Checking Door and Tailgate Seals

Dust lines along a door edge, or a faint grit on the sill, point to the seal. Start there. It costs nothing, and you'll know within ten minutes whether the rubber is to blame or whether you need to look elsewhere.

A door seal is the rubber strip that sits between the door and the body. Makers also call it weatherstripping or a weather strip. When it's worn or sits wrong, air and dust pass around it.

Clean it first

You can't judge rubber you can't see. One repair service says to remove any dirt and debris from the seals.¹ Use a damp cloth and mild soap, then let it dry with the door open.

Wipe the body edge the seal presses against, too. A layer of grit there can stop the rubber from closing flat.

Look at every door

The same source says to check the weather stripping around every door and window.¹ Work around each door and the tailgate or rear door. Look for:

• Cracks or holes. The service says there shouldn't be any in the rubber around a door or window.¹
• Hard or brittle rubber. It says rubber that feels hard or brittle to the touch probably isn't sealing well.¹
• Gaps where the rubber has pulled away from its channel, or a corner that's come loose.

Photos help. Snap each trouble spot now.

Check that it's seated properly

With the door open, run your fingers along the seal. It should sit in its groove or on its flange all the way round. Press it back if a short length has popped out, but don't force it or pull at it hard.

Now close the door slowly. You should feel the rubber give a little. If one door closes with no resistance and another is stiff, they're not sitting the same way. A dealer or a trim shop can check alignment. Don't bend hinges or latches yourself.

For the tailgate, do the same along the top, sides and bottom. The rear may collect dust, as discussed on the rear-wake page.

Care that makers list

Two maker manuals list the same yearly jobs. Kia's owner maintenance list includes lubricating the door rubber weatherstrips, and so does Hyundai's.²³

Both lists also say to clean the body and door drain holes.²³ Those are small openings at the bottom of a door that let water run out.

These manuals don't say which product to use or how much, and they differ by model. Look up the section in your own manual before you apply anything. The wrong lubricant can harm some rubber.

When to replace a seal

If a seal is cracked, split or hard, cleaning won't fix it. Replace it. A dealer can tell you the right part for your model, and since some seals are glued in place, the job is often trickier than it looks.

Ask a dealer before patching rubber with tape or sealant. If a latch is hard to close afterward, stop and have it looked at.

With the seals sorted, see whether dust still gets in by following this leak-finding method.