Water getting in the front doors on 2020

Full aftermarket stereo system. A few weeks ago my front right door speaker started sounding scratchy, so I ordered a replacement set. While removing the old aftermarket speakers today I found out why - they are totally rusted from water intrusion. Every metal part of the speaker is severely rusted - the basket, magnet, screws, etc. It was so bad that where the speaker wires connect to the speaker had rusted to the point that one of the wires had broken (causing the initial problem).

Anybody ever seen this? The belt molding on the outside that "wipes" the window is in perfect shape so I don't understand how this much water is getting inside the door. Never had this problem with my '08 after 12 years of ownership.

 

Do you have a window deflector?

 

Yes, I have Weathertechs. How would that cause the problem? Thanks.

 

The Weathertech instructions specifies to have the bottom part of the deflector sitting on the rubber seal.. not inside.
If that the case you may want to remove the deflector - if its still under any type of warranty. Before heading to the dealership.

Just making a wild guess

 

Yeah, it's on the seal, not inside. Unless I'm wrong?

 

Right. Its seating on top of the rubber seal. Your installation is correct.

 

Thanks LuLu. Wonder how this happened...

 

Did you buy this vehicle new? Are both doors the same as far as rust?

 

How do you wash it? Sometimes water from pressure washers find a way in. Is it both doors that have this corrosion or only the passenger side?

 

Yep, brand new in '20. Both door speakers look the same.

Never use a pressure washer. Mostly hand wash, but on rare occasions I will run it through the drive through car wash.

 

Wow. I was thinking maybe if purchased used, PO might have been in a flood or something, but if you've had it since new that's baffling. Is there any evidence of the same type of rust on the rear doors or hatch?

Where are you located?

 

You could always pull the door panel and soak the outside of the door....

 

Haven't looked in the rear doors or hatch since I replaced all the speakers 3 years ago, but I guess I should take a peek. I live in the Houston area.

 

If you find further evidence of the same type of rust, something's seriously fishy...

 

Maybe check under the carpet liner too....as other have commented. Something isn't right.
Do other vehicles in your household go through same High Pressure car wash occasionally?

 

I don't use a high pressure car wash. It's the kind that drags you along with spinning brushes.

I'll pull the rear and hatch panels this weekend and take a look. Will report back.

 

Could a moon roof drain be plugged and water somehow going down the A pillar?

 

That would go into the interior, not the inside of the door. I have zero water in the interior.

 

Before installing my speakers the other forum suggested a baffle kit for added protection against water. Apparently it's quite common for water to mess up speakers in our doors. Here are a couple options:

• $20 RECOIL SPB65 Foldable Silicone 6.5” Car Speaker Baffle Kits with Egg Crate Foam for Sound Quality Improvement and Speaker Protection One Pair
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093SQYXW2?ie=UTF8&th=1
  
• $13 XTC 6-1/2" Foam Baffle Pair
  https://www.amazon.com/XTC-2-Inch-F...id=1680882652&sprefix=xtc+baff,aps,147&sr=8-3

Also the "door window belt weatherstrips" suck on our 5th gens. I haven't replaced mine yet but here are the Toyota part numbers for a 2011: 6817260080 (front driver side) and 6817160090 (passenger front).

 

When you initially installed the speakers and removed the door card, was there any plastic sheeting over the structure of the door (over parts of the door, or all of it)? Did you remove any for the install?

That plastic sheeting is meant to keep water off the electrical/mechanical stuff in the door. The door itself is not watertight, and pretty much lets water trickle through. Maybe the plastic sheeting got compromised?

 

Great info - thanks! Those baffles are probably what I need.

Sheeting has never been disturbed. Thanks.

 

My mistake. I was thinking of the speaker in the dash.

 

Wild. I think when I do my speakers I'll also be doing some rust prevention in the doors...ounce of prevention and all that.

 

Nothing in the back doors or hatch. Very strange. Replaced the old Infinity speakers with JL Audio 6x9's. We'll see what happens...

 

And the rubber grommets/hose for the wires between cab and door are all in good condition? I can't remember how high up they are on the door, but I have seen water follow electrical wires through conduit in pretty amazing places.

Crazy situation.