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Water Leaking into the Cab, Trim Molding the Culprit?

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21K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  Monkeh  
#1 ·
A while ago I noticed moisture in the storage compartment underneath the driver side rear passenger seat of my 2011 quad cab 1500,. At first I thought it was possibly seeping in from where the Rocker Panel is rusting out on the right side of the truck, but if that was the case, then there should of been moisture on the right read side as well. Since most of the carpet was wet, I pulled out a big chunk to try and determine where it came from.

The weather had been warm and the truck was completely dried out prior to a huge rainstorm several weeks ago, and after the storm I decided to check the compartment prior to driving. There was a fair amount of water the compartment, the carpet on the back of the cab wall under the seat was damp, and the carpet around the sill was wet, so I began looking above the cab for potential water leaks. The track for the rear sliding window was dry and tThe seal around the window looks good, and the carpet on the cab behind the rear seat back was also dry. There's no rust to speak of above the cab, but I noticed that the Trim molding on top of the cab is loose. I suspect this might be where the leak is.

Any thoughts? If it is the trim, are there any special tools I'll need to replace it, something like a glaziers vinyl roller?

Thanks,
David


 
#21 ·
Ridin High..

Been waiting to get enough moisture around here before I felt the water leakage issue was resolved, but now after a couple of snows, along with slushy roads, and some rain, I'm fairly confident your $10.00 gasket solution solved my water leakage problem.

Thanks again for your help!

David
 
#3 ·
Check the sunroof drains that go towards the back of the truck. I had the same thing happen to me towards the front. It too a few minutes to clear it out properly but the water drains out right away now. Hopefully that works for your situation.
 
#6 ·
Check the third break light and seal it as mentioned. If you have a sliding rear window check those seals. Also check the drains in the rear window channel, lastly check the rear vents behind the seats. If those seals are bad or the flaps are gone then you have a starting point. Been there.


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#8 ·
I've read of some having issues with the welds under those roof trim pieces and had water leaks through the roof into the cab from there.

As for how to remove/install those trim pieces I don't know if it's just clips or if you need a special tool.
 
#10 ·
A while ago I noticed moisture in the storage compartment underneath the driver side rear passenger seat of my 2011 quad cab 1500,. At first I thought it was possibly seeping in from where the Rocker Panel is rusting out on the right side of the truck, but if that was the case, then there should of been moisture on the right read side as well. Since most of the carpet was wet, I pulled out a big chunk to try and determine where it came from. The weather had been warm and the truck was completely dried out prior to a huge rainstorm several weeks ago, and after the storm I decided to check the compartment prior to driving. There was a fair amount of water the compartment, the carpet on the back of the cab wall under the seat was damp, and the carpet around the sill was wet, so I began looking above the cab for potential water leaks. The track for the rear sliding window was dry and tThe seal around the window looks good, and the carpet on the cab behind the rear seat back was also dry. There's no rust to speak of above the cab, but I noticed that the Trim molding on top of the cab is loose. I suspect this might be where the leak is. Any thoughts? If it is the trim, are there any special tools I'll need to replace it, something like a glaziers vinyl roller? Thanks, David View attachment 146560 View attachment 146561
Join the club of leaky ram trucks. Our 2014 Limited mega cab 3500 Dooley leaks from the passenger side a pillar. We tie a rag around the A pillar and keep a bucket there. Try blowing out the sunroof drain but no success. Looks like we’ll have to take some trim apart and clean out the drain hose from the very bottom which is what we successfully did on our 2003 grand Cherokee and cured a leak which is dropping down on the seat and driver side floor. Funny thing about the 14 ram is if pointed slightly uphill on no more of a 10° slope there is no leak. On our 2006 ram hemi mega cab also sunroof on flat ground also this truck will leak from both A pillars. sunroof Will not open on this and they want $1700 dealer fix. Funny thing about the 14 ram is if pointed slightly uphill on no more of a 10° slope there is no leak. On our 2006 ram hemi mega cab also sunroof on flat ground also this truck will leak from both A pillars. Can’t get the sunroof open on this and they want $1700 to fix and looks like the culprit is a three dollar plastic clip in the track . On our bucket list of stuff to fix ourselves. At least when my wife drove it it wasn’t a problem for me then. I just said keep a towel on your knee for when the water drips there but now that I’m driving it I keep buckets and towels ready. No experience with third brake light leaking yet but the sunroof remind me of the old Ford vans which always leaked around the windshield on the passenger side . Need to find the drain hose and clean it out. Blowing air from the top through the drain holes gave no results positive.
 
