Massive water intrusion in cab

[Tjbev13]

FOUND IT! Not sure how long this has been happening but when I installed my first subwoofer set up in 2021 I removed the factory sub and bought a block off plate. Well when looking at the carpet flipped over in the picture I attached the water doesn’t lie. You can see it wet and nasty starting in the back middle and working its way up front, finishing pooling up in the drivers floor pan.

So I parked normally in the driveway and took a hose to simulate rain right in the middle of the rear window area. At first there was nothing, I went to grab a flashlight in the garage, came back out and it was pouring in from the bottom of that block off plate! No idea how long it was been leaking since I rarely check under the all weather mats, I’ve only had it detailed in the summer, which in Texas isn’t our wet months.

I’m pissed, but happy I caught it and I guess caught it before anything serious happened. Now I just gotta order some new carpet which isn’t cheap and reinstall. I believe I’m just going to go back with the factory sub in place, I can’t trust another one of those plates. I did check and all the screws are tight. If I push hard on it I can see it stop leaking so I just think that seal failed.

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[Vater]

Went to install an amp and subwoofer setup in the truck yesterday and when I pulled the all weather mats out the drivers side floorboard was soaking wet, I have always thought that there was a musty smell when it would rain hard, etc. Well, seems to be true, had a friend at work that has a mobile detailing service help me out to try and extract the water and it was so soaked in the foam padding that I decided it would be best to just rip it out.

My plan is to maybe simulate rain with a lawn sprinkler to see if I can pin point where it is coming from and fix the leak, then reinstall new carpet, or wait until we get some big rain and check then. The job to rip it out wasn't too bad and I don't think install would be any worse. Just sucks big time. I have no recalls for windshield seal or anything like that, also do not have a sun roof (for this reason).

I once heard that the rear external break light over the rear window is known to leak and leak a lot for intrusion of water into the cab. I would pull that lens and check for signs it has had a lot of dampness.

 

[antho]

The blank off plate is just the interior side right? meaning that the leak from the exterior is still a problem?

 

[Je1279]

The blank off plate is just the interior side right? meaning that the leak from the exterior is still a problem?

I believe that location has an open path to the outside of the truck.

 

[Tjbev13]

I believe that location has an open path to the outside of the truck.

The blank off plate is just the interior side right? meaning that the leak from the exterior is still a problem?

That is correct, that goes directly out the back of the truck to the exterior elements

 

[Jerome10]

Am I understanding correctly that it was not a factory part that did this? Doesn't lessen your crummy experience but I like to keep apprised of potential issues just to keep my eyes open. If it was an aftermarket part as part of your sub install, it would lessen my (personal) concern.

Regarding the carpeting, is it so bad that you cannot dry it out and reinstall? Automotive carpet is pretty durable stuff.... The padding / sound insulation I suspect would need to be replaced.

 

[Tjbev13]

Am I understanding correctly that it was not a factory part that did this? Doesn't lessen your crummy experience but I like to keep apprised of potential issues just to keep my eyes open. If it was an aftermarket part as part of your sub install, it would lessen my (personal) concern.

Regarding the carpeting, is it so bad that you cannot dry it out and reinstall? Automotive carpet is pretty durable stuff.... The padding / sound insulation I suspect would need to be replaced.

Correct, It is a aftermarket block off plate that failed, I dont want to take my chances with mold and I am just going to replace both, Its been drying for 3 day now out of the truck and it is still soaked.

 

[Piflo1701]

Check the vents on the rear panel of the cab behind the rear seats. They have been known to leak.

This. Same thing happened to my 2016. Rear vent behind the door came loose very slightly. Rain got between the bed and the cabin. Soaked the back and front driver side carpet. It was a disaster. One reason I have a 2021 Lariat now. ?

 

[JCsTruck]

Get one a carpet extractor like this one
https://www.amazon.com/Hoover-CleanSlate-Upholstery-Portable-FH14050/dp/B098JYFGWS/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ANGJABY20HE7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.o2eiHhtZvGqg3kk9EBMMaCcdQjkNsQkz8ydHs8vn6DXrf7a_5Vt61jeq977N_czAfok2xhgq8dn0KFsA_QTsx-0VySssZUVBRTex3VPb8MLfRSnEEczyOtEPqkktOaKGoxg8HWqWTjgL0lkOGdykr5ZmdKpXHXh6PdNBRr-FxhHFxFgvUq1bKszpiAgwDl14MXyNcj-Mez9ZSGx1ykzj2futcP0tXGjoiSbB1bBJKTM.7Vxl1du_hVxvS_JpIWMGzBpXaMvY9vAd0wDEfEQorz4&dib_tag=se&keywords=carpet+extractor+for+car+detailing&qid=1737836694&sprefix=carpet+ex,aps,108&sr=8-5

Use the ZEP premium carpet shampoo you can get at Home Depot that doesn't have the perfume in it. That should save your existing carpet and make it like new. then you’ll have a nice shampoo machine for cleaning your seats or any other cloth surfaces.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-1-Gal-Premium-Carpet-Shampoo-ZUPXC128/100619255

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