3rd Brake Light Leak

I searched around but never really found the perfect answer to my problem.
Getting water in either rear cab corner when it rains. I see a lot of posts talking about the rear window drains but my issue seems higher up.

My main question is, is the easiest way to deal with this just to remove the third brake light lens only and then caulk around the actual light assembly (truck metal to light housing)? Heard also it is best to only caulk from the 9 to 3 position and leave the bottom open (not sure where I saw that post).

My truck sits at a slope in the driveway with the rear being the lowest so I'm sure that doesn't help. At the moment I also have the front cowl clip leak to deal with.

(I work nights I'll respond when I'm able)
Thanks to all!

 

VIPMOTOZ Third Brake Light Stop Lamp Seal Gasket For 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra Pickup Truck - Upgrade 4mm Thickness Seal Replacement Foam, Double Side Ultra Strong Adhesive

https://www.amazon.com/VIPMOTOZ-Gasket-Replacement-Weather-2000-2006/dp/B07S43QCZ6

 

That may work well. Heard from others there was no new replacement parts. Might just be no more OEM seal. Guess I have to drop the headliner enough and remove the rear bolts from what I've been reading.

Have you used this seal yourself?

 

The seal is applied from the outside. No need to remove the headliner. Just remove the two screws that hold the third brake light in place, pull the light out (really just the lens I believe), remove the old seal and clean the surfaces up real good. Apply new seal and re-install. Great time to upgrade the light bulbs in there for higher output LED cargo lamps and brake lights.

 

This looks to be the one that seals the back side of the housing to the cab. Which I believe is where my leak is.
Thought I saw somewhere about just sealing around the outside of the light after removing the lens. Have to see if I can find it. Don't want to break any part of the 3rd brake light housing by taking it apart if i can help it.

 

Personally, I would try just replacing the gasket before I busted out the caulk gun. I don't know about you, but my caulk beads never look that great and I feel like you'd just make it look like crap.

 

Very true. Probably would be better to just do it right and be done with it. Gonna do a bit more looking on here and find a good thread about it. If I don't find much I'll try and do a small write up about it.
Just know I may need to pull the rear headliner out. Just have to try and see.

 

@Tundra2
I see you've had your 3rd brake light out at least once. Any tips or tricks on doing so? Have to remove headliner to access anything?

 

I wouldn't say that the headliner has to come, but it does make things a lot easier.

 

Pulled out 3rd brake light to replace gasket and these clips were sitting inside, does anyone know where they go/clip on to?

 

They don't look broken or anything either. Did you just remove the screws on the outside of the truck and pull?

 

Not quite, only the lens comes off when you remove the screws, the housing is glued onto the truck, I just used a plastic pry tool and carefully separated the old gasket all around from the housing, once you do that you can pull everything out.

 

I see. Gonna have to tackle this one day soon. Just hoping not to break anything.

 

Dug through old photos from when I replaced mine with OEM. Worth every penny in my opinion.

Red clip things are wire holders on the light assembly.


They just hold the wires close to the assembly is all.

FWIW, the sheet metal up there is sharp.

 

I'm gonna pull the cover off mine one day here soon and see how melted everything is and figure out how bad I may need a new one. When I got the truck both cargo lights were burned out so they may have been burned out for quite a few years and maybe it didn't melt too bad. I think the truck had a cap on it for quite a number of years as I have a paint match cap that I assume was purchased long ago. I really need to get some LED's for all this so I can keep it from melting any more. Gotta order some for the interior too.

 

We already discussed my CD and JBWELD idea if you want to try to fix it. Lol

 

True true. Think I'll try and pull the lens when I get home from work to figure out what direction I need to go in.

 

Lens seal appears fine. Light to truck seal looks like garbage. Part of it doesn't even look like it's there at all anymore. Going to try and pull and replace seal this weekend.
Only one small hole on the upper side of one of the light housings.

