3-door leak into rear compartmnets

[kayakertom]

OK, so it has been raining a lot in Oregon and I'd like to keep the water on the outside of the car...

 

Searched , but didn't find find anything useful.

 

Anyone with a 3-door or rx know how to keep the water out? The rubber around the hatch area looks good.

[TomRhere]

I recall reading of people finding the seal tape on the tail/brakelight housing being the source of their leak.

[vagen]

spoilers on these are known flood producers as well... mine was

[kayakertom]

No spoiler on my 3-door.

 

 

spoilers on these are known flood producers as well... mine was

[kayakertom]

Will look at this, thanks.

 

I recall reading of people finding the seal tape on the tail/brakelight housing being the source of their leak.

[Txakura]

I recall reading of people finding the seal tape on the tail/brakelight housing being the source of their leak.

 

Yep. I had a big fight with mine over dust (search dust leaks). Take the rear cargo wall off and tighten all the brake light housing nuts uniformly. You can also loosen the screws and lower the hatch latch by shimming the latch with large enough washers to accomodate the dimple around the countersink. This moves the latch down 1/8" inch, or the thickness of one washer and tightens the hatch seal. (Yes I read you are not leaking there )

[vagen]

look at what you would suspect. Washer filler, tail lights, washer nozzle, even license plate bolt holes. anything that breaches the metal is a potential leak

Edited June 10, 2010 by vagen

[Caboobaroo]

You can do the shimming of the rear hatch latch but the easiest way to figure out if its the seal for the hatch or something else, I'll let you in on a bodyman's secret.

 

Go get a can of athletes foot spray (since its white and kinda sticky), spray it onto the hatch where the seal will hit the hatch, close the hatch, open it and look for the white on the seal. Thats where the hatch is hitting the seal. If its black, then you know the seal isn't hitting the hatch and thats where its leaking.

[themoneypit]

You can do the shimming of the rear hatch latch but the easiest way to figure out if its the seal for the hatch or something else, I'll let you in on a bodyman's secret.

 

Go get a can of athletes foot spray (since its white and kinda sticky), spray it onto the hatch where the seal will hit the hatch, close the hatch, open it and look for the white on the seal. Thats where the hatch is hitting the seal. If its black, then you know the seal isn't hitting the hatch and thats where its leaking.

 

GOOD TIP and on my 90 rs 3dr that i had in high school also had leaky rear taillights. i put a bead of silicone along the top of the lights where they meet the body and never another drop...

[kayakertom]

Took the brake/tail light assemblies out and discovered that the the black caulk used to help seal the opening was missing on the top of both. Cleaned everything and applied fresh calk - so far no leaks. It was a pain to undo one nut on either side - need 8mm deep socket to do it easily.

 

The solution offered by themoneypit would also probably have worked.

 

Good tip on checking that long hatch seal Caboobaroo.

 

...........................................

 

Great to have USMB back...

[Caboobaroo]

Another thing to do while the tailights are out, is to cut the tab on the body closest to the license plate into a slot so the stud from the tailights slides into it. It makes it much easier for removal/installation and less likely to break the tailights.