Weird Problem With Water Collecting in Tailgate

[DEF4Runner]

OP,

I'd pull the plastic back and take a good look at the back side of your hatch for rust.

I had some rust bubbles peeking through the exterior just south east of the license plate and discovered a much worse problem when I wire brushed some of that stuff off. I wound up wire brushing/sanding/priming/painting a palm sized emerging rust patch back there.


Damn rust comes from the inside out...

 

[sport2004]

OP,

I'd pull the plastic back and take a good look at the back side of your hatch for rust.

I had some rust bubbles peeking through the exterior just south east of the license plate and discovered a much worse problem when I wire brushed some of that stuff off. I wound up wire brushing/sanding/priming/painting a palm sized emerging rust patch back there.


Damn rust comes from the inside out...

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[sport2004]

Just went through the same thing with my Runner. I knew that weather striping was falling apart for some time and paid no attention to it. Until I started hearing water splashing around when I would take a turn. At first I feared it was the sun roof!

After I pulled the drain plugs and let all the water drain, I went on and took off the inside panel and plastic cover (as mentioned above) and cleaned out the inside of the door. I had a good amount of leafs and mud in there. Just wiped it down with a damp cloth and a dry one. I then left it open to dry for a few (non rainy) days.

The replacement weather striping snaps in real easy, and that's that.

Looks like I need to do this, thanks.

 

[isu2dc2mke]

Has anyone dealt with water coming in from the top of their tailgate?

 

[JonnyMuck]

Bumping up this thread

Bumping up this thread as it seems relevant to my current situation.

I have a '07 4runner SR5 and the rubber drain stop plugs on my tailgate are solid rubber with no drain.

The part # on the rubber drain is 90950-01955.

Are these stock?

Anywho, I've also replaced the outer horizontal rubber trim on the vehicle and rain is still making it into the hatch.

I took apart the interior panels and tried to clean out all the debris.

What I found is the tail gate upper weather seal had lots of debris around the window area. It looks like it has silicone RTV for the seal.

Has anyone had this issue? Also, should I be putting a new layer of silicone RTV around the outer upper seal for the tailgate?

Thanks

 

[AuSeeker]

Bumping up this thread as it seems relevant to my current situation.

I have a '07 4runner SR5 and the rubber drain stop plugs on my tailgate are solid rubber with no drain.

The part # on the rubber drain is 90950-01955.

Are these stock?

Anywho, I've also replaced the outer horizontal rubber trim on the vehicle and rain is still making it into the hatch.

I took apart the interior panels and tried to clean out all the debris.

What I found is the tail gate upper weather seal had lots of debris around the window area. It looks like it has silicone RTV for the seal.

Has anyone had this issue? Also, should I be putting a new layer of silicone RTV around the outer upper seal for the tailgate?

Thanks

Photos please!

The silicone doesn't sound right, it maybe something a previous owner did for whatever reason, hard to give you advice without seeing it.

 

[JonnyMuck]

https://imgur.com/gallery/4th-gen-4runner-tailgate-trim-weather-seals-leak-investigation-vqQ5WJf

 

[JonnyMuck]

Found a video talking about the upper seal. Really had to search the forums. Looks like maybe this lift gate was repaired in the past. Factory only uses some sort of lubricant grease and not silicone RTV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OidqTdNeJFQ&feature=youtu.be

 

[AuSeeker]

Found a video talking about the upper seal. Really had to search the forums. Looks like maybe this lift gate was repaired in the past. Factory only uses some sort of lubricant grease and not silicone RTV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OidqTdNeJFQ&feature=youtu.be

As you discovered the silicone is not factory, BUT that upper seal shouldn't be leaking at the body the way it is designed, the only way it might leak is the seal to the glass.

The bottom weather strip as you've discovered will not keep all water out, if it was designed to keep all water out the window wouldn't work very well, it's designed to keep most water out but it's main purpose is to keep debris out.

Install the proper drains plugs and you should be good, those solid rubber plugs aren't factory items.

 

[sport2004]

Couple pics of the two little plugs I removed from along the bottom of tailgate. Totally plugged, probably from deteriorated coating. Tailgate was carrying quite a bit of water.

 

[AuSeeker]

THose are the OEM/original drain plugs, they aren't solid rubber, they are designed to let water drain but also to keep bugs/spiders, etc. from crawling into the hatch.

Replacement OEM drain plugs are a little different but still do the same job.

 

[4R005]

There are 3 drain holes at the bottom of the tailgate for water runoff. One in the middle and one each at both ends. I've never bothered with the rubber plugs but had always made sure these three drain holes are clear. There are similar drain holes for each of the vehicles doors. The weather stripping at bottom edges of all 5 doors' w/movable windows are not designed to keep out 100% of water/rain, hence the provisions of these drain holes which are located at the lowest points of each door.
The 'dirt along bottom edge of tailgate is 'white' grease to ward off rust from salt infested road in winter.

 

[JonnyMuck]

Thanks for the additional info! Anyone have a link to where to buy the correct drain plugs? Part #?

 

[AuSeeker]

Thanks for the additional info! Anyone have a link to where to buy the correct drain plugs? Part #?

Apparently you didn't read all the posts, check post #25 for part number.

 

[JonnyMuck]

FYI, here is a thread showing other people having solid rubber plugs on their 4th gen 4Runners.

Is water supposed to get into the rear hatch/tailgate?

 

[JonnyMuck]

Apparently you didn't read all the posts, check post #25 for part number.

The part # I quoted in my post (post #25) is for the solid rubber plugs. I am specifically looking for the part # with the drain plug with holes.

 

[AuSeeker]

The part # I quoted in my post (post #25) is for the solid rubber plugs. I am specifically looking for the part # with the drain plug with holes.

I've searched and can't find the part number you need