Rear window surround crack.

[LimitedGRR]

There’s so many posts here it’s hard to assess.. I’m seeing 2 cracks like many of you but no leak yet. However I haven’t had in any real rain storm. Is it likely that even with the cracked surrounding the ingress of water is at the 3rd brake light and the cracked window surrounding is just the first point of visible water?

As soon as the crack reaches through to the outside you’ll see water. It’s simple. If your headliner is wet, it’s the 3rd brake light. Water in the cracks or on the glass, it’s the window unit. The water from the 3rd brake light will sit on top of the window frame, just beneath the headliner, between the cracks. I had the cracks for about a month before water started seeping in.


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[Dumpster_on_Wheels]

As soon as the crack reaches through to the outside you’ll see water. It’s simple. If your headliner is wet, it’s the 3rd brake light. Water in the cracks or on the glass, it’s the window unit. The water from the 3rd brake light will sit on top of the window frame, just beneath the headliner, between the cracks. I had the cracks for about a month before water started seeping in.


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Thanks!

 

[LimitedGRR]

Thanks!

Yep. I had my glass replaced, but a week later I had the 3rd brake light leak becuSe the seal was too compressed to work anymore. I swapped out the gasket with a much better rubber one, and I’ve been dry even after 4 inches of rain last weekend.


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[Florida Truck]

My leak was from the cracks in the window frame. My brake light was never a issue ( so far ) and no leak.

 

[Dusty1948]

They completed the removal and replacement of my rear window backlite (68426398AC) today. The dealer tech. did all of the prep work (The rear seats and C-pillar trim had to be removed because I have a slider.) and specialty glass company technicians performed the replacement on the dealers' site. The actual repair was completed yesterday, but they wanted time for the window adhesive to cure and they had to clean the headliner, which took longer than expected.

The dealer tech. said that although mine didn't have the crack in the window frame as most others have had, there was a void in the window adhesive at the top, right under the CHMSL (naturally!) I can see that the glass company used a lot more adhesive than I remember came from the factory.

Rain is in the forecast for all day tomorrow so I'll be able to status everyone on the level of success.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 17 July 2018. Now at: 032525 miles.

My apologies for this tardy update but this has turned out to be a bit of a saga.

After the window replacement I water tested it myself with a garden hose and running it through a Delta Sonic carwash and found no leaks. Unfortunately it rained during that night and sure enough the freshly cleaned headliner was badly stained. I immediately took it back to the dealer service dept. at about 8:15 and showed the service writer who got the Ram tech. to look at it. They immediately took it in where the tech. spent a good hour water testing and confirming the leak was coming from the newly installed window.

The tech. actually got me involved in the diagnosis and we both observed that directly under the CHMSL there appeared to be an absence of adhesive. The service manager got involved and rescheduled the glass company to come out and look at it the following day.

The glass installer techs did their diagnosis with water bottles and they could not reproduce a leak at the window. The Ram tech. got involved and they finally took it into a service bay where they could hit the area with water flow from an unrestricted garden hose (without a nozzle). It was then that the glass folks said it was the CHMSL leaking even though it has the new style gasket. The Ram tech. was pretty incredulous at this point. After an hour and a half it was concluded and agreed by all parties that the window seal at the top was inadequate AND the CHMSL was also leaking.

At the request of my Ram tech. the glass techs agreed to apply a sealer product to the top of the window seal and they also apply a pliable rubber sealing cord to the CHMSL. The tech. ordered a CHMSL replacement although I'm not sure he was absolutely convinced it was leaking. So I left in a temporary state until the CHMSL comes in, however after five car washes and one night of rain there appears to be no leaks. I'm holding off for the CHMSL replacement until we get more rain, forecast for next week.

If anything it's amazing how well the Ram headliner cleans up.

Will keep you posted.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 17 July 2018. Now at: 033077 miles.

 

[LimitedGRR]

My apologies for this tardy update but this has turned out to be a bit of a saga.

