Leaking Rear Cab Vents

[mtofell]

So, I've been down the road of the 3rd brake light and got that solved a few months after I got my truck back in 2014. Just lifted the rear seat and found the storage bin under the driver's side full of water and it looks like it's the dreaded leaking rear cab vent. Everything at the headliner and around the window is dry and it looks like it's coming right out of the vent but without removing the back seat I can't be 100%

Now for the questions - how much work is it to remove the seats and swap the vents? I have a Maxcare Lifetime warranty - is this a warranty item? If it's easy enough I'd just prefer to do it myself but if it's a major hassle I'll take it in. There's the $100 deductible but the bigger pain is just being without my truck and I know I generally care more than the tech and the dealer and would like to be sure it's done right.

So, who has tackled this?

 

[HarryS]

4 bolts to remove each seat, they then lift right out. The vent can be manipulated from the inside to install, some attach a string to it and lower it down between the bed and cab. I did it the first way. The vents can be purchased 3rd party, or directly from Ram.

 

[David H]

Ram 1500 cab vent water leak fix

Ram 1500 rear cab vents leaking water into the truck.@$18 for both vents purchased from dealer.Problem solved.

www.youtube.com

I think there is a part number for an upgraded vent that won't fall apart. Can't seem to find it however.

 

[mtofell]

I've been watching some videos and am wondering if it's just a matter of debris build-up. For the first time in 11+ years I looked way down into the gap between the bed and cab and there is a ton of junk in there - leaves, etc. Going to clean it out really good and keep an eye on it before doing anything. I'm hoping to be able to get an air hose down there are clean things up after knocking out the big stuff. Some people online report the vents get propped open when debris builds up.

 

[Daw14]

Vents are easy once exposed, Genosgarage has them , there are two styles available .
My recommendation is
bodyside aperture exhauster/cab vent # 68324094ab

Found under body hardware +seals
My 2014 rcsb came from the factory with the chassis cab style .
I bought the other kind before discovering that two types existed .
When I removed the first from the cab , the rubber flaps were in like new condition, dirty but no signs of wear . So they were cleaned up and reinstalled.
The cheaper style are in my shed.

The chassis cab are made entirely different,and are much better .
When I had the back wall of the cab exposed I sound proofed it . The difference is very nnoticeable, and makes me wish I had did this sooner .

 

[ffeschjeff]

make sure you do the "rear seat mod" while you're back there so you can fold down the seats! if you haven't already.

 

[LeeD]

My vents were missing half of flaps when I replaced them. Once you remove the seats they’re easy to replace.

 

[Adamcr68]

So, I've been down the road of the 3rd brake light and got that solved a few months after I got my truck back in 2014. Just lifted the rear seat and found the storage bin under the driver's side full of water and it looks like it's the dreaded leaking rear cab vent. Everything at the headliner and around the window is dry and it looks like it's coming right out of the vent but without removing the back seat I can't be 100%

Now for the questions - how much work is it to remove the seats and swap the vents? I have a Maxcare Lifetime warranty - is this a warranty item? If it's easy enough I'd just prefer to do it myself but if it's a major hassle I'll take it in. There's the $100 deductible but the bigger pain is just being without my truck and I know I generally care more than the tech and the dealer and would like to be sure it's done right.

So, who has tackled this?

I did mine a little while back, the hardest part was the bolts for the seat, after that it was not too bad.
I used the string method, I read about here, to lower them into position & then grab from the inside to click into place.
It was probably 2-2 1/2 hours total, not in any rush, with the majority of that removing the seat bolts.
I was sweating by the time I got the last one out, started with my biggest socket driver but ended up using an old-non ratchet- torque wrench that has a long handle.
If I did it again, I would go underneath and spray the bolts with some “blaster” or similar a couple times prior to removing the bolts, safe to say it was the first time the seat had been out on my 10 year old truck.

 

[Yardbird]

Here is my thread with write up and pictures where I changed out my rear vents last August.

I bought the new style vents. They were much better looking than the factory ones.

No leaks at all since changing out what appeared to be good vents for much better looking vents.

I THINK I laid under the truck and slid them up into place.

Old vents in first pictures.

Dang, August... It doesn't seem it was that long ago.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/changed-out-rear-vents-and-hitch-bolt-cover.219493/

 

[Yardbird]

If you have more than one dealer in your area, check prices before buying. The corporate one west of me wanted $25.00 each for theirs.

