Rear window leak

[Jamie73]

44 minutes ago, warhawk89 said:

Lol, even as a guy who works in music industry, works on my farm, and does extensive home remodeling -- the first thing I thought of was this exact thing -- why in the hell would they run this angle directly for water to hit a seam? Makes zero sense. Water will find a way through the smallest hairline crack. Just common damn sense.

Funny, you guys are correct, terrible design. My UPS guy who is a good friend of mine and loves GMC trucks was dropping off a package Wednesday. It was raining and we were looking at my truck. He said, well it's obvious to see what the problem is. As the water was rolling off the spoiler right down into the window seam.

Here is an idea. GM redesigns the spoiler and does a retrofit. Installs them on al the trucks sitting on lots and sends owners with leaking windows new spoilers to have dealers install. It may cure the leaking issue.  Sure it would cost a lot of money,  but maybe would save money in the long run and for sure would help retain customers. It would never happen, but we can hope.

[BIGDOGx]

1 minute ago, Jamie73 said:

Funny, you guys are correct, terrible design. My UPS guy who is a good friend of mine and loves GMC trucks was dropping off a package Wednesday. It was raining and we were looking at my truck. He said, well it's obvious to see what the problem is. As the water was rolling off the spoiler right down into the window seam.

Here is an idea. GM redesigns the spoiler and does a retrofit. Installs them on al the trucks sitting on lots and sends owners with leaking windows new spoilers to have dealers install. It may cure the leaking issue.  Sure it would cost a lot of money,  but maybe would save money in the long run and for sure would help retain customers. It would never happen, but we can hope.

That does not explain the cracked frames people are seeing though, i say the person who was talking about body flex was onto the correct issue here. Let's face it pop the hood in these trucks as GM has eliminated as much  of the steel structure as possible, they have thinned and trimmed as much as they can and i think it's starting to have adverse effects. I hope i'm wrong as i don't know how GM could ever retrofit a fix if that is indeed the main issue here.

[Jamie73]

21 minutes ago, BIGDOGx said:

That does not explain the cracked frames people are seeing though, i say the person who was talking about body flex was onto the correct issue here. Let's face it pop the hood in these trucks as GM has eliminated as much  of the steel structure as possible, they have thinned and trimmed as much as they can and i think it's starting to have adverse effects. I hope i'm wrong as i don't know how GM could ever retrofit a fix if that is indeed the main issue here.

It certainly will be interesting when we find out what the cause is. I had my new window in for 5 days and only drove an easy 25 miles all on flat road before I discovered leaking again. And no freezing weather during those days as well. My truck is sitting in the shop now.

[UGADawgs]

1 hour ago, Jamie73 said:

It certainly will be interesting when we find out what the cause is. I had my new window in for 5 days and only drove an easy 25 miles all on flat road before I discovered leaking again. And no freezing weather during those days as well. My truck is sitting in the shop now.

Do you have a picture of the model of the window they recently put in that leaked? E2 or E4? also be interested to know if the new window is leaking due to poor install or cracking in same spots.

[Jamie73]

19 minutes ago, UGADawgs said:

Do you have a picture of the model of the window they recently put in that leaked? E2 or E4? also be interested to know if the new window is leaking due to poor install or cracking in same spots.

E4    And yes, anything can happen in an install. the guy that put the window in has been doing it for years and has a great reputation here. So I do have confidence in the install, but you never know.

[UGADawgs]

4 minutes ago, Jamie73 said:

E4    And yes, anything can happen in an install. the guy that put the window in has been doing it for years and has a great reputation here. So I do have confidence in the install, but you never know.

well, keep us all posted for sure!

[Porterhouse]

Finally getting my headliner replaced on Monday. Spoiler sealant repair has worked so far but I haven't drove the truck hardly at all. Was told by the dealer 25% chance of cracking the front windshield during the headliner replacement.  I will keep everyone posted. My truck still has under 300 miles on it. While it's in the shop I'm adding gm lift kit. Fingers crossed this all goes smooth...

[Brandon Adams]

I went to pick my truck up on Thursday night from where the dealership scratched and gouged a lot of trim pieces a d it looked as if they just got a grinder and tried to grind down the gouges... I was not happy. I also felt around the carpet under the back seat and it felt a bit damp. They are supposed to get the water guy back out and see if it's still leaking from the sealant fix.

[Thomcat]

20 hours ago, Jamie73 said:

It certainly will be interesting when we find out what the cause is. I had my new window in for 5 days and only drove an easy 25 miles all on flat road before I discovered leaking again. And no freezing weather during those days as well. My truck is sitting in the shop now.

Cracked frames ion themselves are irrelevant. Wasn't an Avalanche made that didn't develop a cracked frame (in the Sun the glass window expanded more than the plastic fame) and usually two cracks developed in the rear window and they never leaked water. Difference being no holes through the roof and solid sail overhanging the window kept water from the roof from getting anywhere near the window frame.

 

Just look at the T1 setup...the spoiler is attached by screws and clips passing through holes in the roof! A leak at any one of these holes can enter the interior fall on the headliner and then drip on the inside of the window frame and you can get a leak whether or not the frame is cracked. If the lower portion of the spoiler seal is also compromised the water will drip directly onto any crack in the frame. The gasket on the spoiler is a thin POS and worse the corners of the spoiler have a lip that traps water onto the roof area instead of dripping down the sides. If that gasket leaks it will channel water onto the roof holes and worse if the frame is cracked because you'll get water entry both from the holes and the cracked frame.

 

Can't just automatically take it to the dealer....you have to be proactive to determine the cause of the leak. Here's what I'd do first. Cover the seam between the spoiler and roof with painters tape that is non marring and quick release without damage. Then dump loads of water onto the roof and see what happens....if no more leak the problem is the spoiler seal and water getting in through retainer holes in the roof and not any crack in the frame......worse if the dealer doesn't install a new spoiler seal addressing only the window, there will still be a headliner leak problem, maybe much worse if he fails to also install new clip retainers or screw washers.

 

 

[JohnCasey]

Here’s the crack that leaked in the left side

[JohnCasey]

And here’s the right

Edited February 15, 2020 by JohnCasey

[JohnCasey]

And another of the edge of the right side crack.  This one should have been found when they did the first caulk job. 

[JohnCasey]

They did seal my spoiler screws up with the polyurethane sealant and had enough coming through into the cab that I don’t see how water could get in that way now. 

[UGADawgs]

This is a great picture @JohnCasey!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

[JohnCasey]

Cracked in the same place on both sides. I don’t know how the dealership didn’t see it when they did the first caulking job. I’ve got some other pictures of rust in. The truck I’ll try to post up tonight.