I am looking to purchase an 05 roadster but the pictures I’ve seen seemed to show some discoloration on the passengers side carpet....that and the fact that the car only has mis 50s mileage and the mats are gone has me a little concerned about a potential cowl leak....or maybe a clogged Ac drain...anyone have any insight into this situation?

 

Quite common problem. Leaves get under the wiper cowl and block the drains (3), water then overflows into the fan opening and from there to the passenger floorboard.
Solution : remove cowl and clear debris and drains, dry passenger floorboard and possibly replace amplifier and TCU.

 

I had water standing in my floorboard on both sides and searched for years unsuccessfully to find it. Then I got the bright idea to take the trim pieces off of the windshield. When I started running a garden hose over the windshield without the trim pieces on I immediately saw what the problem was. There are two rubber cups that go one on each side of the windshield at the top to allow a little lug that's on the bottom of the top center windshield trim to fit into slots on each one of the two side pieces of windshield trim to hold them in place. After a few years these little rubber plugs begin to leak around the edges and sometimes they even slip down inside the metal of the roof the windshield surround. I placed these two little rubber plugs or boots in some marvel mystery oil for a few minutes and marvel mystery oil revitalizes rubber so they started to swell up just a little bit immediately. I'll let them soaking it for about 20 minutes then I pull them out clean them off and use a little bit of form a gasket to put under them as I set them back down into the holes in the roof where they came from I waited for several hours until the sealant dried then I ran the water over them again no leak I mean you can see the water leaking in before there was no leak I put the windshield trim pieces back on and I'm not had any more problems with water in the floorboard I believe this is 90 or 99% of the problem that everybody's having with the crossfire. Those two little rubber plugs are the culprit. Remember suck them in marvel mystery offer just a little bit clean them off good put the sealant on and put the plug in over the sealant around the edges and let it dry. Then put your windshield trim pieces back on and you shouldn't have any more leak problems.

 

Maybe that was your case but saying it is 90 to 99% of the cause is wrong.
The main cause is leakage due to a plugged drain on the passenger side under the cowl. This allows the water to enter the car through the air intake for the Heating and cooling.
Had you searched through the forum it would have saved you a lot of trouble and time.

 

I stand corrected. You assumed I didn't read through the forums. I did search through the forums and I tried most other ideas people suggested about the leaks as well as what to do when your key fob is screwed up and won't work. I visited the drain fix and tried that. With no luck. Tried all the ideas about getting the key fob to work too with no luck. Kept wondering how water was getting inside standing in the floorboard and became more and more frustrated. On top of that the car was disabled for almost 2 years while waiting on a key fob that Mercedes couldn't find time to reproduce, though I paid the money to have them do it. Finally got a key fob back from Remotes and Keys after they found someone in the United States to flash the skreem and make the key from the VIN. 2 years the car sat and I couldn't even move it and I was wondering where the water came in, I checked everything I could check and then it occurred to me after I got the car running to take those windshield trim pieces off and that's when I found from my problem. But I will fall back from my 90 to 99% and say I spoke too soon, and I will say that as with most everything there's not just one answer there are several answers and there's several different things that can go wrong.. But if everything else plays out, it doesn't hurt to check this because mine is not the only car that has this problem. I know of 3 people with leaking crossfires, and that was their problem too

 

GOOD find if the cowl drain issue is not the cause. I've not seen this problem before and it quite possibly may be a future recurring issue within the forum membership that must be looked into if the drains are clear.


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I would love to see pictures of the plugs you are referring to.

 

A

 

Passenger side in corner above windshield.

Driver:s side.

 

I said it was not the main cause and your problem was nowhere near that percentage, sorry to offend you but this is the firs time I have seen your issue.

 

ala_xfire what do you mean by "TCU" in "dry passenger floorboard and possibly replace amplifier and TCU"? With the last storms we had in South FL, the car has sat for two or more weeks while I was out of state and on return I noticed just yesterday when took the car for a spin that I heard slushing water sounds and on checking when I returned home the passenger side carpet was soaked filled. Just use wet-vac to get what water had settled in the carpet on the passenger side. Have damp rid sitting on the floor as well as a portable dehumidifier running. I assume when I remove the panel where you can access the blower motor the rest of the water it what I heard slushing, correct? So I'll most likely have to replace the blower motor and resistor. Thanks for the forum help as always.

 

George died in 2021.

If you have wet carpet, you should be pulling up the carpet and looking at the TCU (Transmission control module) as well as the audio amplifier for water damage. They are under the 'pan' or shield that is under the carpet. Yank the carpet down from the area under the dash and you will see.

I'd prepare for replacing the TCU, Audio Amp, BLower motor and blower motor resistor, either now, or when they fail. The real threat is failure of the TCU, that can mean walking home. The other items are not all that critical.

FINAL THOUGHT: A car with a manual transmission has no TCU and a Base or SE model has no audio amp, only Limiteds and SRTs have the amp.

 

pizzaguy, oh wow, so sorry to hear about George (ala_xfire) I extend my condolences. Thanks for the information posted on what to look for, thought I had a claw tool for the wet vac but misplaced it, will get a replacement tomorrow, ordered the resistor and motor already, thinking about oem amp but also looking for aftermarket since I no longer have the oem hu, I have just looked at a used TCU and will get one soon. I will also look into a car cover since it is stored outside and as of late don't drive it much.

 

I seem to see different part numbers for the transmission control module on ebay:
A0335451132, A0335451232 and A0335451332 (this seems to be the latest per Chrysler (68030996AB) that fits 2004-2008 Chrysler Crossfire - 68030996ab) would any of these work?

 

Forget part numbers and forget eBay. You want the TCU from the same year range and model variant as your car:

2004-2006 or 2007-2008
Limited or SRT

Get one from a 'parts car' not off eBay.

ALSO: If the module is damaged, the harness is corroded as well. I would get in there and determine if there is water damage or not. If you were lucky, the water never got to the TCU or it's connector. If it did, you need the last few feet of the wiring harness as well, you CAN NOT clean the corrosion from inside the connector pins.

If yours is damaged, we can find a parts car. Zach in SC and Cliff/Eric in Ohio both have parts and access to parts cars.

 

Thanks for the advice, but weather has not been my friend in South FL, these past couple of days and it has rained just about everyday (nights) since it is parked outside I am getting despondent and frustrated that I know what needs to happen but just need some cooperation from mother nature. I have a car cover on order that at least would alleviate the rain from entering the car. Well so much for my rant...

 

Well, after a couple of days of sunshine no rain, the carpet is finally drying out, got the windows open and a fan running on the carpet. Was able to look at the amp and transmission module, see pics attached.

transmission control module

amp

 

Whole lotta watta.

 

i've seen this happen due to a poor seal job when replacing a windshield, killed electrical components in the car multiple times before being identified.

 

Humm, the windshield was never replaced. So based on the pics should I replace the amp and transmission control module? On the seal job you mentioned NeedsWings what did you do?