|
|
|
Water Collecting in Trunk
|
|
|
| |
|
|
kingjim9
User
Feb 16, 2009, 9:28 AM
Post #1 of 12
(3335 views)
|
|
Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
I have a '00 Dodge Neon and recently after it rained, i noticed that there was a little pool of water collecting in the spare tire storage compartment in my trunk. I've examined the carpet in the trunk but none of it is wet at all, all the seals of the trunk appear perfect, no cracks, chunks missing, etc. Does anybody have any ideas on how it could be getting in, or has anybody had a similar problem like this before?
Thanks,
Jim
|
|
| |
|
|
dmac0923
Enthusiast
Feb 16, 2009, 12:25 PM
Post #2 of 12
(3333 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
take everything out of the trunk. completely dry everything in the trunk.
take this opportunity to take a look around to see if you see day light anywhere in the trunk suggestiong a body plug may have been removed/fallen out.
if that all pans out then try this.
now this is important!!!! Make sure you have a buddy you trust LOL so they will let you back out!
get in the trunk with some sort of light and have him/her use a hose and rinse the area around the trunk area
you should be able to see where its getting in
__________________________________________________
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2002 Ford Ranger
2004 Toyota Corolla
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 16, 2009, 12:47 PM
Post #3 of 12
(3332 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
Don't you hate that!
Whatever happens don't let it stay wet like that. If need be and can't find the way water gets in make a drain! Good grief use all care if you make a small drain hole that NOTHING is in the way below it!!!! If you torque (bend) on a hole just so with a screwdriver it's possible to make it slant such that normal road spray water won't come in. To find lowest spot wet the area when empty with rubbing alc as it dries fast and last spot to dry should be the lowest spot!
SCRAPE ANY RUST AND PAINT IT UP INSIDE NOW IF ANY! If the jack is in there too take it out and make sure it works and lube it up with WD-40 or actually oil it up.
Also: Sometimes rear window seal can do this and not be easy to find,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Feb 16, 2009, 2:08 PM
Post #4 of 12
(3325 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
After you dry it as stated above, use talcum powder around the seal of trunk. Close trunk and run water around the perimeter of the trunk. If it is leaking around the seal, the water will wash away the powder and you will know exactly where the leak is. Especially if you don't trust your buddy. 
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
|
|
| |
|
|
kingjim9
User
Feb 17, 2009, 2:33 PM
Post #5 of 12
(3314 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
Well i pulled out the carpet in the trunk and the rear seats today. I dried out everything in the trunk, and under the seats, i have the carpet and seats inside to dry out, the carpet is only soaked in the spare tire area, and the rear seats only have a little moisture accumulated in the foam padding but they're not that bad overall.
I was inside the trunk and didn't see any signs of daylight at all, tommorow i'll probally take it to a car wash and see if i can pinpoint where anything is coming in at. The good news is, is that there is no signs of rust at all.
A couple of friends suggessted that it could be coming up from where the bolt to hold the spare in place is, but my theorey would be that if it can come up from, then it should be able to go back out too. What do you guys think about that?
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 17, 2009, 5:11 PM
Post #6 of 12
(3309 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
You may need to seal things one at a time to know which one was/is the problem. I like way2old's powder idea - that and if you get left in the trunk you'll smell better
Other tricks and things are high end painter's tape for over glass+seal to metal parts as suspected, and for body parts there's a neat product called "removable" caulking that you can use in strings or like putty and it will stick but remove later as needed OR if it works well leave it there. Try something like that on and around your suspect tire mount hole as it will shape/mold as needed.
Spnsored by....
Just kidding!
T
|
|
| |
|
|
kingjim9
User
Feb 18, 2009, 11:04 AM
Post #7 of 12
(3299 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
i think i'll try that powder idea then. even though its below freezing it should still be ok if i just dry out the door / trunk seals right? I shouldn't have to worry about it freezing up. It's in the upper 20's and i'd probally do it around noon so it could stay parked in the sun?
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 18, 2009, 11:18 AM
Post #8 of 12
(3296 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
Go for it. It might take a few tries and different approaches to nail it down. If you do find a seal on trunk and the rubber looks ok it might be adjustable to make lid close tighter and be done with it.
Good luck with the hunt,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
kingjim9
User
Feb 19, 2009, 3:14 PM
Post #9 of 12
(3286 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
Well i believe i've found the trouple spot, its the trunk seal. The powder idea turned out to be a pretty nice trick although it was a farily obvious leak with the carpet out. I think the reason why the carpet never got wet only the spare compartment was because where the leak is there is a plastic cover so maybe it was flowing behind that and under the carpet? I went to Advance Auto Parts to see if they have that seal but they don't so tommorow i'll see if the local body shop can order it for me and if worst comes to worse there's always the dodge dealership.
Thanks for your help guys
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 19, 2009, 3:27 PM
Post #10 of 12
(3282 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
Great! way2old's powder trick works again!
If the trunk is a tad loose when shut you might be able to tighten how much it latches closed,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
kingjim9
User
Feb 20, 2009, 11:28 AM
Post #11 of 12
(3274 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
It looks like a new trunk seal runs $88.25, before i buy that i figured i'd try putting an additional rubber seal on the trunk lid so it lies ontop of the existing seal. Also it is a tad loose. Where would any adjustment mechanisms be to adjust how tight it latches?
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 20, 2009, 3:31 PM
Post #12 of 12
(3265 views)
|
|
Re: Water Collecting in Trunk
|
Sign In
|
|
If your old seal isn't torn you can try to lift it up with common door edge guard under it - the stuff that goes over both sides of door metal not just the outside.
************
That latch is commonly made to adjust. Get help or be shown from a body shop in particular but you can do it if you look hard at both the "jaw" and the "hook" ends at how they are fastened. I don't know specifics for this car but here are some pics of some that are typical.......
The show elongated holes wher bolts go - when just loose/snug they can be tapped into the direction desired.
Again a generic pic but see bolts down out of sight and you can't see the elongated holes but they are there.
More typical hooks.
Either hooks or latch can move some or both if needed.
That bottom pic show a large bolt common to doors that actually will hover around when loosened a tad. Frequently a 45m Torx to loosen/tighten.
Just to make it fun - found a pic of someone who obviosly has real friends to let him out!
************
Do go a tad at a time as if you go too far too fast it could latch shut and be nasty hard to open. Keep it lubed and scribe a mark so you know how far you went each time. Push down on trunk so you can feel how much more you could go but don't take all the motion as the rubber should have some flex to it for body movement.
Good luck,
T
|
|
| |
|
| | |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
1989 toyota pickup 3.0 crank no start
Please Help - Knock sound & engine fail
