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Water Getting in Rear Spare Compartment

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2021 ford explorer st
#1
Hello, Question to anyone who has owned these explorers for a while? I noticed when I bought the car that I had water in the spare tire compartment. It was a good amount of water close to three inches. I had vacuumed it out and took it to the dealer. They had to repair a hole in the compartment. I don't know how the hole got there. This was a used explorer with 10k miles. Anyway, come today about a week after getting the car back I noticed a little bit of water in the compartment again. It is obviously happening with heavy rains? Has anyone ever had this happen? If so, was it the rubber gasket or what?
 

hbalek

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#2
Hello, Question to anyone who has owned these explorers for a while? I noticed when I bought the car that I had water in the spare tire compartment. It was a good amount of water close to three inches. I had vacuumed it out and took it to the dealer. They had to repair a hole in the compartment. I don't know how the hole got there. This was a used explorer with 10k miles. Anyway, come today about a week after getting the car back I noticed a little bit of water in the compartment again. It is obviously happening with heavy rains? Has anyone ever had this happen? If so, was it the rubber gasket or what?
There's a discussion about this and I believe it comes from the quarter panel window down into the tire compartment. I've not had this but some others have.
 

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Thread Starter #3
Thank you, I am dropping the car off tomorrow in the AM
 

DaveG ST

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#4
I have not had this issue, but typically it will be caused from somewhere higher up on the ST and traveling down into the spare tire compartment.
 

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MD
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2020 Ford Explorer ST
#5
Hello, Question to anyone who has owned these explorers for a while? I noticed when I bought the car that I had water in the spare tire compartment. It was a good amount of water close to three inches. I had vacuumed it out and took it to the dealer. They had to repair a hole in the compartment. I don't know how the hole got there. This was a used explorer with 10k miles. Anyway, come today about a week after getting the car back I noticed a little bit of water in the compartment again. It is obviously happening with heavy rains? Has anyone ever had this happen? If so, was it the rubber gasket or what?
Yes my 2020 leaks with heavy rain only when not moving
 

SeaRay

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2021 Explorer AWD Limited Hybrid
#7
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
Lack Of Audio And/Or Water Leak In Rear Of Vehicle And/Or Spare Tire Area23-2181
21 June 2023
This bulletin supersedes 22-2262. Reason for update: Concern Carryover to New Model
Model:
Ford
2020-2023 Explorer
Lincoln
2020-2023 Aviator

Summary

This article supersedes TSB 22-2262 to update the service procedure, and vehicle model years affected.
Issue: Some 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit a lack of audio and/or a water leak in the rear liftgate area and/or water in the spare tire area. The customer may indicate that this concern is more noticeable after a car wash or rainfall. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to identify the leak path.
Action: Follow the Service Procedure steps to identify the leak path on vehicles that meet all of the following criteria:

• 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator
• Lack of audio after a car wash or rainfall
• Water in the rear liftgate area and/or water in the spare tire area​


Parts
Parts To Inspect And Replace Only If Necessary
Service Part NumberQuantityDescriptionUnit of IssuePiece QuantityLC5Z-14B350-BIf NeededAviator Power Liftgate Strut - Refer To The Parts Catalog For The VIN Specific Application11LB5Z-14B351-AIf NeededPower Liftgate Strut - Refer To The Parts Catalog For The VIN Specific Application1118K810If NeededAudio Control Module - Refer To The Parts Catalog For The VIN Specific Application11W710014-S300If NeededRubber Plug42

Quantity refers to the amount of the service part number required to repair the vehicle.
Unit of Issue refers to the number of individual pieces included in a service part number package.
Piece Quantity refers to the total number of individual pieces required to repair the vehicle.
As Needed indicates the amount of the part may vary and/or is not a whole number. Parts can be billed out as non-whole numbers, including less than 1.
If Needed indicates the part is not mandatory.

Warranty Status: Eligible under provisions of New Vehicle Limited Warranty (NVLW)/Service Part Warranty (SPW)/Special Service Part (SSP)/Extended Service Plan (ESP) coverage. Limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB. NVLW/SPW/SSP/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool.
Labor Times
DescriptionOperation No.Time2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator: Repair The Audio System And Any Water Leaks Following The Service Procedure (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor Operations)MT232181Actual Time

Repair/Claim Coding
Causal Part:5827840Condition Code:12

Service Procedure
1. Is this an Explorer or Aviator?
(1). Explorer - proceed to the Explorer Vehicle Inspection procedure.
(2). Aviator - proceed to the Aviator Vehicle Inspection procedure.
Explorer Vehicle Inspection
1. Open the rear liftgate.
2. Inspect and make sure the following components are correctly seated by pushing:
(1). Power liftgate grommet (if equipped). If not properly seated, replace the affected power liftgate strut. (Figure 1 Callout 1, Figure 2)
(2). Margin seal and margin seal pushpins. (Figure 1 Callout 2, Figure 3 Callout 2)
(3). Electrical wiring grommet. (Figure 1 Callout 3, Figure 3 Callout 3)
(4). Rear washer hose. (Figure 1 Callout 4, Figure 3 Callout 4)
Figure 1