After the window replacement I water tested it myself with a garden hose and running it through a Delta Sonic carwash and found no leaks. Unfortunately it rained during that night and sure enough the freshly cleaned headliner was badly stained. I immediately took it back to the dealer service dept. at about 8:15 and showed the service writer who got the Ram tech. to look at it. They immediately took it in where the tech. spent a good hour water testing and confirming the leak was coming from the newly installed window.

The tech. actually got me involved in the diagnosis and we both observed that directly under the CHMSL there appeared to be an absence of adhesive. The service manager got involved and rescheduled the glass company to come out and look at it the following day.

The glass installer techs did their diagnosis with water bottles and they could not reproduce a leak at the window. The Ram tech. got involved and they finally took it into a service bay where they could hit the area with water flow from an unrestricted garden hose (without a nozzle). It was then that the glass folks said it was the CHMSL leaking even though it has the new style gasket. The Ram tech. was pretty incredulous at this point. After an hour and a half it was concluded and agreed by all parties that the window seal at the top was inadequate AND the CHMSL was also leaking.

At the request of my Ram tech. the glass techs agreed to apply a sealer product to the top of the window seal and they also apply a pliable rubber sealing cord to the CHMSL. The tech. ordered a CHMSL replacement although I'm not sure he was absolutely convinced it was leaking. So I left in a temporary state until the CHMSL comes in, however after five car washes and one night of rain there appears to be no leaks. I'm holding off for the CHMSL replacement until we get more rain, forecast for next week.

If anything it's amazing how well the Ram headliner cleans up.

Will keep you posted.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 17 July 2018. Now at: 033077 miles.

Hopefully your saga is coming to an end with this. I read somewhere that lack of sealant was leading to the cracks for whatever reason. When they replaced my glass, I looked closely into the gap between window and body and saw a nice generous amount of sealant oozing just above the plastic where it meets the body. Seems like even if the crack comes back, there should be a bit of sealant to help keep water out.


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[RamLink83]

If anything it's amazing how well the Ram headliner cleans up.

Ram must have known the truck was going to leak and designed the headliner so that it cleans easily. haha

 

[JF19Longhorn]

...damn thing is leaking again.. no cracks this time though.

Goes back in again on Wednesday.

Well after a whole day of back-n-forth with the dealer and their water guy not showing up.. they claim they fixed it. ...3rd Brake light as most predicted.

Supposedly replaced the seal, but in looking down in there, it appears that they black silicon sealed it. There's a thick bead going all the way around. I really don't care as long as it stops leaking...

Guess I'll findout this week, it's supposed to rain / storm for the next 2-3 days.

 

[RamLink83]

Well after a whole day of back-n-forth with the dealer and their water guy not showing up.. they claim they fixed it. ...3rd Brake light as most predicted.

Supposedly replaced the seal, but in looking down in there, it appears that they black silicon sealed it. There's a thick bead going all the way around. I really don't care as long as it stops leaking...

Guess I'll findout this week, it's supposed to rain / storm for the next 2-3 days.

That's how they fixed mine. Only had one mild rain storm so far and it was not leaking. If we ever have to replace a brake light bulb it's going to be a pain, but I may just end up putting that seal a lot of people on here got from Lowes if that happens.

 

[Jayturk]

Just got my truck back from service, here's what they found:

 

[grifodan67]

So...if we have the crack and a leak it is the window and if we don't have a crack and a leak it is the 3rd brake light? When I called my dealership, they said if the rear window is cracked, I would have to pay for the replacement. I told them the surround plastic piece is cracked and they said that is the first they had heard about something like that happening.

 

[LimitedGRR]

So...if we have the crack and a leak it is the window and if we don't have a crack and a leak it is the 3rd brake light? When I called my dealership, they said if the rear window is cracked, I would have to pay for the replacement. I told them the surround plastic piece is cracked and they said that is the first they had heard about something like that happening.

The glass has never been at fAult for the leak. The glass would have to break. The frame is always under warranty. Contact ram cares through the forum if the dealer balks or tries to avoid covering it under warranty. And yes, if it’s cracked and leaking through the crack it’s the frame If the water is in the headliner or on top of the ledge of the window frame it is the 3rd brake light.


