I just bought a 4 cyl. reg cab 2005 Ranger last week. The truck is really in excellent condition and runs great. However, after a hard rain last week I discovered about a quarter inch of water standing on the passenger side floor. Fortunately I have the vinyl floor covering, so no damage was done. After drying up the water, I had my wife spray water all around the passenger side window and door and the the left portion of the windshield but nary a sign of any water leak on the inside.
The next morning was clear and sunny and I drove the truck for about sixty miles. When I got back home I discovered a small rivulet of water running out from under the left side plastic kick panel where the fuse box is located. The water in both cases is clear and has no smell, so I'm sure it's not a coolant leak. I am really at a loss as to the origin of this leak as the water is leaking onto the passenger floor, even though it isn't raining. Also I was not running the a/c or the heater on the short trip when I again noticed the leak coming out at the kick pane. Does anyone have any idea where this leak could be originating. Thanks.

 

Bump! My 2004 does this too. Not to that extent but my floor is damp.

 

Maybe one of the rubber boots which goes through the firewall is leaking? I know there is one on the drivers side, not sure if there is one on the passenger side.

 

Your symptoms do pose a bit of a mystery but my money would be on the water being condensate from a plugged evaporator pan drain. Since the water is definitely not coolant it can't be from the heater core so it has to be either rain or condensate. Kick panel is easy to remove so you should look there and a radiator shop could troubleshoot the heating/cooling system pretty cheaply before tearing the dash apart to get into the heater box.

 

Here is a good write up on the problem and appears this is what you are experiencing..Hope this helps and good luck!

Wet floor, sloshing sound, no drainage from the wiper cowl --> fix - Ford Ranger Forum

 

Could be the Cowl drain area, but the referenced photos show the drivers side, and my leak is on the passenger side. I suppose the cowl drain area is similar on the passenger side fender area, so that could be the source of the leak. I still can't understand how the water is getting into the cab area even if the cowl drain area is blocked.
I drove the truck yesterday and didn't see any new leak. so I think the small leaks that occurred on the dry days was just from residual water left over from the heavy rain. We had a light rain today, but I did not see any leaks on the passenger side floor.

 

The article states that is has the same style area on both sides.It could be as simple as sealing your windsheild.Small light rains allow water to seep out, heavy rains causes the drain to over fill the cowl drains.Not knowing the past history of your truck(assuming your not the original owner)good chance leaves and twigs have stopped it up.This is just my advice, hopefully somebody else will have a different opinion..

 

Thanks for your input. It seems likely that the leak is coming from the cowl/windshield area. I will do some water testing tomorrow in the cowl/windshield area to see if I can discover the exact source of the leak.

 

No problem,the way I see it you might have to rule out everything to get to the problem.Could also be a simple door seal.I found the bottom of my doors have drains that were plugged up, that I cleaned and Por 15 painted the bottom of my doors now water pours out the bottom after hard rains or automatic car wash..Anything that doesn't drain properly will cause major rust issues. Keep us posted, as it helps everyone on forums.

 

Had the same problem on my 01 Ranger. Tried everything. Windshield got a huge rock chip which cracked all the way across the window. New windshield installed, leak went away.

 

I've also read the bottom of the backglass has caused the front floor to be soaked too.

 

I took out the sill plate on the passenger side and the plastic panel covering the fuse box and pulled back the vinyl carpet and found the jute pad soaked with water. Water was also standing on the floor pan. I cleared out all the water and left the floor pad pulled back. The next day we had a light rain for about 4 hours, so a couple of hours after the rain stopped I checked the floor pan and could see no new water. Then a couple more hours later I drove the truck for a few miles and then checked the bare floor pan and found about a half cup of water, just on the inside edge of where the sill plate was removed. There was no evidence of water leaks anywhere near the fire wall, so I am now positive the leak is not coming from that area. It seems the water leak only occurs when I drive the truck after it rains, but the roads that I drive on are mostly dry and I'm not driving through any mud puddles. Any ideas?

 

I had an Escape that when it rained it filled up the door like Bob's and would not drain right. Also could be the third brake light, Water runs down the back and puddles in the front.

 

Mine didn't leak,just trying to help the guy out.They claimed that when the cowl gutter gets leaves in it, it runs right where he is describing.

 

After pulling the vinyl floor cover back, it looks like I was wrong about the leak coming from the cowl area. I saw no evidence of a leak in that area. I think what was happening was water was leaking in from somewhere and running under the flooring and when the water level under the vinyl got to a certain level it was seeping out around the area under the fuse panel.
I'm sure the passenger door is not the problem, I checked the holes in the bottom of the door and there are clear and no sign of moisture.
I am now wondering if the leak is in fact originating at the third brake light.
My question is how would the water leak from the brake light area get to the floor, Is there a channel for the wiring that runs around the window frame??

 

I read where a member sells replacement third brake light seals that ends leaking.If I can run down his post will post a link.Try it as it is just 2 screws and you might cure it.Here is the seal he sells.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-2011-Fo...69496f&vxp=mtr

 

I removed the passenger side seat and the jack tools behind the seat. When I rolled the vinyl floor cover back the area of the leak became obvious. See pictures. Now I have to find if the origin of the leak is the third light gasket or the rear window molding, or both. Thanks Bob for pointing me in the right direction.

 

No problem,glad to be of help.It could be either location, just use a garden hose.

 

Literally just had the same issue.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/ranger...angers-145248/

 

I posted the link earlier,but glad you can recommend it to the thread starter.Great thread for other members.

 

Thanks all, just ordered the new seal from Ebay.

 

Keep us posted!

 

Well, I received the gasket that I ordered from Ebay today and installed it. When I removed the brake light housing I could see where it had been leaking.
See photos.

We are supposed to get some rain for the next 2 days, so hopefully I will find out that the leak is fixed.

 

Throw the hose to it! Hope that solves your problem.

 

We had a pretty good downpour today - when the rain stopped, I checked inside the cab and dang- still leaking. I pulled the third light and it was bone dry inside, so it looks like I no doubt have a leaking window seal. Rats!!!