Pre-cut holes in roof...should I worry about rust?

[benjamin247]

Found these holes on the top of my roof next to the rack rails. Should I close them up so water/dust doesn't go into it? I'm worried about the water going into them and rusting out the insides. I leave my car parked outside most of the year.

 

[cashmoney]

Looks like where the end caps should be. And yes you should plug them.

 

[UnderFire]

Those go straight into the headliner, get em plugged ASAP.

 

[baja1]

I've just removed my rack and bondo up the holes and going to platic-dip the roof. on my other 4runner the rack was really a magnet for rust here on the beach. its true,rust never sleeps :sobbing:

 

[habanero]

The hole in the top pic already appears to be plugged. It's a vase-like plastic doo-dad that fits into the hole, about an inch deep. Cashmoney is correct about the end caps....you can even see the tab still under the torx bolt where the end caps have been broken off. Might get lucky at a junkyard and find both the end caps and the 'vases'- vases being held in with silicone, probably little catches too, iirc, or just plug up your own way.

It's a nice place to run electric from the roof, just cut off the end of the vase, drill hole in end cap, silicone, tada!

 

[benjamin247]

thanks guys! know of a good place to buy these end caps?

 

[habanero]

Pick n pull type place if you have access. Don't forget to take a torx bit or driver to get them off unscrew bolt, slide tab out of rail..

 

[MStudt]

Here are the part numbers for the plastic caps.
End cap, right front: 00278-35968
End cap, left front: 0078-35967

 

[7echo]

Like habanero suggested, a pick and pull junkyard would be where I would try first. If I put those parts on the counter the guy wouldn't charge me. They rarely charge for little things like that at the 2 yards here.