Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Guy's the wagons in for the MOT tomorrow so I was checking everythings ok this morning and when I lifted the boot floor cover to check the spare it was sat in 3-4 inches of water. The cars a UK 98 Wagon Turbo anyone else had this problem and sorted it or can give me advice on what and where to check for the leak. The boot seal is in very good condition. Need to sort this as I can't swim. Thanks Steve.

Higham Adie

Drill a tiny hole in the boot so the water drains out to get through the MOT.
Then look for it in your leisure.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I don't think a flooded spare wheel well will cause an MOT failure, but IIRC there are grommets in the well, so you can always pop one of them out to drain it.

The leaks is either going to be via the spoiler where it bolts to the boot lid (as its a wagon it'll be both the one across teh top of the glass and teh one underneath).

Or more likely through the seal around the rear lights. So best check the rear lights work ok, before MOT'ing to save on retest fees.

Theres also a remote possibility it could leak around the rear wiper too. But more often than not its the rear lights seals that are causing the trouble

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Thanks fella, going to get on with that this afternoon, got it all dried out and waxed all the paint in the bottom of the well to help protect it. I'll get the spoilers off and seal them both just to be on the safe side and get some soft sealant for the rear lights. I'll get that wash wipe sealed whilst I'm at it. Thanks very much for the pointers, At least the weather is perfect today, Steve

Higham Adie

Think of the weight you will lose also. 1 ltr of water weighs a 1kg!

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Right guy's I'm scratching my head a little. Friday I mopped all the water out of the spare wheel well, then did what Ali said, I removed the lower spoiler, upper spoiler and wash wipe motor, cleaned them all up and sealed them with uni bond around the holes on the outside and also fitted rubber washers to the studs where the flange bolts fit on the inside for the spoilers. Tightend everthing up nice and secure, checked the vents in the wheel wells behind the plastic trim, bone dry each side. The boot seal is good, very good. I was happy until it rained heavy on Saturday. Saturday teatime went out to the car as the rain had stopped lifted the boot carpet and hey the paddling pool had refilled.
Now the drive is level and the car hadn't been out on the road from the previous day so the water has literally run in and it's getting in in quite large quantities. Both rear footwells are bone dry. It did leave me a clue though. I can see droplets of water running from the driverside rear boot side plastic trim along the very bottom where cables run that are fastened to the boot floor. So I'm now thinking it must be coming from the driverside rear quarter window.
Does anyone know if the window is bonded in or how I can get it out?
How hard is it to get all the trim off, I think I may need to remove the rear bench, strut top trim, and the rear quarter driverside plastic trim in the boot,
Any input is more than welcome before I have a look in a few days time. Cheers Steve.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Don't quote me on this, but I think the rear quater glass maybe bonded in place. Worth checking first to see if it is bolted.

Having it removed and rebonded shouldn't cost too much though, I've had the glass quarter on my Golf cut out and rebonded by a local glass specialist for £30.

Also do you have a sunroof? As IIRC there are four drain tubes, I think the front ones go down the A-pillar, but I haven't a clue where the rear ones go...on other cars I've worked on they usually run down the C-pillar and out of a vent in the rear quater panel behind the rear quarter trim and hidden behind the rear bumper.

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Cheers fella, no the car doesn't have a sunroof so at least thats one thing left to check

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I did have a leaking rear screen on mine once.

Have you checked that it's not the lights? They are a major player in damp boot areas.

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Hi fella! it's not the lights(famous last words) they are well sealed up. The water is coming in from the driverside rear side of the car, It must be the rear quarter window and no further towards the front as the carpets and underlay are bone dry in the rear foot wells. There are no stains on the headliner either. Plan in a few weeks to get the window removed and refitted by the pro's but first I need to get all the trim off anyway because I want to undo the rear top mount bolts and replace them.
Oh and then the gearbox as it's crunching and a new clutch and the rear crank seal whilst I'm in there and then whatever I find next week and the week after so on and so on.
I finished my original **** list last week and now I have a new one which is growing by the day Lol.

Beastie

iTrader: (2)

If you think its the window, play a hose on it and see what happens in the boot. TBH sounds unlikley, i would go for spoiler holes and definitely rear lights again.

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Cheers mate, all the spoiler holes are now sealed but I plan on getting some bubbly water today in a squeege and trace the window and seals ana if there's a hole anywhere I should hopefully see the foam get sucked in.

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Drop the rear seats and get some one to hose it down.

You'll see where the water is coming in.

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Tried that a few times fella and still not found it yet but I'm still looking and after that rain last night the waters back. I drowned it and find nothing a bit of rain and it's back

Ps She flew through the MOT with no advisories either. The guys said for a 15 year old car it's in excellent condition.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Rather than play a hose on it, try to simulate rain on it: put the hose on spray, point it upwards and let it "rain" on the rear half of the car.

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Cheers fella after drying it out again today and going to it on and off in between the heavy showers water droplets are running down from behind the rear boot plastic trim the one under the lowest part of the tailgate seal. So I'll investigate further Saturday.

bruce1986

iTrader: (2)

just had exacltly the same problem over the wkend although mine isnt a wagon,was running pouring in behind the light and filled the tyre well up,couldnt get the light out so had to use clear sealent between the top of the light and body,not ideal but boot is bone dry

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Cheers Bruce, I'll be having a good look Saturday now. I'm going to pop the seals trim and lights off. I know the lights sould be still sealed well as last year I popped them off to wax behind them and reasealed them well with caraflex but you never know.

bruce1986

iTrader: (2)

i tried to get my light out couldnt budge it so gave up,wasnt in the mood for a broken light,so clear sealant cant see it when the boot is down so out of sight out of mind lol

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

I did some leak repair work on a classic wagon a few weeks ago for someone.. I stripped out a fair bit and rained a hose down, it was coming in all over the shop! One of the worst places was from the roof rail bar mounting points in the roof gutter. The same car also had a break in the rear windscreen washer hose, where the rubber cover is in the n/s corner (as you open the boot) the pipe was split from the years of opening and closing the boot. The washer still worked (albeit poorly) and the water would make it's way along the back of the headlining.

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for the info James, the washer was fine on the washer motor and the washer pipe was good and tight. I will note the roof rail. Looks like on my 98 i have to remove the headliner to get to it. Cheers Steve.

Bad_HatHarry

iTrader: (1)

Or more likely through the seal around the rear lights

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Read the whole thread have we?

Bad_HatHarry

iTrader: (1)

aye

Firez34

iTrader: (5)

Right guy's removed the drivers side plastic trim on Satruday and was horrified by the amount of water filling the wheel well. Got my girt to hose the side of the car and it was pissing in through the rear quarter window along the bottom. So dried it all off and removed the water from the rear wheel well. Left it all to dry in the sunshine then tiger sealed around the window on the inside. Left that all to dry over night then tested it on sunday with the hose and NO MORE LEAK!!!!!! Yippee!!!!!!
Thanks to everyone who helped out with the pointers and post's.