glass with care. It's been raining in North east and I still have the leak. It leaks when sitting so it's not like water is being forced in when driving. It's not a steady stream of water, it's just enough to make carpet wet to the touch. Any ideas? Is it easy to pull dash? Is there a how to? Please help!

 

Are you sure the water is coming from the outside, or is your heater core leaking? Check your antifreeze level. If you have any antifreeze smell when the heat is on, your heater core or hose to it could be leaking inside like you describe

 

I have to agree with Racinfan. Take a whiff of the wet area on the carpet. If it smells at all like anti-freeze, you probably have a heater core leak. Classic symptom. Also, does your front window tend to fog up a little? Not the kind of fog that the defroster will remove, but a haze that sticks there even when the truck is sitting? Also a classic symptom of a heater core.

My heater core hasn't gone yet, but I've already decided when it does, I'm just going to have the mechanic do it. I don't want to deal with pulling my dash out. I know the dashboards changed from 97 to my 98, but the basics should be the same. For that, dash removal is a pain either way. Wiring, vent ducts, etc., all get in the way and have to be moved or removed. I just don't feel like tearing my fingers up dealing with it.

 

No smell and no haze on windshield. Coolant level looks good. I removed the carpet all together and pinned back the rubber mat with the foam backing that hangs down from behind dash. I put a clean towel there stuffed into the crease where floor meets kick panel and after the last heavy rain storm, the towel was wet....not soaked but wet to the touch. Very frustrating....

 

Now its beginning to sound like a nightmare! Since your coolant level is ok, then it has to be coming in from either the windshield, or possibly a joint somewhere. Heck, could be anything or just about anywhere. I'm at a loss.................hmmmmmmmm.................... well, might as well start somewhere. If your windshield is ok, then I'd suggest pulling the plastic cowl off and taking a look in there. Maybe its going in the vent there, into the heater box, and leaking out that way. Other than that, I have no clue as to where to go now. Hopefully, someone else will sound off with an idea on this one.

 

If by chance you haven't solved it yet, see my long-winded reply to Bluefin on 5/19. This solved the same problem in my '97 1500.