Should Heat Shield of Vehicle Drip Water After Hitch Install

Updated 05/22/2024 | Published 05/20/2024

Question:

Hello. I have a 2022 Ford Explorer Limited with the foot activated tailgate. I got the Curt 13438 installed. However, there is water leaking from the heat shields mostly the passenger side one. it seems to be above the heat shield but running down it. is this normal? Is there something I need to adjust? Thanks in advance!

asked by: Osvaldo E

Water on Ground
(click to enlarge)

Expert Reply:

Hey Osvaldo, what you are experiencing is normal and not a problem most likely. Your car does not emit water so what is probably happening is that you drove the vehicle when the roads were wet or it was raining and water splashed up on the undercarriage yet when it decided to run down and back onto the ground it's just using the heatsheild as it's path. This happens to our cars at home a lot too. I've had several debates about why the floorboards of the RAV4 are leaking water after driving in the rain...

That said. if there is somehow a leak of water that is happening when it's totally dry out that is a little more concerning but it also could some how be the AC compressor dripping condensation in a really weird way.

expert reply by: Jameson C