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[LimitedGRR]

That's how they fixed mine. Only had one mild rain storm so far and it was not leaking. If we ever have to replace a brake light bulb it's going to be a pain, but I may just end up putting that seal a lot of people on here got from Lowes if that happens.

5 inches of rAin since doing the Lowe’s seal and dry dry dry.... (knocks on limited’s wood dash for anti-jinx effect)


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[RamCares]

So...if we have the crack and a leak it is the window and if we don't have a crack and a leak it is the 3rd brake light? When I called my dealership, they said if the rear window is cracked, I would have to pay for the replacement. I told them the surround plastic piece is cracked and they said that is the first they had heard about something like that happening.

Hi @grifodan67 - Please do not hesitate to follow up with me via private message. I would be more than happy to escalate your situation to a specialist who can work alongside your dealer for this!

Mark
RamCares

 

[Dusty1948]

The glass has never been at fAult for the leak. The glass would have to break. The frame is always under warranty. Contact ram cares through the forum if the dealer balks or tries to avoid covering it under warranty. And yes, if it’s cracked and leaking through the crack it’s the frame If the water is in the headliner or on top of the ledge of the window frame it is the 3rd brake light.


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Actually, in my case the window was not cracked and it did leak. There's a STAR case on this. Apparently they had trouble with the window adhesive for a period.

I have had the CHMSL (third brake light) leak a few months after I purchased the vehicle. When that leaked I had water stains on the headliner in both extreme rear corners only. If you remove the CHMSL you'll see a channel formed by a strip of metal welded to the cab that goes across the entire top of the rear window. When water leaks past the CHMSL gasket water follows that channel to the cab corners.

If the top of the window seal is leaking from frame cracks or adhesive failure, you'll usually see headliner stains anywhere across the middle as water will follow the lip on frame of the rear window.

Of course as in my case, the collective diagnostic judgement of the Ram tech. and glass replacement techs was they were both leaking.

Although I'm waiting to have another CHMSL assembly replaced, it's mildly rained most of the day I and don't see any leaks.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 17 July 2018. Now at: 033114 miles.

 

[Jayturk]

So...if we have the crack and a leak it is the window and if we don't have a crack and a leak it is the 3rd brake light? When I called my dealership, they said if the rear window is cracked, I would have to pay for the replacement. I told them the surround plastic piece is cracked and they said that is the first they had heard about something like that happening.

Selective memory, I don't think they would commit to anything without seeing for themselves.

 

[grifodan67]

The glass has never been at fAult for the leak. The glass would have to break. The frame is always under warranty. Contact ram cares through the forum if the dealer balks or tries to avoid covering it under warranty. And yes, if it’s cracked and leaking through the crack it’s the frame If the water is in the headliner or on top of the ledge of the window frame it is the 3rd brake light.


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Funny thing is the frame is cracked, there is water on top of the ledge of the window frame, but my headliner is dry.

 

[Jeffjad]

For those of you replacing the OEM seal on the third brake light be careful not to over torque the screws like I apparently did because it will crack (pic below). Mine didn't crack right away but I'm assuming with it getting warmer the expansion cracked it.....oooops!

I was able to find a new takeoff assembly on ebay for $20 so not too bad.

 

[Dusty1948]

For those of you replacing the OEM seal on the third brake light be careful not to over torque the screws like I apparently did because it will crack (pic below). Mine didn't crack right away but I'm assuming with it getting warmer the expansion cracked it.....oooops!
View attachment 57989
I was able to find a new takeoff assembly on ebay for $20 so not too bad.

Could you please point out where the crack is? I can't tell from the photograph.

Thanks in advance.
Best regars,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 17 July 2018. Now at: 033318 miles.

 

[LimitedGRR]

Funny thing is the frame is cracked, there is water on top of the ledge of the window frame, but my headliner is dry.

Mine behaved like that too for the 3rd light. My headliner was never wet but had water on that little ledge


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