'97-2003 Ford F-150 Rear Window Leaking?

How to step by step on how to fix that leaky rear '97-2003 Ford F-150 Rear window. This is a very common problem and it's actually a pretty cheap DIY fix if you have a few basic tools and a couple hours to save yourself a bunch of $ money $.
figsbethewild....
/ bobby.newton_figsoutside

[@Oh6Torch]

$700 is crazy. You can spend 12 hours learning to do it and waste a few of tapes and still come out ahead.

[@figsoutside1981]

Exactly. But you know… some folks just won’t. Thanks for watching.

[@triguyw3304]

Thanks for the video. My son’s friend (Seniors in HS) just bought a used 2002 Ford F150 and went through a car wash and his rear window leaked like a sieve. I sent him a link to your video. Thanks for making the video as he needs to fix it but money is tight especially for high schooler.

[@figsoutside1981]

Thanks for sharing and for watching, it’s much appreciated. Hope it helps him and he gets it fixed soon.

[@Agent_Michael_Scarn]

Super helpful. I have a 2001 with the same problem. Gonna tackle it this afternoon. Appreciate the video

[@figsoutside1981]

Good luck. Thanks for watching!

[@theevallded]

A small tip, use the butyl to remove the butyl. As you start collecting it and get a small blob of it, use that and go around the window dabbing it to itself and it pulls right off

[@figsoutside1981]

Nice, thanks for the info and for sharing it! Thanks for watching also.

[@RedDog-gv9xx]

The seat back can be more easily removed by inserting a 3' 2x4 between the back and bottom and prying down. No strain.

[@figsoutside1981]

Good to know, thanks for sharing and for watching

[@bairfreedom]

Thanks! I am attempting this this weekend I think. If the wife stops driving the truck that is.

[@figsoutside1981]

Lol, good luck. It’s not that bad, just takes a lil time. Thanks for watching.

[@samlind8676]

Well done sir, very thorough.

[@figsoutside1981]

Thank You and thanks for watching

[@405SVT]

So butyl is better then using window weld? I would think window weld would last forever compared to this tape

[@figsoutside1981]

You know I’m not sure. After talking to a couple different body shops, they said what they use depends on the gaping. Butyl fills in better. Window weld can be messy and costs more.

[@405SVT]

@@figsoutside1981 I'm doing mine and I'm going to use a 3M 08611 5/16 ribbon seal. I think its supposed to be a replacement for butyl. I was going to use windo weld caulk but it looks to messy.

[@figsoutside1981]

Cool, let me know how it works👍🏼

[@cards06champs]

Awesome video and very helpful. I have this same issue on my 03 f150, but the plastic trim is cracked. Is it possible to replace the trim with having to remove everything?

[@figsoutside1981]

Dang, that sucks. Not that I cant tell. Thanks for watching and for the compliment.

[@ThomasJones-yl6be]

Way to go dad ur.daughter is lucky to have u. Great video

[@figsoutside1981]

@Thomas Jones thank you very much on both the comments. Thanks for watching also.

[@Glens1965]

Nice video! Thanks for the input. I have 2 f-150's that need this love ASAP.

[@figsoutside1981]

Thank You. Yeah, terrible design. Ours it still holding water tight. Thanks for watching.

[@philrowland8079]

I ham handed the interior upholstery trim fastener and need to find where to get the ones with the button you tap in, of course with appropriate color, any help would be appreciated

[@figsoutside1981]

@Phil Rowland you need the plastic buttons or the larger plastic piece? RockAuto usually has many of different body and interior trim stuff or you can also try ebay or if you have a local pick and pull auto yard.

[@philrowland8079]

@@figsoutside1981 Thanks, just the button with the center you tap in and then pull out will try Rock Auto, then a couple of local salvage yards

[@figsoutside1981]

@Phil Rowland sometimes you can get lucky and the auto part stores will have them also like O’Reillys or Autozone. Usually in black, but I have seen them in different colors

[@ETPCYT]

Great job BRO, these DIYs are super helpful :)

[@figsoutside1981]

Thanks bro, that’s the goal and to hopefully help others do it easier.

[@maheshpatel2086]

Great video. How long butyl tape was needed? I have the same problem on my 01 F150.

