Waterproof your bed vault - how-to DIY

[EWELON]

not sure but backer rod’s original purpose is to fill a crack or gap in a wall and provide something for sealant to stick to. its compressible and inert. I dont necessarily think that the weatherstripping is necessary on top of it - it would he the belt to the backer rods suspenders. I would do one or the other. the reason I didnt go with weatherstripping was that i was worried if I needed to take the appliqué off then there might be residue on the glass….but weatherstripping im sure looks more oem

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[jz724]

Yeah there’s def residue under the stripping if you take it off. Will take some working to get it off, but def displaces water which is the goal

 

[scaots]

After I confirmed that water was coming in at the glass I put wide electrical tape across the glass/trim gap to experiment. I only ran it to the edges of the glass so that it wasn't blocking the channels down either side. It stopped most of the water intrusion. Then I had the water management slat replaced with regular slat. I was actually wondering if it would be worse not having the channel and water could run in any gap at the top. But after a carwash and driving through heavy rain, it seems to be even better now. I'll probably try a nice weather stripping under the trim flap to replace the tape.

 

[hemiarch]

After I confirmed that water was coming in at the glass I put wide electrical tape across the glass/trim gap to experiment. I only ran it to the edges of the glass so that it wasn't blocking the channels down either side. It stopped most of the water intrusion. Then I had the water management slat replaced with regular slat. I was actually wondering if it would be worse not having the channel and water could run in any gap at the top. But after a carwash and driving through heavy rain, it seems to be even better now. I'll probably try a nice weather stripping under the trim flap to replace the tape.

Spectacularly effective solution ( I have tried it) but for me, not possible because of needing to repeatedly remove the aero flap for the cybertent.

 

[cybersky]

Let's get back to the OP for a moment. I still don't understand how he installed seal between aero flap and tonneau.

It's a channel with hard plastic sliding into it. There is no space for that seal. Unless design of aero flap has changed and his is different from what I have

 

[hemiarch]

Let's get back to the OP for a moment. I still don't understand how he installed seal between aero flap and tonneau.

It's a channel with hard plastic sliding into it. There is no space for that seal. Unless design of aero flap has changed and his is different from what I have

I concur. I don’t really understand

 

[cybersky]

Also, on the glass side, aero flap has a rubber seal that pushes against the glass, it's on a hard plastic slider that goes into a channel on that side of aeroflap. It didn't leak in a simple pour-glass-of-water test I have seen in some videos. It must have been upgraded at SC appointment together with missing slat. So water must be coming from the tonneau end

 

[cybersky]

The water management channel is still there. The slat is maybe a tiny bit wider? I wish I measured it before. Water from it drains at the tailgate

 

[hemiarch]

Omg. Thats exactly what I’ve been waiting for!
Do you have service details of what they did. A part number maybe?

 

[cybersky]

Omg. Thats exactly what I’ve been waiting for!
Do you have service details of what they did. A part number maybe?

All I did I complained about leaking tonneau and asked to do tsb posted in this thread. There is some crap printed on the seal.... Not sure if it will help, and if aero flap is different or not.

 

[hemiarch]

I’ll take the picture with me to the SC. Thank you.

 

[cybersky]

I’ll take the picture with me to the SC. Thank you.

For what it worth, that seal is not designed well. It flexes in the middle of glass and water is slowly seeping through . Not enough to leak immediately, but might be an issue at car wash. Replacing foam seal on the glass side with a rubber seal that would support the seal on aero flap should do the trick though. I'll do that next.

 

[EWELON]

Let's get back to the OP for a moment. I still don't understand how he installed seal between aero flap and tonneau.

It's a channel with hard plastic sliding into it. There is no space for that seal. Unless design of aero flap has changed and his is different from what I have

for the weatherseal fix youre correct no room for it on the underside of the flap. this weatherseal should go on top of the aero flap - behind it in this picture.

 

[cybersky]

for the weatherseal fix youre correct no room for it on the underside of the flap. this weatherseal should go on top of the aero flap - behind it in this picture.

Look at the OP photo. It's not at the top. It wouldn't work at all if you put it on the top

 

[EWELON]

Look at the OP photo. It's not at the top.

got it - I would object to the OP positioning for three reasons:
1. its not where the issue lies, especially if you get the slat issue fixed (which everyone should because we should all get every piece of our 80-120k car that we paid for) and this fix doesnt resolve your leak the issue. if your leak is against the rear glass of the cab, then the OP position isnt the issue.
2. the tesla service manual requires 1.5-2mm clearance between that OP seal and the tonneau.
3. id be worried that when the tonneau is opening one day, it would bind the free edge of that added seal, cause it to curl under the aero cover and cause some crazy failure of the tonneau.

if you did add a seal to that edge of the aero flap you just need to find a way to stop the middle of the span of the flap from “hammocking” into the tonneau not as it closes but as it opens.

there is a small wire rod with in that existing seal, and I think thats what it does.

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