Rear hatch window leaking

[DRC]

I have a 2008 limited and recently I have noticed after it rains water is filling the grove in the rubber weather strip on the inside of the cargo area. So when I open the hatch the bottom edge of the hatch and the weather strip on the inside are all wet. And yes the window is fully closed.

After careful investigation what appears to be happening is that water that enters around the rear window, which should normally drip into the body cavity of the rear hatch and exit through the bottom drain holes, is somehow getting through to the inside of the car. When I lift the hatch and bring it to eye level I can see water behind the plastic trim panel and pushing on the bottom edge of the panel cause water to squeeze out.

The best I can tell without removing the trim panel is that there is plastic behind the panel so I am not sure how water could get through. Could it be something else leaking?

Has anyone else had a similar issue and is this common with the 4runners? (we have a Sienna that leaks once and a while from the side door and the dealer has never really been able to fix it)

It

 

[Kmvreter]

First I've seen anyone complain of this specific leak on the forum. You should have a positve seal around the window when it is closed.
Don't see too many leak issues raised at all for that matter.
Good luck at the stealer. Keep us in the loop for future reference.

 

[DRC]

Well it was quite a while ago when I first posted this but I eventually figured out what the problem was. In case anyone else runs into this here is what I found and how I fixed it…

After getting nowhere with the dealer I spent a lot of time investigating this issue. It turned out to only happen when I backed into my driveway and when it rained very heavy for a long period of time. One day I took the lift gate interior trim panel off and checked the plastic barrier which had a perfect seal. I then had my son hose the car down for like 2 hours while I sat in the back with a flashlight looking for water. My son was 6 at the time so he was having fun with the hose. As it turns out when enough water got inside the lift gate it would start to splash on the wire harness on the left side (sitting in the bed looking out the back window). Each splash just happened to land directly at the hole of one of the plastic panel clips so water would splash out of the hole. The more water the more it splashed out of the hole. Problem found!

So what was going on was once the water started splashing it would get the plastic panel clip wet. The panel clip has a little rubber washer on it but it did not fit snug so as it continued to rain water would start to seep out of the plane clip and down the inside of the trim panel and fill up in the weather stripping. It’s funny that it only happened under these very specific circumstances. The truck had to be backed in, so it was on an incline, back higher then the front, it had to rain heavy for several hours and the rubber washer had to get wet enough to start dripping.

The fix was easy, once I figured all this out, I head over to the local hardware store and bought 11, I think that was how many panel clips there were, rubber washers and added them to the plastic clips so it formed a better seal. Since then I have not had any issues. However, I did come a cross a post from someone in a sequoia having the exact same issue. Kinda makes you wonder.

 

[Chilll]

I had the exact same problem and found the leak just last week

I have a 2008 limited and recently I have noticed after it rains water is filling the grove in the rubber weather strip on the inside of the cargo area. So when I open the hatch the bottom edge of the hatch and the weather strip on the inside are all wet. And yes the window is fully closed.

After careful investigation what appears to be happening is that water that enters around the rear window, which should normally drip into the body cavity of the rear hatch and exit through the bottom drain holes, is somehow getting through to the inside of the car. When I lift the hatch and bring it to eye level I can see water behind the plastic trim panel and pushing on the bottom edge of the panel cause water to squeeze out.

The best I can tell without removing the trim panel is that there is plastic behind the panel so I am not sure how water could get through. Could it be something else leaking?

Has anyone else had a similar issue and is this common with the 4runners? (we have a Sienna that leaks once and a while from the side door and the dealer has never really been able to fix it)

It

Hi I had the same water on the inside of the molding.I also had the rubber plugs(Ill call them) on each side of the rear filled with water.I had the back floor carpeting totally out.After reading your post,I opened the hatch half way then looked and seen water coming from behind the panel.I pulled off the panel(Panel comes off very easy,remove the phillip screw thats on the strap then qently pull the panel off..Start from bottom then slide up and off hatch.I then closed the rear hatch. then did the water test.I went and poured water in the drain channels then along the upper window rubber seal and along the rubber strip by the rear winndow wiper blade.I layed inside the truck just waiting,after about 5 minutes.I seen where the water was coming in.(flashlight helped)On the right side near the bottom of the hatch(from inside view) you will see 5 bolts which hold a plate that holds the rear window module.The water was coming in from in between the 2 bottom bolts of this plate.I took off the plate,I looked at the opening to see if it was pushed in from cargo then I pulled out some of the metal to make sure it was straigh and not dented.Apparently this might have been going on since I purchased the truck.You can see a dirt trail dripping trail.On the back of this plate is a foamy kind of rubber seal.I was filled with dirt at the leak point.I cleaned it then applied a small amount of black rubber sealant.I only went half way up on the rubber seal and on the inside of it just incase.I didnt do entire seal just incase I have to take it off.NO more leak.I did another water test plus it rained like crazy the next day.NO MORE LEAK also what might of caused it was maybe something pushed against that area and pushed in the metal breaking the seal.After all the truck is made with very thin sheet metal. Good luck

