Detect leak

Topic: Detect leak (Read 1423 times) previous topic - next topic

Detect leak

February 01, 2007, 11:11:10 PM

No matter how hard I try, or how often, I can't pinpoint where a trunk leak is coming from. Tired of laying in the trunk with no luck. What product would work well to smear around the well area for a week or so and check back? My first thought was chalk, but that may stick too well - may not be noticeable for months. Ideas on something that'll stick but is pretty water soluble?

I don't appear to get any water unless driving around and what better time to detect for this than during this season?

Detect leak

Reply #1 – February 02, 2007, 12:18:46 AM

Check around the rear edge of the headliner for wetness after a rain - mine leaks around the window and causes the spare tire well to fill with water - yet another thing to be fixed before the paint job...

Detect leak

Reply #2 – February 02, 2007, 09:14:31 AM

If you have a leak in the trunk, pretty much the only places it can come in is via the back window or the corners of the water valley (in the permiter of the trunk). I've used rubberized undercoating on the corners (underneath) with decent results. But the key to the corners is to also seal them on top...even a pinhole can let a LOT of water in.

For the back window you may need to reseal...black silicone will work. I've seen water leak on the top, the bottom, or the sides. Maybe having a glass shop remove, reseal and replace the glass will help too. From what you're saying the key is in the motion of the car. As Carm says, check the headliner and the back package tray for wetness after you drive around.

Detect leak

Reply #3 – February 02, 2007, 09:22:30 PM

Uh don't drive in the rain:hick:

Detect leak

Reply #4 – February 02, 2007, 09:47:49 PM

If you have a general idea of where the water is coming in, why not use some food coloring in a pitcher of water and a white piece of plastic sheeting (old shower curtain) in the trunk. The colored water may be able to help you track where it's coming from. Just an idea. Maybe not a great one, though.

Detect leak

Reply #5 – February 02, 2007, 10:36:14 PM

ill share with you what i noticed.

while driving in the rain in noticed that there must be some sort of turbulance happening at the license plate area. I guess water gets sucked up right there. Well, guess what?,, that happens to be just where your trunk latch is and furthermore, right were the rupper trunk seal splices together. If your rubber seal is anything like mine,, it has shrunk and separated a little where the latch is. this will allow water to get sucked up into there.

check that first,, if what i am saying is too far out for you to accept, then ask yourself "why does my license plate get so dirty"
theres gotta be something to this area of the car that has a sort of vortex effect with water.

the other place is where eric says,, i sealed along the top of the car along that short section of metal trim where it meets the rear window with clear silicone. I also sealed the trim along the glass and body with clear silicone.

to detect it, i used baby powder sprinkled along the trunk rubber seal. When it gets wet,, it will leave a tale tale sign of where the leak is. Lay that baby powder on thick but make sure the mating surfaces are dry before hand.

Dont do what i did at first,, ie- slam the trunk shut. your baby powder just got blown off ,,lol

Detect leak

Reply #6 – February 02, 2007, 11:26:38 PM

Headliner doesn't get wet. Entire inside of car is fine except for the area I put the drivers side door weatherstripping on from the top, instead of from the bottom (was in a hurry after painting the car, which turned out to be a waste. Too many fumes 6 hours later - had to give up after I started feeling tired).

I'll try the baby powder thing. For all I know, its coming in from the taillights, but my second guess would be rear window. Hard to pinpoint the exact spot though, which is needed to fix it. Anything else that might work to show a path of water?

Detect leak

Reply #7 – February 03, 2007, 10:05:40 AM

Here's one we used to do at the dealership to find leaks: Start the car, roll up all the windows, turn the heater fan on HIGH and the selector on A/C (not MAX). Then close all the doors - this will pressurize the passenger compartment. Then you basically wash the car with soapy water. The pressurized passenger compartment will cause the soapy water to form bubbles at any leaks

Detect leak

Reply #8 – March 05, 2007, 01:33:10 PM

Sure enough, its the taillight mounting holes that are leaking (well one hole I think). I've sealed the taillights themselves many times. I think I just need to silicone the nut down again (but doing it every time I mess with the taillights is a pain).

I need to get a light in there, but it looked like there was some surface rust in the spare tire well. Kinda a pain as its 1) in the trunk and 2) it isn't smooth down there to grind down. What should I use to paint it with after its cleaned up? Is there something that'll withstand future water leaks longer or should I just use any enamel paint?