Forum Discussion

KKELLER14K's avatar
KKELLER14K
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2019

Leaking Cab Over Lights


Hey for all of you that own a truck with cab over lights...I want to pass something on. My 02 Dodge 3500 (getting old), has an overhead console with a trip computer in it. The weather has been very wet with record rainfall and I came out to the truck with water dripping from the display area. I wipe it up but as I start it up, the whole system shorts out. The instrument panel went completely dead with error codes no one wants to see. Airbags, ABS, check engine with other errors on the overhead display. Nothing worked so I shut it down as fast as I could. I learned how to remove the overhead and dried out the trip computer. I reassembled everything and lucky for me everything works but now but I still have that check engine light. Lucky for me I have an OBD reader so that I can clear the fault codes so I did that. Now everything works so now time to track down the leak. Well here it is..they use these plastic washers under the screws that over the years have failed (broken and brittle), and water is getting in through the screws. I highly suggest that if you have an older truck that you replace these seals. It could be leaking and you might not even know your getting wet on the inside of the cab body.I went with rubber o-rings that will seal better but I will do this now on a regular basis. Hope this finds you all well...
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    Good info guys. Be careful as this one will have to go in the “con” column in the next SRW/DRW debate. ;)
  • I had to replace the middle three light set on out 08 GMC 3500. The lens cracked causing water to enter and burned out the LED's. The bottom gasket also dried out and caused water to leak into the cab dripping onto the center console, luckily into the storage bin. Quick easy fix thankfully.
  • On that same note, the aftermarket LED cab lights are generally flat on the bottom, not curved to match the roof contours like the factory lenses. They’re junk. Don’t run ‘em.