 

[Carl_G]

Thanks for the info everyone. I have attempted the same fix; I really hope it works out. Here are some photos of the inside of the tailgate with the cover removed. In the first photo, the black electrical unit where the water was leaking from is at the very left.

The very bottom photo shows a closeup of the foam gasket around the electrical unit where the water was most likely coming from, as there was a dirt trail which I cleaned up before I took the photo. (notice how the bottom of the gasket is a bit degraded) I cleaned that part of the gasket with a brass bristle brush a bit and put the silicone all over the bottom quarter of the gasket quite and then bolted it back on. Not super tight as there is plastic involved. Hope it still comes off if I ever need to service it. That's why I only did the bottom quarter. Plus I didn't take off the whole assembly because it would have involved removing the wiring harness. So I could only access the bottom quarter anyway.

The closeup of the trim fastener shows a small o-ring I put on as there was water coming out of the bottom left one. The o-ring is too thick though. A thinner one would have been better as it doesn't allow the fastener to go into the metal all the way.

All the blue tape you see is where the trim fastener holes are. I was so I could do a leak test but it never rained! (I covered all the trim fastener holes so I could sit in there when it rained without the cover on and confirm the water entry. Anyway, everything is re-assembled and I really hope this works out. I will follow up with a post.

***update***
There was a monsoon and no water came in; hope the repair continues to hold. Thanks everyone!

 

[java]

thanks guys! i too have this problem and have just been to lazy to tear into it. ill go fix it now!

 

[DRC]

Wow, when I first posted this no one had ever heard of this. I wonder if this is starting to become a somewhat common issue? And the wife thought I was crazy…:jump:

 

[Carl_G]

Java did you do the repair yet? Hope you took photos.

 

[4RunnerTEXAS]

I have water leaking in mine as well, however I think mine is coming from the rear passenger side window and leaking down. I noticed the carpet was wet one day and pulled the side paneling apart and sure enough water was all over the metal on the inside. I think its the window seal because the whole inside of the window was soaked. I ran my hand across it to find that out. Anyone have THIS issue?

 

[Asmara]

I have water leaking in mine as well, however I think mine is coming from the rear passenger side window and leaking down. I noticed the carpet was wet one day and pulled the side paneling apart and sure enough water was all over the metal on the inside. I think its the window seal because the whole inside of the window was soaked. I ran my hand across it to find that out. Anyone have THIS issue?

Didn't have that issue but can tell you it is super easy to replace the window seal. I think it was $14 or so from the dealer. There is one allen screw on the inside of the door towards the edge with the hinges. The other side just clips. I replaced mine recently when the rubber tore. Took about 5 minutes.

Incidentally, it was the same one (right rear) Here's the part number.
68163-35030 Molding Outer Belt RH( right rear door weather strip)

 

[BriRunner]

Thanks for the info everyone. I have attempted the same fix; I really hope it works out. Here are some photos of the inside of the tailgate with the cover removed. In the first photo, the black electrical unit where the water was leaking from is at the very left.

The very bottom photo shows a closeup of the foam gasket around the electrical unit where the water was most likely coming from, as there was a dirt trail which I cleaned up before I took the photo. (notice how the bottom of the gasket is a bit degraded) I cleaned that part of the gasket with a brass bristle brush a bit and put the silicone all over the bottom quarter of the gasket quite and then bolted it back on. Not super tight as there is plastic involved. Hope it still comes off if I ever need to service it. That's why I only did the bottom quarter. Plus I didn't take off the whole assembly because it would have involved removing the wiring harness. So I could only access the bottom quarter anyway.