 

Thank you @Tundra2. Figured out where the clips go. Mine are quite bad, have burn holes on both side top and bottom

 

I replaced with OEM so I didn't have to worry about leaks. Back when I ordered my part, everything was about a $100 as a kit. I've brainstormed a cheap way, but I've never practiced it. Go to a local goodwill, and buy some Cds. Cut them into this shape below, or to fit over the holes in reflector. JBweld them into place for a water proof seal. Do top, ans bottom.


I would almost bet money that @NickB_01TRD's red/white lens doesn't have a seal. Water is getting inside the reflector cups, and coming into the cab from the holes in the top, and bottom of the assembly.

 

@NickB_01TRD Did you check the 'Definitive Leak Thread' pinned to the top forum sticky area?

https://www.tundras.com/threads/definitive-cab-area-rain-water-leak-thread.70464/

Tons of leak suggestions in there. There are a few roof/rear cab leak spots to check.

 

Somehow I missed this post. Yes I looked through there a few times. That's how I found out about the front cowl clip leak. Got that one taken care of pretty quick.

Here's my findings.
Removed screws from housing and pulled and it came out pretty easy and it was obvious the seal was bad on the top section. I unhooked those red clips with the lens only removed by pushing the little tabs down and letting the clips fall back in the light. These actually seem to aid in keeping the light held in around the middle at least slightly. I found no need to pull the headliner to do this job either.

I used a plastic trim tool and some degreaser and some rags and just wiped this all away with a bit of time and effort. Didn't have the propane torch handy so just went for it. Turned out decent.

I now realize I need to get better at taking pictures as these are the only two I got. I thought I took a picture of the light at some point but I didn't. It had a small hole over the top of one side but that was all. Not too bad really.
New seal was the one recommended in this thread and it was pretty thick but seems like it will work fine. Time will tell. Put seal around light and reinstalled red clips and screwed light back in.

 

I dunno, I think what you posted was awesome. I'm going to update the 'definitive leak thread' with a link to this specific post, and people can scroll up to find the link to the aftermarket gasket also. Kinda wish the replacement gasket was rubber, myself, but beggars can't be choosers, I guess! I remember pulling the exploded parts diagram for this, just like with every other truck I've owned, I seem to recall they don't sell the damn gasket separately. Stuff like that really pisses me off.

 

I'm not sure that there ever really was a specific part for that in the first place. The stuff they use reminds me of what they use to attach and seal the moisture barrier inside of a door panel. Tacky and sticky. Almost like it was just a product that is dispensed from a tube.
If I have issues with this at any point I'll probably pull the light out and use some type of caulk and see if it works. Hoping to not have any issues with this seal though.

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread...did anyone ever figure out whether this gasket is for the light to cab seal (and not the lens to light).

VIPMOTOZ Third Brake Light Stop Lamp Seal Gasket For 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra Pickup Truck - Upgrade 4mm Thickness Seal Replacement Foam, Double Side Ultra Strong Adhesive

https://www.amazon.com/VIPMOTOZ-Gasket-Replacement-Weather-2000-2006/dp/B07S43QCZ6

Toyota lists 81572-0C010 as "Center High Mount Stop Light Gasket", which is the lens to light gasket.



As @Shifty states there is no OEM p/n for the seal between the light and the cab.

 

Is that light to body seal just goop? I got an oem light long ago, maybe I should check if it has a seal built in.

 

This is the one I used for housing to body. So far it seems to have worked well.

VIPMOTOZ Third Brake Light Stop Lamp Seal Gasket For 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra Pickup Truck - Upgrade 4mm Thickness Seal Replacement Foam, Double Side Ultra Strong Adhesive

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S43QCZ6/

 

That is also what I used housing to body.

Yeah mine was just goop. It sucked to pull off. Seemed like the same kind of stuff they use to hold the moisture barrier on the inside of doors.

 

I have some butyl strips from my headlight retrofit. Wonder if I can use that to replace the seal when I get around to replacing my housing. I need to stop being so lazy and get that done. I was waiting to buy LED bulbs, hoping they won't melt my new housing. Then I decided to wait until I can repaint my roof. I need to get that crap done.

 

If you got the assembly it should come with the proper seal