2nd gen tacoma rust: rocker panels

It definitely helps. Here's my '92 that I've owned long enough to have positive effects on.

 

I have a 2014 Tacoma. Can you show me a picture of WEEP hole. Also, why are the plugs even there, why not just a solid piece of metal? I live in the South, so no salt. I'm thinking about putting led lights into the plug holes flush mount with a different type of rubber grommet to keep seal and hold lights in place.

 

The second generation Sienna has the same rocker panel design with the same stupid rubber plugs and they rust from the inside out in the salt belt states. I highly recommend thoroughly Fluid Filming the inside of the rockers and keeping the plugs off. Why are the plugs even there? When I took off the plugs and there were probably a dozen on each side, the inside of the rockers were full of crap, especially towards the back end where it seems to accumulate and settle. However there rocker panels are designed, there’s a flaw because dirt still gets inside the panel and has no way to escape because the plugs are there. Just remove the plugs and take five minutes to Fluid Film every couple years. Done.

 

I’m going to try and bring this thread back from the dead and wondering if the OP every got it fixed? Same thing happened on my 06 and wondering what can be done.