Wet headliner

[eREdge]

Hey guys

Well I changed the third brake with a new gasket and all and that didn't solve anything. The screws don't feel tight enough when I screw them down so I changed out the bulbs and sealed the whole light assembly with clear silicone. While I was there I also siliconed the cab corners above the rear windows. Still wet. I have a pretty large nasty stain that runs along the rear of the headliner but when I feel around the headliner, moreso on the passenger side, I can feel it wet, but no visible signs of stains or water.
So before I go and waste my time on changing the rear window seal, anyone know where else I should check?
Here's a link to the pictures:
https://imgur.com/gallery/rzHYeKe

I should also add, I was reaching behind the drivers side small rear seat looking for some screws I dropped and felt the carpet was wet. Not sure if that leak is related or another leak altogether.

 

[Curious Hound]

You probably fixed it with the silicone around the third brake light. Give everything time to dry out before you assume it's not fixed. The silicone will also help glue the light fixture and gasket to the roof to help out with the loose screw issue. Not sure a window gasket would help solve the wet headliner. Water usually flows down-hill, not up.

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[eREdge]

You probably fixed it with the silicone around the third brake light. Give everything time to dry out before you assume it's not fixed. The silicone will also help glue the light fixture and gasket to the roof to help out with the loose screw issue. Not sure a window gasket would help solve the wet headliner. Water usually flows down-hill, not up.

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Thanks for replying

It rained yesterday and the headliner got soaked. I could feel the wet spots. The window seal leak is pretty common and some users reported how the headliner was soaked because of it. I know there's no hole in my roof, so I don't know where else it could leak, but the window seal. I'm thinking of removing the headliner and hose down the truck and look for leaks. But that looks like another PITA lol

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

My truck leaks from the front windshield. I fixed it for about 9 months by lifting the seal lip and squirting in some polyurethane sealant. But the rust progresses and it started leaking again. In my case the only true fix is remove the windshield and fix the rust.

 

[eREdge]

My truck leaks from the front windshield. I fixed it for about 9 months by lifting the seal lip and squirting in some polyurethane sealant. But the rust progresses and it started leaking again. In my case the only true fix is remove the windshield and fix the rust.

How did you figure out the front windshield was leaking? Was there water seeping unto the dash? There's no visible leaks in my front but the headliner does look damaged

The only obvious sign on mine is the water stain in the rear of the headliner

And by damage I mean it's partially peeling and wrinkled

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Mine was pretty obvious. The headliner had separated from the ceiling and major signs of rust on the outside upper windshield.

 

[eREdge]

Anymore suggestions, anyone?

 

[Ranger850]

It could be coming in near the front and running towards the rear and that's where you see it. Removing the headliner is the best way to see where it is coming in, then plan your mode of operation.

 

[eREdge]

It could be coming in near the front and running towards the rear and that's where you see it. Removing the headliner is the best way to see where it is coming in, then plan your mode of operation.

Yeah, that's what I thinking. What's involved in removing the headliner by the way? Do the seats have to come out? I plan on replacing the headliner.

 

[Ranger850]

Just a few clips I think. search the threads. I'm sure its in here somewhere.

 

[eREdge]

Just a few clips I think. search the threads. I'm sure its in here somewhere.

Thanks for the help

 

[RollinWOT]

I had this exact same problem as well, but my headliner became stained in the back. It rarely rains in AZ so I never think of it, but I got sick and tire of seeing water drip down the inside of my rear glass (this monsoon season has been particularly brutal). I took out the whole interior(aside from seats/carpet). You need to remove the plastic door trim and the rear interior cab trim, visors, and then you can remove the headliner. After all that, I sprayed down the cab with water to find out where the intrusion was coming from, and I did actually find how the water enters the cab. The 3rd brake seal dries up, and water gets behind it. You would think it would go straight don below the 3rd brake lamp, but there's a channel on the inside of the cab that lines along the rear windshield, so it runs to the edges of the glass instead of straight down. I used some of that cork/gummy tape stuff and relined the 3rd brake seal with that, and tightened the screws to the lamp a little tighter, sprayed with water again, and no more leaks. You may have fixed it by siliconing the lamp down, so give the interior a few days to dry out, and check again.

 

[eREdge]

I had this exact same problem as well, but my headliner became stained in the back. It rarely rains in AZ so I never think of it, but I got sick and tire of seeing water drip down the inside of my rear glass (this monsoon season has been particularly brutal). I took out the whole interior(aside from seats/carpet). You need to remove the plastic door trim and the rear interior cab trim, visors, and then you can remove the headliner. After all that, I sprayed down the cab with water to find out where the intrusion was coming from, and I did actually find how the water enters the cab. The 3rd brake seal dries up, and water gets behind it. You would think it would go straight don below the 3rd brake lamp, but there's a channel on the inside of the cab that lines along the rear windshield, so it runs to the edges of the glass instead of straight down. I used some of that cork/gummy tape stuff and relined the 3rd brake seal with that, and tightened the screws to the lamp a little tighter, sprayed with water again, and no more leaks. You may have fixed it by siliconing the lamp down, so give the interior a few days to dry out, and check again.

It poured down yesterday and the back right side of the headliner was completely soaked lol I haven't had time to remove the headliner yet, but will it be easy to take it out of the truck? I want to try and remove the stain Or replace it with another.

I also removed one of the jumper seats and found the carpet was wet and shattered glass. I'm thinking the previous owner had one of the quarter windows replaced at one point. Would that be causing the headliner leak? Although the leak is more visible on the opposite side, I'll have to check behind the other jumper seat

 

[Ranger850]

that would be MY starting point, then third brake light housing, then the drip channel above the doors, those rust out sometimes too.

 

[eREdge]

that would be MY starting point, then third brake light housing, then the drip channel above the doors, those rust out sometimes too.

Ok I removed the headliner just in time before it started raining. It didn't rain for too long unfortunately, I only got to see one tiny drop at the corner of the rear windshield so I'm thinking the gasket is bad. I was feeling around the corner, seems, and around the third brake light but couldn't find any wet spots.

I did find the roof and behind the jumper seats build up condensation, is that normal? That would explain why I felt the whole headliner wet but didn't leave any wet marks.

https://imgur.com/gallery/M4oZoZV

I had to remove the passenger seat to make it easier to take out the headliner, would it throw any codes if I run the truck like that? There was a harness I'm thinking it's for the air bags