The private owned dealer east of me was 10.21 each.

 

[JY1500]

I just went through this and purchased the above-mentioned "upgraded" vents (68324094ab) -- while I absolutely agree they are a better design, there's NO WAY these will fit on my 17' 1500 sport. I had to remove the outer "shroud" in order for them to fit.

Just an FYI for anyone else who might buy the more expensive vent design that came factory on HD models.. there's physically not enough space between my cab and bed for them, unfortunately.

 

[Daw14]

I thought they were big , as in thick looking ., however came from the factory on my 2014 reg cab 6.4’ bed express 2wd.
Sorry to hear they did not work out.
Now I want to see these side by side for comparison , but my truck is back together.
And what I have will outlast me .

 

[Dusty]

So, I've been down the road of the 3rd brake light and got that solved a few months after I got my truck back in 2014. Just lifted the rear seat and found the storage bin under the driver's side full of water and it looks like it's the dreaded leaking rear cab vent. Everything at the headliner and around the window is dry and it looks like it's coming right out of the vent but without removing the back seat I can't be 100%

Now for the questions - how much work is it to remove the seats and swap the vents? I have a Maxcare Lifetime warranty - is this a warranty item? If it's easy enough I'd just prefer to do it myself but if it's a major hassle I'll take it in. There's the $100 deductible but the bigger pain is just being without my truck and I know I generally care more than the tech and the dealer and would like to be sure it's done right.

So, who has tackled this?

You will need a special socket for one of the bolts that mount the seats to the floor.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 145008 miles.

 

[nstoolman1]

Check to see if they are installed in the correct direction. They can be installed upside down.
Could save some money.

 

[Craig52]

So, I've been down the road of the 3rd brake light and got that solved a few months after I got my truck back in 2014. Just lifted the rear seat and found the storage bin under the driver's side full of water and it looks like it's the dreaded leaking rear cab vent. Everything at the headliner and around the window is dry and it looks like it's coming right out of the vent but without removing the back seat I can't be 100%

Now for the questions - how much work is it to remove the seats and swap the vents? I have a Maxcare Lifetime warranty - is this a warranty item? If it's easy enough I'd just prefer to do it myself but if it's a major hassle I'll take it in. There's the $100 deductible but the bigger pain is just being without my truck and I know I generally care more than the tech and the dealer and would like to be sure it's done right.

So, who has tackled th

 

[Craig52]

I replaced my vents a couple of years ago and was able to easily install them from inside the cab. There’s a couple of YouTube vids that show how to angle and tilt the vent into the hole and easily get it completely through the hole, align it then simply pull it toward you to engage the clips. Seat bolts are tight, but my old ass was able to crack them. BY ALL MEANS do the back seat drop down mod at the same time. That will allow you to easily check for leaks and gain access in the future without removing the seats!

 

[Daw14]

I replaced my vents a couple of years ago and was able to easily install them from inside the cab. There’s a couple of YouTube vids that show how to angle and tilt the vent into the hole and easily get it completely through the hole, align it then simply pull it toward you to engage the clips. Seat bolts are tight, but my old ass was able to crack them. BY ALL MEANS do the back seat drop down mod at the same time. That will allow you to easily check for leaks and gain access in the future without removing the seats!

This was how I changed/ cleaned mine , very easily through the cab.

 

[mtofell]

So, I got around to cleaning the crap out from between the cab and bed and was pretty surprised how much was trapped in there. I don't live in a particularly heavily treed area but I guess after 11+ years it adds up. And I'm not even sure the debris is what caused the leakage.

When cleaning the junk off the driveway I found a few of the flaps from the vents. Surprised at how cheap and flimsy they are. It's no mystery why they broke down and are leaking. Looks like I'll be redoing the vents in the spring.

 

[Daw14]

So, I got around to cleaning the crap out from between the cab and bed and was pretty surprised how much was trapped in there. I don't live in a particularly heavily treed area but I guess after 11+ years it adds up. And I'm not even sure the debris is what caused the leakage.

When cleaning the junk off the driveway I found a few of the flaps from the vents. Surprised at how cheap and flimsy they are. It's no mystery why they broke down and are leaking. Looks like I'll be redoing the vents in the spring.

Truck will probably sound a bit quieter, and less fumes.

 

[Adamcr68]

Truck will probably sound a bit quieter, and less fumes.

I noticed that after doing my vents, more the sound than any fumes.