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Water leak into the boot

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19K views 92 replies 21 participants last post by  Phil Crough  
#1 ·
So this morning I went to put the disc lock in the boot
I have an old blanket I use for kneeling on and to cover the body work if I'm tinkering in the engine bay
I moved the blanket and it was soaking wet, my micro fibre cloths in a box were also soaking as was the box

My heart sank!! I took everything out and the near side boot carpet was soaking as was the boot carpet
Pulled out the floor boot carpet and it just dropped out water

I've now removed the plastic panel and rear quarter side/headlining and discovered where the water has come from, my guesstimate is water is building up around the upper rear light lens self tapping screw plastic grommet which goes into the boot area
Water has gradually dripped down causing the leak
It's never done this before but I had noticed there was a very tiny amount getting in

We've recently had rain and strong wind so that has not helped

Took some photos once I stripped it down to show what I've found
This is the upper self tapping screw location for the near side rear light cluster
The white plastic grommet for the self tapping screw clearly dirt and water has got under it. The screw I removed was rotting (no picture)
The grommet from inside the cabin of the boot area after the trim has been removed
This is behind the plastic trim where the rear seat belt spool is, clearly there is a water trail and staining on the grey sponge
More water trail marks running to the boot floor the side carpet touches the panel and this soaked up water first until no more could be held the rest runs to the boot carpet
This is the locating pin for the pillar trim/to headlining. This photo clearly shows rust on the clip and how the water has run inside this is where it starts and this clip sits directly below the plastic grommet as first mentioned


Rust staining on the trim
Rear seat latch. Rust started due to the damp in the boot

To me this is worrying and I anticipate the off side will be the same.
If this isn't cured well all I can say is these cars will eventually rot from the inside where it can't be seen until it's too late.
Yeah fair play to those who only use theirs on dry hot sunny days and don't see the rain but mines a daily use car!
I'm going to do a bit more tomorrow and fit new grommets
Something as simple as a bit of poorly fitted plastic can cause this, bad design
I think a rubber seal needs to be fitted under the grommets and a good tight fit.

I can't see (at this time) where else water can leak inside

I'll update the thread if I find out anything else.

Just keep an eye on the boot carpets for damp
 

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#28 ·
Mad Paddy said:
To follow up,

Checked the boot and is soaked again, not a bad but its definitely getting in. Strip the boot and get the hose out and see what's happening. Dont ya just love these cars
Click to expand...
Sounds like the Story I had. Defiantly worth looking for hairline cracks on the seam sealer. after replacing the grommets mine went from leaking when ever it rained to only during torrential downpours as the gully where the hinges built up with a flow of water
 
#30 ·
Mad Paddy said:
Always something, was dry until the storms at the wkend!

How did you cure yours

Trying to get a mate small enough to fit in boot and hose it
Click to expand...
I just stuck the hose pipe up the too with boot open so it flooded the channel. Then after a few minutes it started coming in.
Just Seam/PU sealer from Halfords. Still need to go over it with touch up paint as it goes on black/brown
 
#35 ·
Finally got a dry day yesterday and a mate landing me use of his garage so further investigation.

Checked the boot hinges and all good,but notice below the roof rail trim I could see alot of missing seam sealer. So pulled of the trim(thankfully didnt break) and the cracking going back a good way on the roof. Picked up some white tiger seal(perfect colour match) and sealed and tidied up both rails.

Just checked the boot(another storm) and it dry. Thankfully

Just word of advise lads to check the seam sealer to those who daily there rs.
 
#41 ·


Oh dear another leak
Stripped the off side down as its that side this time and theres no evidence of water tracking on the inside panels?
Changed the obvious, those grommets for the rear lights they didnt look too bad but fitted new ones
Pressure washed the car and jumped into the boot and nothing coming in?
Hopefully cured it unless it coming through the boot grommet for the parking sensor wiring??
 

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#43 · (Edited by Moderator)
Mad Paddy said:
Did you get to seal the boots hinges and below the roof plastic trim.??
Click to expand...
No all looks ok checked it over with no signs of leaking
Theres plenty of sealant in the metal skin joints, its like putty?

What I did find and Im a bit annoyed its ruined Is a blue A4 booklet that had been tucked behind the boot carpet panel
It damaged due to been wet for a long time but it looks like a build checklist as its all in German
Im sure if I had found this before it got damaged it had been a beautiful addition to the cars history file

Now its dried its impossible to save it as its just brittle and crumbling

Im gutted

Strange place to put it though
 
#45 ·
Agree it's definitely worth checking the seams even if you don't think you have a leak. Mine has had a previous leak as there was, as others have seen, some corrosion on the rear seat brackets which was there when I bought it. Any time the car has got wet everything has stayed bone dry in the boot. Last weekend I stripped out the complete rear end as I wanted to do some detailing and also repaint the brackets (These were blasted and repainted and look factory perfect again). I'm sure the rear light seals have been replaced previously as the gasket on these looks in very good condition. Whilst I had it apart, and after reading this thread, I checked up inside the inner box sections around the rear. Although the car seems water tight there is evidence there has been some subtle water ingress from around the tailgate hinge area or possibly roof joints. There are some really subtle cracks in the sealer which I'm going to sort as soon as I can get some white seam sealer.
Not a particular issue to me as the car lives in the garage but even so, I don't want to be paranoid every time I wash it that water may be getting into the internal structure of the car.
 
#51 · (Edited)
Possibly the spoiler. If you pop off the centre panel, where you get access to the spoiler bolts, check if there is any water or dampness inside the tailgate or on the removed panel itself, if there is then it will be the foam washers between the spoiler & the body. I have found mine was wet, so I will be taking the spoiler off & making some proper rubber sealing washers for them, as well as neoprene foam pads to replace all the foam thats used at the touch points. Also check /silicone the electrical rubber grommets, as the rubber shrinks over time.

I have some dampness in my boot on the offside which has appeared in the last couple of weeks. My c piller trim was damp & as others have said, the light grommets are shot, have new ones to fit. Also my rear lights electrical grommet is loose as hell, shrunk a lot over the years, part of the loom, so will silicone those to seal.

Will also be sealing the hinge surrounds & under the roof trims too!

A good video, although not an RS but all fittings the same, obviously not the prettiest of jobs he does but shows the majority of where the leaks are found in the mk2 focus!

 
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