Ok, so I did a search on this common issue and only came up with threads related to later model trucks with the cab mounted antennas. I have an '02 F150 XL Regular cab. The high mount 3rd brake light is pretty much trashed and the PO had plastered it to the cab molding with copious amounts of RTV which after looking into it does absolutely nothing. I removed all of that when I discovered water in the cab after a wash in the vecenity of the interior overhead cab light.

When I removed the tail light itself I noticed that there really seemed to be nowhere for water to get into the cab. The only place that even looked remotely possible was at the grommet going into the cab where the wires for the taillight come through. But it really looks sealed well.

My question is are there any "known" leak areas that I need to look at. The only other thing I can thing of is the window seal itself.

Sorry this is long winded. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

Do you have a sliding rear window?

 

Nope.

 

Remove the window clean the seal surface and reseal it with 3m window weld. Follow the directions and do it in a heated garage, don't attempt in cool weather or garage. The warmer the better. Myself and many others have done it, the factory sealant gets hard over time and leaks. Do it right the first time, make sure it is very warm where you do it. Option 2 call a glass shop and see what they would charge to reseal it if you do all the grunt work. Meaning you take out all the rear trim, take the window out and clean the seal and take it to them to reinstall. You so not need to touch the outer plastic trim it has nothing to do with the window, it is purely cosmetic.

 

Thanks man, I'll give that a try. So the gray plastic that goes around the window does not have to be removed to remove the window? By "trim" do you mean the black lip that goes around the window glass?

Also, if the gray plastic does need to be removed how is it attached?

 

The plastic outside trim piece does not need to be touched and by trim I mean the interior plastic trim inside the truck, you'll have to remove it then there are 12 nuts on bolts that are embedded in the window frame. Take off the nuts and use a small pry bar around the window to pry it out.
VERY IMPORTANT, Do the reinstall in a very warm ( The warmer the better ) climate.

 

FWIW, here's the link to my rear window leak repair:

https://www.f150forum.com/f6/rear-wi...ttempt-187161/

There are some pictures toward the beginning that show the window removed and the plastic outside trim piece still in place.

I used butyl tape in 40 degree weather which leaked at first, but after a few warm days it sealed up well.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

-Aubry

 

As you can see I replied in that thread, I say again IN LARGE PRINT, WARMTH IS YOUR FRIEND. I did mine in 80 degree weather and if you follow the directions you can be successful on the first try. Make your life easier, WARM-HOT
I'm just sayin. ;-)

 

I agree, the warmer the better!

 

Thanks again guys. I'll give it a try when the weather warms up down here. Yesterday was in the 80's and the rest of the week it's in the 60 & 70s. Fortunately in the cooler weather here there's no rain.

I'll post again when I get it sorted.