#11 ·
I had same problem with my 2017 1500 Crew Cab. I went through process of checking all the items previously mentioned and it turned out to be the vents behind the back seat in the cab (fyi the Ram name for these is EXHAUSTERS which complicated search for information).
I had to remove the back seat and several panels to get to them.
If you watch a You Tube video on installation, and they install them from the inside of cab don't believe them, it won't work, I was able to install them by sliding them between the cab and the bed. Make sure to install correct side up.
Here is a random link to the part. Ram 1500 Exhauster. Bodyside aperture, cab. [pickup - 68323649AB | Myrtle Beach SC (moparpartsinc.com). I was able to get from local dealer and replaced both of them.
Good luck.
 
#13 ·
Yep mine leaked from there, from around the seal, I noticed when you close the doors even though those are designed for air flow the whole thing moved enough that that water came in around the seal from air pressure. So I popped them out and used silicone all around the seals then put them back in place. Water leak fixed.
 
#17 ·
Not the exhausters then but if there is a 3rd break light leaks it runs in channels across the back of the cab into the rear corners of the headliners. Best bet is to seal it. I did the 3rd break light mod and still had slow slow leak. Sealed that sucker down and no more water from there. You can always drop the head liner to see. You won’t have to pull it out of the truck just drop it down los e rough to see the path of travel of the water. My bet is the 3rd break light if you have water in the rear headliner corners. Especially if water is running towards the light, ie you are parked on a slope.

Also the door seals help hold the headliner up so check them as well on that passenger side.

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#18 ·
Should have started this with "2017 1500 Lonestar 5.7 purchased in March 2019 with 43,xxx miles". Don't know if you saw but I've pulled the 3rd break light right after a storm many times and no sign of water in that area. Also 3rd has a new rubber seal sorta like the door seals but obviously a much smaller softer scale. Anything's possible though. My truck is not with me for a couple weeks so not able to do at this time but would like to drop the headliner to look for evidence. You've given me the idea to check door seal, thanks. If I wanted to seal the gasket on the 3rd what would be suggested? I do think the dealer replaced seal with a new design seal at some point. I also feel the roof channel trim was replaced because it looks slightly shorter than the drivers side like maybe it was hand cut from a roll. All this is speculation since I am the second owner.
 
#19 ·
Should have started this with "2017 1500 Lonestar 5.7 purchased in March 2019 with 43,xxx miles". Don't know if you saw but I've pulled the 3rd break light right after a storm many times and no sign of water in that area. Also 3rd has a new rubber seal sorta like the door seals but obviously a much smaller softer scale. Anything's possible though. My truck is not with me for a couple weeks so not able to do at this time but would like to drop the headliner to look for evidence. You've given me the idea to check door seal, thanks. If I wanted to seal the gasket on the 3rd what would be suggested? I do think the dealer replaced seal with a new design seal at some point. I also feel the roof channel trim was replaced because it looks slightly shorter than the drivers side like maybe it was hand cut from a roll. All this is speculation since I am the second owner.
I checked my third break light after hard rains and didn’t see anything either but it was that. I sealed it with silicone clear RTV. I had a bunk of water intrusion and I did that along with the slider and the exhausters. All that fixed my issue. I had the roof repainted and had the cab trim redone I have cuts in the trim like it was the end of a roll as well.

Pulling the head liner would narrow it down. Maybe 30 min to drop it down. But I have a 2500 so it may be a little different for you I am not sure. But, regardless of the new design or not I would seal it.


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#23 ·
I had this problem and it was the Cabin Exhauster vents. Both of mine were so badly worn that it was like 2 6" x 6" open holes behind the back seat. I replaced them today and that solved the problem. You can gat a look at them by slamming your door while looking between the cab and bed to see if it's functioning by a bunch of tabs blowing out the pressure of the cab. Mine is a 2015 Ram crew cab and the rubber seal around the vent was also cracking and falling apart. I would like to post pictures but unable right now.
 
#25 ·
Our 2014 Limited Dooley mega cab 3500 leaks from the front passenger side door handle grab handle. We also get moisture on the ceiling of the passenger side starting at about the top of the window. We think it is the two sunroof drains on that side of this truck. also on our mega cab 2006 1500. We get water also leaking from the passenger side grab handle handle and we think this is from a sunroof drain. We have tried to clean the sunroof drain from the top and where it exits in the doorway, I can’t find the rear drain on the 2014 where it exits at I believe that is between the bed and the cab and too hard to access. we put towels in the back of the one truck and on both trucks. We hang a 1 gallon bucket from the grab handle and a heavy rain that bucket will fill up in an hour.
 
#26 ·
I'll chime in 3 years too late, the seam sealer between the roof and side pillar has failed. Pull the trim up and go at removing seam sealer like I've pictured. Get some cheap trim off ebay, some polyurethane seam sealer and fill the gap.
If you're gonna do the job, do it all not just the bit that leaks. Some seam sealer will be on the way to failing. It's still a pig to remove.

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