ItemDescription 1
Power liftgate grommet (if equipped)
2
Margin seal and margin seal pushpins
3
Electrical wiring grommet
4
Rear washer hose

Figure 2



ItemDescription 1
Power liftgate grommet
2
Margin seal and margin seal pushpins
3
Electrical wiring grommet
4
Rear washer hose

3. If a water leak is present on the right side of the vehicle, replace the audio control module (ACM).
(1). Reinstall the rain shield (if equipped) on the new ACM. The rain shield, if present, is attached to the ACM chassis using a pushpin which can be reused.
4. Raise the vehicle on a hoist.
5. Inspect the right side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected, or missing items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 4-6 Callout 1) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the blind spot information system (BLIS) module to make sure it is fully seated into the body. (Figures 4-6 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 4-6 Callout 3)
Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

6. Inspect the left side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected, or missing items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 7-9 Callout 1) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the BLIS module to make sure it is fully seated into the body. (Figures 7-9 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 7-9 Callout 3)
Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Aviator Vehicle Inspection
1. Open the rear liftgate.
2. Inspect and make sure the following components are correctly seated by pushing:
(1). Power liftgate grommet. If not properly seated, replace the affected power liftgate strut. (Figure 10 Callout 1, Figure 11)
(2). Margin seal and margin seal pushpins. (Figure 10 Callout 2)
(3). Electrical wiring grommet. (Figure 10 Callout 3)
(4). Rear washer hose. (Figure 10 Callout 4)
Figure 10


ItemDescription 1
Power liftgate grommet
2
Margin seal and margin seal pushpins
3
Electrical wiring grommet
4
Rear washer hose

Figure 11

3. If a water leak is present on the right side of the vehicle, replace the ACM.
(1). Reinstall the rain shield (if equipped) on the new ACM. The rain shield, if present, is attached to the ACM chassis using a pushpin which can be reused.
4. Raise the vehicle on a hoist.
5. Inspect the right side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected or missing items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 12-14 Callout 1) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the BLIS module to make sure it is fully seated into the body. (Figures 12-14 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 12-14 Callout 3)
(4). Make sure the wire harness grommet for the phone as a key feature is seated or the delete tape is completely covering the body hole. (Figures 12-14 Callout 4) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(5). BLIS grommet to module wire. (Figures 12-14 Callout 5)
Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

6. Inspect the left side rear corner area under the rear bumper cover for the following loose, disconnected or missing items:
(1). Visually inspect for delete tape completely covering the body hole. (Figures 15-17 Callout 1) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(2). Press down on the BLIS module to make it is fully seated into the body. (Figures 15-17 Callout 2)
(3). Visually inspect the BLIS module wire harness grommet is seated. (Figures 15-17 Callout 3)
(4). Make sure the wire harness grommet for the phone as a key feature is seated or the delete tape is completely covering the body hole. (Figures 15-17 Callout 4) If the tape is damaged or leaking, replace with a rubber plug.
(5). Rear fascia wire. (Figures 15-17 Callout 5)
Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17


© 2023 Ford Motor Company
All rights reserved.
NOTE: The information in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and equipment to do the job properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information that could assist in proper vehicle service. The procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford or Lincoln dealership to determine whether the Bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article. The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to supersede this information with updates. The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.
 

OP
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2021 ford explorer st
Thread Starter #8
Very helpful, that is awesome. Thank you
 

OP
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fort lauderdale
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2021 ford explorer st
Thread Starter #10
So a little update on the issue of water getting into the rear tire well. The tech said it was leaking from the BLIS system which the above documents show an excellent diagram of. It's located I guess under the bumper of the rear. If this has happened to anyone else in the same spot as mine did this seem to fix the problem?
 

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Jacksonville, FL, USA
#11
So I had this issue when I bought mine. Turns out they didn’t put the seals behind the tail lights and water was getting sucked in there.
 

OP
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fort lauderdale
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2021 ford explorer st
Thread Starter #12
So I had this issue when I bought mine. Turns out they didn’t put the seals behind the tail lights and water was getting sucked in there.
When they repaired the issue did it stop the leaks from happening again?
 

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39
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MD
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2020 Ford Explorer ST
#14
Did you ever take it to the dealer? Did they fix it?
No haven't been in to the dealer yet, and still leaks only under very heavy rain while parked
 

V3nom3nom

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Nurse
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Houston, TX, USA
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2020 Explorer ST
#15
I need to take my vehicle in for this exact problem.
 

OP
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2021 ford explorer st
Thread Starter #16
I need to take my vehicle in for this exact problem.
So when I took mine in they fixed the rear blind spot monitor detection and that's where the leak was coming from. Have no clue what they did. Maybe siliconed it. Anyway never leaked after that.
 



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