Water In Door Of Nissan Titan—Why And What To Do?

Did you recently discover that there is water in the door of your Nissan Titan (there is a sloshing sound coming from the bottom of the doors) and you want to know why, as well as what you can do to fix it? You’ve come to the right place, for we have researched this question, and we have the answer for you.

There are three water drains at the bottom of each door of your Nissan Titan. If these drains become clogged, any accumulated water inside the door will not be able to drain. Clean these drains to get rid of the water inside the door of your Nissan Titan.

Learn more about this issue in the succeeding sections, including tips on how to clean these water drains.

Read on!

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Water Inside Nissan Titan Doors

Whenever it rains, water can get through the small spaces between old weatherstripping and the window. Although it doesn’t always happen, the door of your Nissan Titan is ready for this situation should it happen.

man mechanic holding white car door handle, exterior of a car

There are three drain holes at the bottom of each door. Water can drain through them if it gets through the weatherstripping of the doors. You have two of the drain holes on both ends of the door with the third at the center.

Door Drain Clogging

Unfortunately, the water drains on the doors of your Nissan Titan can get clogged. This will prevent water from naturally flowing out of the doors and accumulating inside. This can rust the inside of the doors unless you unclog the drains before that happens.

Why do door drains get clogged?

The door drains in Nissan vehicles are notorious for getting clogged. Ironically, the bottom weatherstripping is the common root cause of the problem.

Unlike most other car manufacturers, Nissan installs the bottom weatherstripping just above the door drains. This causes the weatherstripping to work against the door drains because it limits the pathway for water to drain out the door. Moreover, the weatherstripping over the door drains makes it easy to accumulate dirt, mud, and debris that will create blockage on the door drains.

Most other vehicle manufacturers install weatherstripping at the bottom of the door drains. This provides an open pathway for the water to leave the inside of the door. Since nothing is blocking the drain openings, it is harder to accumulate dirt, mud, and debris to block the drain opening.

Other manufacturers have their weatherstripping above the drain holes too. However, the weatherstripping doesn’t reach the drain holes to cover them.

Rustproofing That Leads To Clogging

Aftermarket rustproofing that is improperly installed can also clog the door drains. Unless all the drain holes are protected from the spray, the thick rustproofing paint can get into the drain holes and block the flow of water.

How to prevent door drain clogging?

mechanic man fixing the white car door drain plug, repair door car

Because of the way the bottom weatherstripping is designed in Nissan Titan, you will have to clean the bottom weatherstripping and the door drains whenever you clean your truck. This is the best way to make sure that the door drains are free from debris and prevent clogging.

Always use a plastic tool like a plastic stirrer to get rid of the blockage in the door drains. Never use a metal tool like a screwdriver because this can damage or peel the paint. Once you peel the paint, that area will start to rust.

Moreover, never use pressurized air to clean the clogged drain holes. This will only force the dirt and debris into the door cavity. The dirt will return to block the hole once the water starts flowing back inside of the door.

Why does my car get wet inside when it rains?

photo of a woman driving a car, holding steering wheel, heavy rain outside

There are several reasons why water can get into your car whenever it rains. One of those reasons is a door drain that is not working.

Once water fills the inside the door of your Nissan Titan, the water will start to leak into your vehicle since it cannot get out through the door drains.

To fix this issue, remove the weatherstripping at the bottom of the door. Clean the weatherstripping thoroughly with soap and water.

Unclog the drain holes at the bottom of the doors of your Nissan Titan. Use a small nylon pipe tube brush and dip it in a water and soap solution. Use the tube brush to remove any dirt, mud, or debris that is blocking the drain holes.

Long straw brushes are available on Amazon through this link.

Leaking Sunroof Seal

Another possible reason is clogging in the sunroof drains or worn-out weatherstripping.

Water can get through the sunroof if the weatherstripping has become brittle. Normally, any water that gets past the weatherstripping will be caught by the sunroof drain. However, if the weatherstripping has cracks, water can get through instead of going down the drain.

Even the drain is not immune to wear and tear. It is a rubber channel that redirects the water down the A-pillars of your Titan. The A-pillar is the pillar that also supports the windshield of your car.

Additionally, if the drainage is clogged, the water will not be able to flow out of your car. The water will accumulate in the drain and flow into your car.

Clean the sunroof drains to prevent water accumulation in that area. Replace the sunroof seals once they show signs of cracking to prevent water from getting through.

Worn Cabin Filter Seals

The cabin air filter is a component of the heat and cooling system of your Titan. It is responsible for filtering external air of pollen, dust, smoke, and other pollutants before it gets into the cabin.

It has a seal that keeps water out, especially if the cabin filter is located under the windshield. If the new cabin filter was not correctly installed, then the rubber seals might not be set correctly too. This can cause water to leak through the seals and get into your Titan.

Study the position of the old cabin filter before removing it. Remove the old cabin filter carefully to prevent removing any of the seals. Install the new cabin filter and make sure to reinstall any covers properly.

Cabin filters are easy to replace. However, you can misalign the rubber seals if you’re not careful when installing the new filter.

How to maintain rubber seals?

up close photo of a car door interior, black plastic panels

The rubber seals of your car prevent water from getting to areas that it should not reach. They serve as both waterproofing and weatherproofing.

However, the rubber in the seals naturally becomes brittle as it ages. Constant exposure to the sun also causes the rubber to dry out and crack. These cracks are pathways for water to penetrate the seal of your car and get into the cabin.

Thus, it is a good idea to maintain the rubber seals of your Titan regularly.

Follow the simple steps below to maintain the rubber seals of your Titan.

  1. Clean the rubber seals with a clean damp cloth.
  2. Let the rubber seals dry.
  3. Get a clean dry cloth and spray it sparingly with silicone lubricant. Some tire cleaners or tire restorers are also great at preserving rubber. If they dry clear and are not greasy, you can use them on your seals too.
  4. Wipe the rubber seals with the cloth with silicone lubricant.
  5. Leave to dry.

WD-40 Specialist silicone lubricant spray is available on Amazon through this link.

Conclusion

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The water inside the door of your Nissan Titan only means one thing. There is a blockage in the drain holes. And this blockage prevents water from escaping the door of your Titan.

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