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Today I had a flat and needed to put on my spare. When I removed the spare, I noticed a puddle of greenish liquid in the spare well. Does anyone know what this can be, or where the water/liquid is coming from? It appears the whole trunk under the liner is wet, but everything above the carpet is dry.
Is there a drain that is perhaps clogged? One last question, there is a sensor of some sort mounted on the bottom of the trunk. What is this sensor for? I am concerned because it is in the puddle.See attached photo.
Assuming water is coming in under the carpet, one would think that the water would also drain out, however you say that is not the case---I would question your thinking!
Drain out dry out the area---- close the lid and run water over the trunk seal------does water return to the trunk?
The carpet and trunk lining are completely dry, that is why I don’t think the leak is from the top.
It isn’t draining on leveled ground no on my angled driveway. I see a tiny hole for a drain but the water is below that level in the grooves pictured.
I completely soaked it all up and dried it. I taped a perimeter of paper towels around the spare wheel well all along the sides. Will hose it down today and investigate where it’s coming from.
Could maybe something have gotten spilled in there at some point? Was there any smell to the liquid? What kind of viscosity did it have, like water? Thicker? Oily?
Okay I traced the leak. It’s coming from the back (closer to the bumper) right underneath the plastic cover that covers the trunk latch. Water appears to leak under the seal, and flow down to the trunk latch area, then leak into the spare well. The water is seeping under the seal, where the seal sits on the trunk metal, it that makes any sense.
Does anyone recommend a fix? I am thinking of applying some sort of silicon sealant on the metal rim then reseat the rubber seal?
Silicone will work, or just replace the seal. I had a similar situation with my Lexus, only it was leaking behind the rear window. The carpet was never wet, but I had about 8" of water in the spare well. Don't know how long it was like that, but it completely rusted the wheel on the spare.
Also, if I recall there is a small hole in the bottom of the spare well under the tire. Be sure that's cleared, as it may have helped to drain some of the liquid.
W204 C200, BMW E30 M3, 1980Gt Mini, Toyota Corona, KTM 200 EXC.
Hi
If you look carefully inside of the seal lip area which pushes on to the boot metal work you will see some sort of white factory sealer material almost same sealant as you would seal around the inside of your housed door jams.
Go down to your hardware store shop buy some sort of gap filler sealant for around the home not RTV.
I defiantly would not recommend normal house hold silicone RTV sealant unless it was the acid free type unless you want to start corrosion.
Buying a new seal will not fix it as it still needs the sealant put inside of the new seal lip grove prior to installing it to the body work.
Clean sealant out of the old seal with a screwdriver and rag.
I’ve fixed the problem apparently without any sealant. I reseated the trim and the leak has not come back. Perhaps the trim wasn’t properly seated.
I believe the body shop pulled the trim when they replaced my bumper awhile ago. They also lost two screws that hold the plastic cover that goes over the latch.
Anyway, rained and hose didn’t show anymore leaks.
01-16-2018, 02:10 PM