[@figsoutside1981]

@Mahesh Patel best way to do that is to measure around the window. Butyl tape is pretty cheap though, it’s better to have a little extra than not enough, so measure fairly generously.

[@hecks_b_rex]

I have to do this to my 2000 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson edition!Mine's only leaks when it's raining really bad but if it's light rain it won't leak.🙄

[@figsoutside1981]

That’s because as of right now it probably only has small gaps in the seal, which will only get worse with time.

[@hecks_b_rex]

@@figsoutside1981 yeah and to make matters worse it looks like someone did a sloppy job on the outside seal with some black rubberized silicone stuff! Smh

[@figsoutside1981]

@Hecks_B_Rex Yeah that sucks. Someone did the same on my buddies F150 that I helped him with. Used alcohol and an old washrag to get it off. Don’t use paint thinner or anything like that, you can booger up the plastic.

[@Alienated80]

Good video. I noticed some of those nuts inside of there appeared to hold the plastic trim in place that is outside of the cab just above the bed. Do you have to remove these inside panels to remove the outside cab trim where the third brake light is located?

[@figsoutside1981]

Yes, if you are wanting to remove the cab trim…?

[@OurWorldHealth]

Question: What type of butyl tape did you buy exactly? I see all kinds of thicknesses out there, and I want to make sure I don't get the wrong kind. Thanks.

[@figsoutside1981]

@Paul Guerra If I’m remembering correctly, I used the 5/16” round black butyl tape.

[@countryliving8823]

I’m kinda late to the party but… how many rolls of that tape did u have to buy? Amazon has them in 10 ft sections $15

[@figsoutside1981]

I bought one roll. Bought mine at Home Depot. Don’t remember how many ft it was though. Was either 10’ or 12’ I believe.

[@sjsydnor]

This is great. Having the same issue with my 03. Where did you get the butyl tape?

[@figsoutside1981]

@sjsydnor Thanks you. I bought it at our local Ace Hardware. Home Depot or most hardware stores should have it as it is also used for sealing gutters, roofing, ducting work, etc.... I was also told that many auto part stores have it. Hope this helps you out. Thanks for watching.

[@heyhunter3000]

How well will this buytl tape hold up opposed to a seal made for the back window?

[@figsoutside1981]

@Hey Hunter , after talking with a buddy of mine that owns a body shop and does lots of window/windshield installs, he said it’s the same stuff.

[@THOMAS01ify]

Why in the hell did they use brutal tape the stuff is absolutely worthless 5120 silicone I think it's called would work much better its the same stuff they use for windshields no wonder it was leaking butal is petroleum based and will dry out 5120 is silicone based and will not degrade over time.

[@figsoutside1981]

Who knows, why did they go with such a terrible design in the first place. Thanks for watching.

[@DerekHen]

Needing to do this ASAP on my king ranch, has this still been holding up good?

[@figsoutside1981]

@Derek Henry Yes, holding up great. Has sat with large amounts of snow on it, melting off, repeat. Also quite a bit of rain and absolutely zero leaks. Thanks for asking and for watching.

[@eduardomoraga9398]

What's was the name of rune material you used

[@figsoutside1981]

Butyl tape.

[@Mdambrosio93]

how do you get the back portion of the backseat down? does that fold down and i don’t know it?

[@figsoutside1981]

@Matt DAmbrosio there should be a lever on the door side of the seat, almost under it.

[@Mdambrosio93]

i can’t find it? i have a lever that lifts the seating part upwards but not the back part down. driver side or passenger side? any other tips?

[@figsoutside1981]

@Matt DAmbrosio my daughters was stuck at first. It should fold forward. There’s usually a compartment behind the back seats. That’s where the tire jack is stored too. It lifts up, then should fold forward.

[@Oh6Torch]

Damnit! The trim leaks, the window is fine. I already installed the window . Does the tape work for the trim too?? I can’t seem to remove the trim without removing the window first. Thank God for Amazon!

[@figsoutside1981]

I don’t see why it would not work. Might as well give it a try.

[@willieharrison2752]

I'll just pay the 700 dollars.

[@figsoutside1981]

You can do it man. You got it!