Leaking rear window
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Edison USA
Leaking rear window
My rear window is leaking on my '97 f-150. When it rains water gets in on the passenger side only. I know from reading that this is a common problem. I've tightened up the fasteners that hold the window in place, but it still leaks. Could the high mount brake light be the entry point? Is there supposed to be a gasket behind it? Or is any water that may get behind it supposed to be channeled away somehow?
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 788
Likes: 0
From: Cottage Grove, Minnesota
I had the same problem on my 97 F150. Mine was leaking right by the third brake light. To fix it I pulled out the third brake light and sealed where i could reach with the clear silicone. I also put sealant around the third brake light. It rained out the other night and had no water inside.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 145
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Originally Posted by skilife17
I had the same problem on my 97 F150. Mine was leaking right by the third brake light. To fix it I pulled out the third brake light and sealed where i could reach with the clear silicone. I also put sealant around the third brake light. It rained out the other night and had no water inside.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 788
Likes: 0
From: Cottage Grove, Minnesota
I sealed around the outside of the third brake light. Mine still leaks from that area only under high pressure. I also sealed around the top of the trim between the body and trim. Mine still leaks so you can try and see what happens.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
On my 1998 I pulled out the window, replaced the butyl seal, still leaked. Caulked around the 3rd brake light, still leaked. Finally I took the time to really look and played with a garden hose to locate the leaking. It was going between the trim and the roof, and making it's way to the cracked frame I should have noticed when replacing the butyl seal. Pulled headliner carefully away to see the cracked frame and water route. Finally caulked between the plastic trim and the roof, no more leaks.
I think it depends on each truck where the leak is and why(butyl seal no good, cracked frame, etc), but our trucks are notorious for the leaks until they changed the design a few years ago.
I think it depends on each truck where the leak is and why(butyl seal no good, cracked frame, etc), but our trucks are notorious for the leaks until they changed the design a few years ago.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 26
From: Connecticut
They glued the glass to th e plastic frame. over time the plastic frame cracks, according to a friend of mine who ouns an auto glass repair company. not really possable to repair, in a permanant sense. Lots easier ( and won't leak over time) to replace the window. My '97 did it too. Its real haard to find the crack(s) in the plastic. You probably have more than one crack.
Reamer
Reamer
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
If it leaks, you can pull it and re caulk it but odds are if the frame was not broke before, it is now. The upper part of the frame by one of the pillars for the slider is usually where the crack appears. The fix is a new window. Can you do it yourself? Yes.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3
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When did they chane the design to fix the leak problem? I've got an '02 F-150 supercab with a sliding rear window that has a leak on the drivers side somewhere near the window.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,290
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From: Edgerton, WI
My back window was leaking through the top of the window seal, so a laid a bead of silicone caulk in there and it fixed most of the leak, but it still leaks a little through the 3rd brake light.
Its a very small leak, so I just left it alone. The only time it really leaks is during a hard rain or an automatic carwash.
All in all, its not something Im going to worry about on a truck thats 8 years old.
Its a very small leak, so I just left it alone. The only time it really leaks is during a hard rain or an automatic carwash.
All in all, its not something Im going to worry about on a truck thats 8 years old.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Crozet VA
I have a 1997 light duty 250 and had to replace the entire sliding rear assembly to stop the leak. I inspected the window that was removed and found the plastic frame had cracked in several spots. No problems since window replacement.
