Puddle in the spare wheel well

[Captain Jack]

What is wrong with my car? First I had water leaking on me from the A pillar because the sunroof drain was blocked and now I found 2" standing water in the spare wheel well.

I had a look-see (it's sunny here for a change) and noticed that both of the light clusters had accumulated water on the outside; i.e. where the wire connectors go. There is no water inside the lights themselves that I can see. I unbolted both lights and I can't see where the water is coming through, although I can clearly see where it comes from the inside of the boot - the light cluster.

So, where do they leak from? Is it the polystyrene-like strip around the cluster that leaks? I don't have any sealant on me but I have swapped the seals around and turned them over. Done up the two nuts that hold each light as tight as it will go but we'll see.

I saw Gary406's thread about his water woes but his is a D8 and mine is a D9 so I think there are some differences in design of the rear end. There's no water coming in at the bottom of the rear window, where the seal goes around the boot opening (it's bone dry) but not sure if it might be leaking near the light clusters.

Thoughts?

[d0pefish]

I had a soaking boot with my D9, and it was coming in through the foam strip around the light clusters - a corner wasn't positioned right over the cluster and it left a gap, so I cleaned it all down and reattached it properly. I didn't have to use any sealant, I just made sure it and the surface it sits against was clean and that the cluster bit into it all round.

Another source of water getting in was behind the offside/drivers side carpet where the sat-nav unit (if fitted) sits - there is an air vent with a rubber flap.

Whoever installed the towbar had routed the wiring near that area and had unbolted the air vent to make room to get in, but they hadn't actually bolted it back in, so it was just sitting there, and water was getting in because the air vent wasn't there to seal it.

After sorting those two things the boot has been dry as a bone. I replaced the floor board/carpet thing with one from a scrap yard because it was soaked and mouldy.

[Captain Jack]

I'll have a look at the air vent thing - can't recall seeing on. I never had a tow-bar fitted so hopefully it's not an issue.

I didn't notice that foamy strip being out of place but when re-fitting it, I did make sure that it's all flush, so we'll see what happens!

[Captain Jack]

After yesterday's rain I thought I'd take a look today. The boot is dry but I can see where the water is seeping in. It is from the lights at the back, through the foam thing. I think what's happening is that the water isn't draining quick enough through the back of the rear bumper and rises up to the cluster and seeps through. That foam isn't designed to keep water out permanently...

Any ideas where the water drains from? Would I need to take the rear bumper off?

[Bailes1992]

Check the Ariel too.

[RobTurbo]

I had the same problem with mine, I found it when I was trying to find out why the sat nav didn't work, turns out it was toasted because of water leaking in, I took the lights out and covered both sides of the foam with wellseal then refitted, no problems since!

I assumed the water was coming in at the sides of the boot lid and running down around the lights.