Roof Rack Leak?

Hi all. So about a year and a half ago I installed a roof rack on my 2020 tacoma. I siliconed the bolts and around the bolts when I installed it too. Recently I noticed some water on the floor of my passenger side on the floor mats after the the dealership washed it for me. Its not the first time ive seen water on the floor mats, happens every now and then after rain. Im guessing it has to do with water making it in through the roof rack mounting points. However, when I feel around headliner nothings wet. I cant seem to find where its infiltrating from. When I noticed it on my passenger side the other day i also saw some wet spots by the door hinge inside where the door normally covers. Im starting to wonder if the water makes it through the bolt holes on top and runs down the frame above the door and infiltrates from there? Whats your guys' opinion, you think it from the roof rack or potentially somewhere else?

 

Could roof rack, silicone is not good for that, application. Butyl is better. Also could be plugged drains under wiper cowl.

 

Do you have a sunroof?

 

No Sunroof

 

Yep, I went through this two weeks ago.

I installed a Toyota OEM rack on my truck back in 2019. Got it for the low price of free. The guy stripped the hell out of the hardware and the bolts are made out of unobtainium, you can't find replacements anywhere. Got it as tight as I could. My waterproofing efforts apparently didn't cut it. I first noticed the dome light wasn't coming on when I opened the back driver's side door. I had the little button on the door jamb replaced under warranty, took the driver's side off, resealed, reinstalled, send it. Now the hardware is effed, it's never coming off after a third install. A couple times I noticed moisture on the top left corner of the headliner, but it only happened when I parked with the nose uphill, so it couldn't be the roof rack again, right? Anyway my temporary solution was to back into the driveway, no issues since.

Week before last I brought it in for the 3rd brake light recall. They performed a leak test and determined a. the brake light's fine, b. the roof rack on the passenger side was leaking like hell and the bolts had worked their way out. Crap. They pulled up the carpet and padding and found a bad case of mold under the passenger footwell. Craaaaaap. They handed me a $7,000 estimate to replace the entire carpet, padding and sound deadening kit, and oh-by-the-way, it's all backordered.

I had them show me the damage before they out all the trim pieces back. Ordered and had them install a new factory roof rack. Had to break the old one off. The new one is tight.

The good news is that it's contained to one spot. The good news is that it's cleanable. It's all underneath everything; I never saw or smelled any signs of mold, no windows fogging up indicating moisture, nothing. When the weather gets warm and once The Pollening is over, I'll be hiring my mobile detailer friend, removing the seats and the entire carpet, and deleting all traces of mold. While I'm in there I'll be installing some Noico sound deadening mat.

Moral of the story, buy once cry once.

 

Looks like I need to take the rack off and check the bolt holes again i guess. Ill either silicone the shit out of it or try butyl maybe. I have an aftermarket roof rack not an OEM. Still havent seen any water or moisture or anything like in the headliner. It seems to be all coming in from around the footwell area, as if it following the frame above the door and leaks in from there. I did once find water in the back seat on the floor mat really randomly, no rain no car wash no spilled water botttles or anything. One day it wasnt there the next it was just randomly there and a lot of it. Headliner didnt feel wet or any other area. Still a mystery to me. I just wanna get ahead of this before I end up with mold or a bad headliner or something.

 

I just siliconed mine and had no issues. I really went to town with it however

 

I had the exact same problem after I removed my roof rack. Same places in the truck had water as you are experiencing now, so I can pretty much guarantee that’s where the water is coming from.

This is my thread on my attempt to water proof my roof. It’s a little different since my rack is gone but you get the idea…

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/waterproofing-roof-after-roof-rack-removal.753989/

 

RTV silicone works just fine and has worked just fine without issues for thousands of people…

 

OP you are correct

 

Thanks guys. Something im seeing now is when I park on a driveway water ends up on my backrow floor mats. Starting to think theres water just hanging out in the frame which explains the random water when it hasnt rained. Im going to look at that thread and probably take off the rack and silicone the hell out of everything this weekend.

 

hey just been reading some of these replies and I believe I may have a leaking oem roof rack on 2018 trd sport probably been happening for awhile cause truck had a bit of a musty smell since bought, but the other night after after a rain got in my truck to go to the store, put seat belt on and it was soaked, so I took the scuff plate off on the drivers side rear door and the sound deadening material under the carpet is drenched so I guess I will have to take truck all apart now to remove carpet and sound deadening material to see how much mold is there and also take roof racks off and reseal and check the bolts for tightness, and also the sunroof drains thanks in advance for the info