If you’re experiencing leaks from your roof rack and seeing water marks on your headliner, hopefully you’ll find this helpful.
Using basic tools and Permatex Black RTV Silicone (available at most auto parts stores), this DIY will walk you through lifting off the roof rack and sealing the screw holes rather than removing your whole headliner as most dealers would suggest.
Tools Needed:
– Permatex Black RTV Silicone High Temp Seal and Gasket Maker
– Flat head screw driver or other SOFT pry tool
– 8mm Socket
– Socket driver (we used a ratchet and extension)
NOTES:
-When removing the rack, you will have to take off the OEM cross bars with a T-35 torx head.
– When lifting the rack off the roof, beware of the weather stripping. It’s VERY thin aluminum and can bend and crease if you pull up too hard.
-To avoid creasing the weather strip, pop the rack feet free via the plastic Christmas tree rivet with the soft pry tool. Be GENTLE but FIRM.
For any and all questions or comments, please leave them in the section below.
We will have a future video on how to clean the headliner of these watermarks.
Thanks for watching! Please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more videos to come!
-Rahrena
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Funny, watched your first video and wondered why you didn't clean the channels prior to installing, and knew that silicone caulk you were using wouldn't do the job the way you were just adding inside the holes
After adding the factory roof rack to my 2013 Escape I developed leaks on both sides in the front. I had already used RTV sealant on the bolts and washers so that wasn't my problem. After more research I learned that the base of the channel is actually roof panel sealant that is painted over and that removing the channel cover and installing the roof rails had cracked this sealant allowing water to seep in. After several tries with more and more RTV I was finally able to fix the leaks using Flex Seal liquid painted along the entire bottom and sides of the channel. This liquid rubber compound is thinner than Permatex or other RTV material and flows into all the cracks. I masked off the top edges of the channel and built a "dam" across the front of the channel above the windshield with plumber's putty to prevent the liquid rubber from draining out. After reassembly, sealing the bolts as shown here, I've been leak free for over a year.
How do I know the roof rack is where the leak is coming from as opposed to entering via the sunroof drains? I have a 2013 Ford Escape & today, for the first time, water was dripping from the rear passenger-side light just above the door. Freaked me out, as I've been in rain before and never had this problem.
I installed new OEM rails on my 2014 escape. Used black rtv, a lot of it. I still got drivers side A pilar leak at first bad rain. Instructions that came with the kit did not have me remove the center brackets so they were left in place and re used. any suggestions?
Thanks for taking the time to post your video.. This just looks like a design flaw once you get the front rack mount up.. There are little channels formed into the roof metal that actually funnel water right to the screw mounting holes in the roof .. If the factory foam seals adhered to the rack mounts don't get smash down into those channels or around the roof screw holes, water will be feed right to the hole causing the leak. I suggest people also fill those small channels in the roof metal around the holes with just enough black RTV to keep the water from getting to the holes in the first place. Don't use a lot of RTV as it would make it much harder to get that roof mounts off again if ever needed.. Also, I see no need to coat the heads of the bolts with RTV as they do not make contact with the roof holes but only pinch the 1/2" thick rack mount to the roof..
My sister has had both 2014 Escape front mounts leak, one side within the 3yr warranty and the other side Ford said nope!! you are just out of warranty, but they can sure charge us for their manufacturing design flaw.. This is a terrible Ford customer service issue for a simple fix they wont make right..
Brand new 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with roof rack leak at passenger rear mount. Leaks like crazy as water drips down the side interior behind the panels and then drips from a vent down into a recessed area on the rear hatch floor. The roof liner inside is wet right under the mounting points of the rear roof rack. There is also a fuse box right where the water drips down inside the rear panel. Is there a recall or tech service bulletin on this? Had I known this I would not have bought this car. I guess if they can't fix it, I will. There are so many other ways to seal things the right way, too bad Ford can't figure this out. An intelligent service tech should be able to figure this out. I will give them one chance to fix it.
why has ford not done a recall on this shit, my did this, and I thought is was the only one. ford sucks. ford quality sucks, and I will never ever own another POS ford!!!
I did all the steps and it still leaks. I noticed on the foot there are small rubber blocks or tape which I assume are attached with double sided adhesive. mine ripped apart. should I just use thick double sided tape?
i am about to install roof rails on my 2013 kuga, they slightly different in Europe , my biggest concern was possible leak but thanks to your video I know what to do.