The lighted step

[Jb2005]

How do you get the carpet off the step? Is it on a board I can remove? Is it just glued down and have to scrape?
We also have a leak on the 1st step somewhere, but I hate carpet and would like to get it off the horizontal part of the steps ASAP anyway.

[caconcourse]

How do you get the carpet off the step? Is it on a board I can remove? Is it just glued down and have to scrape?
We also have a leak on the 1st step somewhere, but I hate carpet and would like to get it off the horizontal part of the steps ASAP anyway.

The carpet is glued down on the steps. There is a picture earlier in this thread where I have the carpet removed and you can see the bare floor of the steps. I had a leak that kept soaking the bottom step carpet that I fought with for several weeks. The main cause turned out to be a bad seal on the storage compartment door behind the spare tire. I replaced the rubber "D" weather strip tape with this (it comes as a double-d shape, but you can split it to make two single strips):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H ... 0DER&psc=1

I also replaced the main door rubber seals, and adjusted the latch so it closed tightly (but not so much you have to slam the door).

Any leaks in the storage compartment or door will pool in the bottom step.

[BobW9]

I only recently found an insidious tiny drip area that had been getting my lowest step damp for years. Turned out one of the 2 bottom screws for the frame of the rear compartment didn't have any wood under it after going through the frame and fiberglass, and was letting in the slightest amount of water during rains because it wasn't really tight. Since it was under the frame lip on the inside, the carpet in there was barely damp and I had just thought it was condensation, while a bit more water was running (or maybe just wicking along the carpet) under the lip over and down to the step area.

I had replaced the weather strip for the rear compartment a few years back and it is still good, but the way it is on mine, some water could still drop along the sides and end up just in front the strip, but right on top of that screw. I finally realized that screw had nothing holding it when I had my drill/driver out for something else and it was in front of me, so I figured to tighten it a bit - only it just spun. Felt around the inside under the lip, and the piece of wood that should have been there was half an inch lower down, and only the tip of the screw was going into it. I stuck a small piece of wood under the lip, wrapped buytl around the screw, got the screw nice and tight in its hole, and hopefully that will be the end of it. This was only last week, so the jury is still out if that blasted dampness on the bottom step will be gone now

[Jb2005]

Thanks caconcourse. I got the carpet off that step, and the piece of wood that was wrapped with carpet and in the depression just inside of the threshold was pretty wet on Both ends. That tells me it's probably the door weatherstripping. It also looks like the door may be sagging a tiny bit, since there are scrape marks on the threshold only on the opening side.
Also, (I have a 2005 Concourse) my lighted step doesn't appear to have ANY screws visible. Top or rear facing edge. Any ideas how to get that off when the time comes?
Thanks for the help.

[chin_k]

The light stripe is friction-fit into the metal channel. I used a prick to wiggle it out carefully.

[Jb2005]

So are the screws holding the metal channel on UNDER the light strip?

[caconcourse]

So are the screws holding the metal channel on UNDER the light strip?

I think the screws holding the strip are under the carpet at the top. There are no screws behind the light strip, but there may be some in the flange below the light strip. After I removed the carpet, I put screws in that vertical flange below the light strip to hold it in place with the new floor (vinyl planks). For the steps, I used adhesive to hold the planks against the fiberglass, and added some wood trim to the seams.

[Jb2005]

Thanks caconcourse. That helps a bunch!