what to do about leaky roof trim strip holes?

[tougeagle]

My headliner continues to sag worse and worse, and every time it rains hard it's soaked. I discovered today when I pulled back a section in the cargo area where it was the worst, that I could see daylight through the holes in the roof where the trim strip clips go. I want to go ahead and pull the strips, and plug the holes completely, and cheaply. Autozone didn't have any christmas tree clips that worked, and I don't want this to look ghetto, but I'm tired of my cargo area taking on water... any cheap suggestions that DO NOT involve altering my paint?

[83Eagle!]

I sent some clips to Duane2171 not long ago that worked well.  They were from Napa.  He couldn't get them in Canada.  They were a part that Autumnglenn found.  Let me see if I can find the info.

[tougeagle]

I sent some clips to Duane2171 not long ago that worked well.  They were from Napa.  He couldn't get them in Canada.  They were a part that Mojobean found.  Let me see if I can find the info.

And they will provide a water-tight seal?

[83Eagle!]

Here's the part number.  In this quote from Autumnglen

I just re-installed two roof strips on my daughter's wagon. I used NAPA retainers #665-1436. The holes in the roof were 3/16 of an inch and these retainer pushed right in without having to make the holes bigger. The heads are round, unlike the originals, but they slid into the strips with just minimal filing on two sides, about 7/16.

[83Eagle!]

Yes they will create a tight seal. 

IIRC these ones from Napa that Autumnglen talks about are the ones my body guy used on my roof.  They worked well.  We did decide to use some sealant on the inside portion of the roof.  Duane used them and messaged me that they worked great. 

I am sure he'd answer any questions you might have on how they worked for him.  I used the clips, but my body guy installed them.  That was back in 07 (IIRC) and I have no leaks yet.

[83Eagle!]

My body guy installed the clips after he repainted the roof.  I do not see any damage to my paint.

[tougeagle]

Thanks so much! Have an egg ...

Also... My front passenger floorboard is soaked. As in, water pooled in carpet soaked, and I haven't been able to find any interior leaks other than the roof, from where it could be coming from. It's like this most when I'm driving. The door seems to seal fine, but I can't locate the origin of the leak. No rust through, no major holes in firewall (well there is one I need to seal up but the carpet wasn't wet underneath it so that wasn't it).. any common place it could seep past?

[83Eagle!]

Are there any water spots in the headliner?  for water in the floorboards I  would be more likely to suspect a bad door seal or the bottom seal on the windshield.  My Eagle had the windshield issue (it filled up the glove box and floor board) and I remember my old Bronco II had the door seal issue.  But the door seal would be pretty prominent.  And as you say they seem to close tightly.  My Bronco II door seals were pretty hacked up on the bottom.

[JayRamb]

I used 3M weatherseal (black) and filled around the white clips.

[83Eagle!]

I used 3M weatherseal (black) and filled around the white clips.

Yeah that is what was used on the clips on my Eagle.  We put it on rather liberally.

[tougeagle]

Are there any water spots in the headliner?  for water in the floorboards I  would be more likely to suspect a bad door seal or the bottom seal on the windshield.  My Eagle had the windshield issue (it filled up the glove box and floor board) and I remember my old Bronco II had the door seal issue.  But the door seal would be pretty prominent.  And as you say they seem to close tightly.  My Bronco II door seals were pretty hacked up on the bottom.

I may have to double check the way the door closes.... The seals are not ripped up but if the doors aren't adjusted on the hinges right they won't seal at all because they're very compacted..

[thereverendbill]

if your never going back to the cargo rack strips I'd go with some of that "putty Steel" stuff, I've had good luck with that stuff 

[shanebo]

Ya know its funny, Ginger just decided to start leaking too. Im gonna remove those roof strips and clips fill the holes with some body puddy then reattach the strips with 2 sided tape.

[83Eagle!]

Ya know its funny, Ginger just decided to start leaking too. Im gonna remove those roof strips and clips fill the holes with some body puddy then reattach the strips with 2 sided tape.

That should work well.  You'll have to grind off the tabs on the trim pieces inorder for that double sided tape to work.  I found that 3M double sided tape works really well.

[philotomy]

mine had the same issues,I remedied it on a warm dry day and a few dabs of silicone on top of the mount bolts and underneath( I have the headliner delete option though).