OK folks, I did search this section, and I couldn't find where anyone else has reported this problem before - but I know that I can't be the only one this has happened to.

Sometimes after I open my hood I noticed that the weatherstripping that seals the back edge of the hood to the upper end of the firewall falls off. It always seemed to be the passenger side that did this. One time it fell off and I didn't notice it until I smelled burning rubber. Thinking back to a second generation that caught on fire and burned up right on the highway in front of my house, I pulled over and discovered the same issue - the weather stripping laying on top of the exhaust side of the turbo. It only burned a small arc into the rubber that time.

Well, fast forward to today. I am hauling a good sized load of hay back from Meridian, and I get a whiff of a nasty burning smell. Since I was pulling a hill at the time, I thought that maybe the clutch (original, 187K miles) was starting to slip. Once we got to the house and pulled down the driveway, my wife pointed out that the truck had smoke pouring out of it when she went to close the gate.
I opened the hood and said, hmmmm - my truck is on fire. She freaked, but I went to the back to get my extinguisher. Well, it was full, but it still wouldn't spray. My wife gets on the cell phone and calls our son to bring the one out of the kitchen. By then I had grabbed what was left of the rubber weatherstrip from the drivers side and pulled it out of the engine compartment. I let it burn itself out on the driveway.

Well, other than burning some of the insulation off of the low side of the air conditioner line, and dripping some melted rubber on the fender, all appears to be well.

I file a complaint with the NHTSA ( http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Recalls+&+Defects ).

 

Thanks for the heads up. I noticed mine does that but only after I open the hood and not all the time. Always try to make sure it's back in place. I find I can crimp it a bit tighter and it takes a while before it starts coming off again. FWIW, the same thing happens on the Pete 379 I drive for part time work.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I noticed mine does that but only after I open the hood and not all the time. Always try to make sure it's back in place. I find I can crimp it a bit tighter and it takes a while before it starts coming off again. FWIW, the same thing happens on the Pete 379 I drive for part time work. Glad you caught it before it burned to the ground.

I was a career Firefighter for years and have seen numerous rigs burned to the ground for simple things including a KW we responded to from the trucking company I worked some of my days off for. It went to the ground in a big way. The only thing left of the cab was the front grille and it fell over as we arrived.

 

I glued mine on with PL construction adhesive. Done deal.

 

Glad to hear your truck didn't burn up. Mine used to fall off as well. Haven't had any problems since I threw it in the storage barn a couple of years ago.

 

You can buy weatherstrip adhesive at ANY parts store, I glued mine back on the first time I saw it was loose. I don't believe too much in accidents, if you are aware the strip is falling off but do nothing to fix it then you add to the chance of a fire like that.

Glad you got it out before anyone was hurt

 

Thanks for the warning, thankfully mine are under the rear seat at this time.

 

mine comes off also, i'm trying to figure out the purpose of it...some of you guys have taken it off with no ill effects......should i just throw it or glue it???

 

I am seeing no ill effects of not having it installed. Of course I haven't driven in the rain yet, but I don't see there being any issues with it being gone.

 

I glued mine back on with weatherstrip adhesive 15 years ago when my trucks were brand new.
Haven't had a problem since.

Besides fire another problem with an out of place seal is at a stop your vents can suck in underhood fumes.

 

FWIW, mine has not been on the truck for about six years. If there is a downside to it not being there, I have not seen it.

 

I was gonna say just that, but you beat me to it.

 

No problems since I put those things under the rear seat 9 years ago. Now that the subject has come up, I might just paste them back where they belong so I don't have to move them around when I vacuum anymore.

 

mine falls off all the time. i have been meaning to put some adhesive on to correct - this thread just got me going . . .

 

Without the seal in place the air (and fumes) from under the hood can leak out especially at speed. This air is then sucked into the intake of the HVAC system. even in "recirc" position there is still a small portion of outside air brought into the cab. You do need the seals in place along with the two small "L" shaped ones on either side.