HEAPS of water in the spare wheel well

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:49 pm

So after a heap of rain here in Perth, I found a whole heap of water in my boot. Funny thing is, everything else is dry. The battery well is dry. The little cubby hole section is dry. The carpet and trim are all dry. The only section with any water in it was the spare wheel well.

My question is where is the water coming from so that it leaves everything dry except for the spare wheel well? Granted, the carpet/trim could've dried out in the mean time, but I'm still curious to know how the water flows. I need to fix it before the next big storm comes and my car becomes flooded again.

Postby **Okibi** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:09 am

It's probably trickling down the metal somewhere and under the carpet, could be a crack in the rain rail or blocked drain holes?

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:48 am

I want to do a drain hole clean when it's sunny, but I've either been busy during the daylight hours or it's been raining

As for the rain rail, that crossed my mind too. A hose would probably be the best way to check, although I still need daylight for that. Unless anyone has any other ideas they've tried for rain rail testing?

Are those are the only two points where water can (normally) get in? Those are the only two that I know of.

Postby **Okibi** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 1:06 am

Many of those DIY car wash places are open late at night and have good lighting, handy if you need to pull over somewhere to fix the car (or check for leaks).

Perhaps you could also use the air compressor at the service station, put it in flat tyre mode and shoot some air up the drain hoses?

You still live the other side of town?

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 1:17 am

I'm usually less free late at night than I am during the weekend days

I'm more inclined to think rain rail. The roof is definitely getting worse with its gaps, and I'm hoping to patch them up with some marine vinyl and adhesives bought from Bunnings. Again, I'd rather dry daylight hours to attempt it just so I can see if it's going to work.

I'm still on the other side of town. Not that I would be adversed to heading down your way for a bit of poking about the car

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:33 am

If the downpour was heavy enough, it's possible that the rain rails and drains might not have kept up with the incoming flow. Can be exacerbated if you park uphill. In any case, it's worth cleaning out the drains to make sure they're clear, then remove the carpet on the parcel shelf so you can look for leaks in the rain rail.

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:28 pm

Another area to check is the seal around the tail lights.

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:36 pm

de Bounce wrote:Another area to check is the seal around the tail lights.

Ditto.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 4:00 pm

Coming up around those rubber bungs in the boot floor?

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:19 am

Guran wrote:In any case, it's worth cleaning out the drains to make sure they're clear, then remove the carpet on the parcel shelf so you can look for leaks in the rain rail.

I didn't know you could get to the rain rail from within the cabin? I'll see how enthused/dry it is and give it a go. Also gives me a chance to figure out a better way of mounting my rear speakers so the screws don't rattle.

deviant wrote:Coming up around those rubber bungs in the boot floor?

Are you referring to the ones that are actually in the spare wheel well? I did notice them, but I wouldn't think water could come up through those?

Also, does anyone in WA have a spare bit of carpet that goes under the spare wheel? Mine's rather soaked and now lives in the bin

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:58 am

I have never looked to see but I had a thought that maybe water is sprayed up under the boot when you drive?

As for drying it out and preventing smell / mould...a tray with a pile of bicarb in it left in the boot will help. If it does start to smell there is some trick you can do with it, can't quite remember off the top of my head but I think you sprinkle it all over the carpet and let it sit for a few days and then hoover it up.

geofiz · Postby **geofiz** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:17 am

marcusus wrote:I'm usually less free late at night than I am during the weekend days
I'm more inclined to think rain rail. The roof is definitely getting worse with its gaps, and I'm hoping to patch them up with some marine vinyl and adhesives bought from Bunnings. Again, I'd rather dry daylight hours to attempt it just so I can see if it's going to work.

I'm still on the other side of town. Not that I would be adversed to heading down your way for a bit of poking about the car

If you are where near my end of Town (eastern end near hills) :mrgreen:

let me know. The shed nearly always has an empty bay with plenty of lights to look around and a compressor to clear the drain holes.

Postby **Okibi** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:45 am

Sounds like we need to fill up the beer fridge at Russ's and encourage him to get a hoist to hire out. :mrgreen:

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 7:10 pm

Not quite that far. Mt Lawley is where I'm at, but that's probably going to change very soon. Will probably still be north of the river in the inner suburbs somwhere though.

As for it being dry, it seems OK. I scooped out as much of the water as I could, then got a cloth in there to soak up the rest. Looks dry enough, and I haven't noticed a smell issue. If one arises, I'll figure something out.