tomasulo

Have discovered a water leak the last two times it's rained really hard. Seems to be dripping from the rear headliner/window area and soaking into the middle rear seat especially, but also seems to run to either side if the headliner and drip onto the tops of the other seats in the rear as well. Pic attached if this morning, as it's been raining overnight. I heard many mentions of possibly the seal in the third brake light? Could it be that or the window itself? If third brake light, what parts would I need and can I do it myself? I'm steering toward that as the gathering if water seems to be in the middle, just under the area that the brake light would be in. Thanks for your help!

TuxZito

Could be brake light or window.
My leak was the seal of the window not the brake light. Dealer had to reseal the window.
If it's under warranty, take to dealer.
If not, try putting silicone around the brake light and see if that works.

tomasulo

Do I need an automotive silicone for the brake light? I'd rather try that first and see if that's the culprit.

joe mcmillan

Could be the window or the light.
For the light, if you silicon around it, will be difficult to replace lights if they ever burn out.
I made a new gasket with one side adhesive rubber weather stripping from Lowes. I just placed the weather stripping where the gasket belonged on the back side of the light. Been almost 2 years now and no leaks. Cost about $3 and took less than 1/2 hour. Only 2 screws to hold the light in place.

1979vette

Nothing any worse than a water leak. My 3rd brake light was leaking and was under warranty.

TuxZito

RTV Silicone, you can pick it up at any auto parts store.

packplantpath

I recently did this with my wife's car third brake light.

Take Saran wrap and put over brake light hole. Place nice bead of rtv on light cover being careful to keep away from center. It is opaque when dry so don't let it smear. It will show up.

Then screw cover onto truck with Satan wrap between the parts to keep the rtv off paint. Let dry 24 hours then remove Saran wrap. Hers has not leaked since and I can still remove the light cover to do bulbs.

one2nine

iTrader: (1)

Most likely the 3rd brake light.

Skip the rtv and use butyl tape. This is what ford uses to reseal them. It's around $20 for a long roll at napa and will seal much, much better than rtv.

packplantpath

This the same butyl tape that ford uses that leaks all over the inside of every truck for the last 5-7 years?

DDDNCSU8

I had this same issues with my old 01 F-150. Mine turned out to be the rear glass seal. The local dealership tried to tell me that the seal could not be replaced and the whole back glass would have to be replaced at $500. Took it to a local body shop and they did it for $100.

In your case I would start with the 3rd brake light. Easy to replace and you could probably find one cheap at a junk yard.