Boot Leak

[ScoobyJawa 23]

Seen a few posts around this, got a leak that looks to be coming through the hole in the tailgate that sits bottom left inside the seal. Commonly I've seen this is caused by the spoiler leaking and it running down the inside of the tailgate.

 

I had the spoiler off and sealant it all back in place so thought I'd got it. Heavy rain last night and theres still a pool of water in the boot.

 

Can it come in through the rear slatted panel? and is it easy to take off to see?

[commievid 8]

Lots of people I'm sure better versed in this, as I'm on the same quest!

 

In regards the slatted panel, there's a hole near the lock, which you can see by taking off the interior panel. I don't have the slatted panel (have the reflective one), so can't confirm, but my hole has been covered up.

 

I've personally done thus far:

The spoiler (as you've mentioned),

Resealed the glass (taken off and rebonded),

The lock itself,

The rubber grommets at the top of the tailgate.

 

I've mainly used butyl tape with varying degrees of success, i.e. it's been fine for a while, but then it still happens. I'm waiting for the next bout of heavy rain to see whether what I've done has been successful.

[TBC WEBER 45s 4 1 Cars]

Ok there have you had a look at the gasket on the lock I no that my one died and was leaking the same

[soundguy 13]

It might be worth looking at the rear light clusters - water can run down the C (?) pillars, under the tailgate - when the water runs down to the top of the rear lights it can seep under/past the seals and make its way into the inside of that rear cross member - and seep down to where the tailgate lock catch is bolted on to. My guess would be to seal around the rubber seals on the back of the light cluster.

 

Additionally, going back to the slatted panel - that's mounted on the tailgate and the tailgate has drain holes in each corner. Maybe check to see if they're blocked? Not sure if the water would move from inside the tailgate to inside the crossmember though...?

 

Also, maybe the sunroof drains are blocked? If you take the interior off where the rear sealbelts are mounted, there are some holes in the bodywork you can use to access the sunroof drain tube - but I'm not sure if there's one each side or not as I've only found one on mine (right hand side as you stand facing the tailgate).

Edited October 16, 2012 by soundguy

[Edp 67 3 Cars]

My leak was the main boot door seal. Silicone under that to make a waterproof seal and job done.

[ScoobyJawa 23]

Well after more heavy rain last night I think its coming in through the slatted panel. Same place leaking into boot - the bottom left hole that sits inside the seal, but using my scientific method of kitchen roll it is running down the left side of the inner boot lid. But it doesn't appear wet any higher than the panel so I don't think its the spoiler still leaking.

 

Panel off and silicone that next.........

Edited October 17, 2012 by ScoobyJawa

[welshpug 1,657]

The panel itself cannot cause any leak, its just clipped onto the outside, likely culprits - lock + glass + tailgate seal.

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

When i bought mine in '08 it had a small leak around the area of the slotted panel. Turned out to be from the area posted by CommieVid earlier. After fitting my reflective rear panel and sealing over the hole / refitting / repositioning the rubber seal for the boot lock, that stopped the water ingress

[ScoobyJawa 23]

Cheers guys - I think thats what I'll be doing next then, reseal the lock and the hole above it and see how that goes. Won't be long till there more rain to test it!! I donlt think its coming from the glass as its bone dry all around, and the seal appears fine too. Looks like the lock is prob the culprit then!

[ScoobyJawa 23]

Cheers all - fingers crossed seems to be ok now - boot lock and hole sorted it