The closeup of the trim fastener shows a small o-ring I put on as there was water coming out of the bottom left one. The o-ring is too thick though. A thinner one would have been better as it doesn't allow the fastener to go into the metal all the way.

All the blue tape you see is where the trim fastener holes are. I was so I could do a leak test but it never rained! (I covered all the trim fastener holes so I could sit in there when it rained without the cover on and confirm the water entry. Anyway, everything is re-assembled and I really hope this works out. I will follow up with a post.

***update***
There was a monsoon and no water came in; hope the repair continues to hold. Thanks everyone!

I am having the same issue. PLEASE HELP!!! I ve taped the panel clip holes like you did and ran a garden hosed and wathced for water entry from inside the vehicle. My issue is that there is water trickling through the orange plastic film (not sure what the proper term is) Is that normal for that to get wet on the inside? I have this feeling that either the window seal is really not holding tight enough or the drains are not working properly? They do not appear to clogged from what I can tell...ANY ADVICE???

 

[Carl_G]

Leak

It's normal to have water on the in side of the yellow plastic (the side that faces the outside of the vehicle) That's what the plastic film is there for. From what you're explaining it sounds like there is a break in the black caulking. Is this correct?

 

[BriRunner]

It's normal to have water on the in side of the yellow plastic (the side that faces the outside of the vehicle) That's what the plastic film is there for. From what you're explaining it sounds like there is a break in the black caulking. Is this correct?

Thank you so much for replying! I love this community!
Yes it appears water builds up on the plastic film and seeps through the black adhesive calking, making its way down to the lower weather striping groove and pooling up with heavy rain or water build up. I think I'll be able to reseal the areas that water is getting past on the plastic film, but I want to make sure that's the only problem. I wasn't sure if that much water should show up on the inside of the hatch

 

[Carl_G]

Leak

Your welcome. Yes if that is the case be sure to put the sealant close to the edge of the metal otherwise there may be a small pool of water in there. I think you are on the right track.

 

[Brewski]

I'm having this same water issue. I've done the suggested fix and I still have water pooling up in the weather strip. I'm at a loss.... any other ideas?

 

[Carl_G]

I'm having this same water issue. I've done the suggested fix and I still have water pooling up in the weather strip. I'm at a loss.... any other ideas?

Sorry for the late reply. (Really late)

Is this issue still happening?




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[Brewski]

Sorry for the late reply. (Really late)

Is this issue still happening?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Still having the water issues. I've replaced everything. I think it may be coming from when I had the spoiler installed. Going to take it off and silicone the bolt holes and then test.


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[Smokeshow69]

I am having this same issue in my 4 runner with the water in the rubber channel... I will take it apart this weekend and get some rubber grommets to seal the clips! Good heads up on the fix!

 

[PittRunner]

I'am glad i found this information, same problem 2019 TRD water coming behind rear hatch interior panel . I had aready taken the interior panel off to look for a leak. I too found the interior push pin leaking. What was shocking was just how wet everything inside the hatch got when I hosed it from outside. Wiring harness speakers all wet. This rear window seal sucks. I have some speaker Baffles ordered to keep my OEM Audio Plus speakers dry , i will seal all push pins when they arrive. I was thinking of using Butel tape and push the pin through it. Hope it works , thanks for posting this.

 

[MarGarb]

Just went through this as part of a larger problem where the leak soaked the carpet along most the driver side from hatch to front seat. Much like the earlier posts, I believe mine was due to being backed into an inclined driveway during a sustained rainstorm. There is no way to have a perfect seal for the window at the bottom corners, which is why the hatch cavity is designed to drain away water that gets in (see weep holes at bottom of door). Matter of fact, if you follow the windows side seals into the hatch cavity, you can see they extend to a point that allows the water to drip to the bottom without coming in contact with the front or back wall. This is where things go wrong if your are inclined nose down. The wires that feed to the rear hatch ECU assembly are under the drip path when inclined. What's worst is that they are shaped as a U with the wire mounting clips that pop into the sheet metal at the bottom of the U, so all the drips that accumulate on the wire find the bottom of the U, find the open hole the mounting clip sits in, and gathers behind the black ECU mounting plate. In my case there was clear evidence of dirt and water dripping to the interior just below the ECU mounting plate. My solution: silicone the mounting clip holes, add weather stripping to the back of the ECU mounting plate, and instruct the family to never back the 4R into the driveway during the wet season!