'01 325 convertible - significant rain leak into trunk

[jpilk99]

Seemingly out of nowhere, I now have a copious amount of rain leaking into the trunk. The roof is not ripped, it's closing the way it always did; tightly. No windows are left open. Any ideas what might be happening or how to sleuth how/where the water is leaking in?

Thank you,

Jay

[MarcoZandrini]

Were you driving the car when this happened, or was the vert parked? Is the water entering the trunk on one side or the other? Is the water primarily in the front or the rear of the trunk? Has the car ever been in an accident?

Check the tail light gaskets and the trunk lid gasket.

[dworthy]

+1

Don't forget about the 3rd brake light too on the vert'

[jpilk99]

Were you driving the car when this happened, or was the vert parked? Is the water entering the trunk on one side or the other? Is the water primarily in the front or the rear of the trunk? Has the car ever been in an accident?

Check the tail light gaskets and the trunk lid gasket.

Was not driving when it happened, and it's happened a couple of times (sorry if I omitted that). I thought the first time maybe I spilled something in there. No idea which side it's entering from, but when it dries, I'm planning to put a large piece of cardboard in there and maybe a camera, close everything up and then soak the car with a hose. Can't really tell if water is front or rear. Don't believe the car was ever in accident - though have only owned it about 5 years. If it were in an accident prior to my owning, I would have thought it would leak the entire time - not wait five years and then start.... :-)

[jpilk99]

+1

Don't forget about the 3rd brake light too on the vert'

Ooo, I'll pay attention to that too. Odd though, that's on the vertical slope of the trunk lid. Anything's possible with but the amount of water that is in the trunk, I'm hard pressed to think the rain running down over that light could do it. But water is a crafty element so anything is possible. Thank you.

[All2kool]

Seemingly out of nowhere, I now have a copious amount of rain leaking into the trunk. The roof is not ripped, it's closing the way it always did; tightly. No windows are left open. Any ideas what might be happening or how to sleuth how/where the water is leaking in?

Thank you,

Jay

The first thing to check is your Tail Lights for delamination. I found all four of mine had delaminated. I resealed the outer two and just replaced the trunk mounted with new. When I reinstalled them, I put a bead of Gorilla Silicone directly on the foam gasket and around each of the three mounting holes. Been dry for years now.

[jpilk99]

The first thing to check is your Tail Lights for delamination. I found all four of mine had delaminated. I resealed the outer two and just replaced the trunk mounted with new. When I reinstalled them, I put a bead of Gorilla Silicone directly on the foam gasket and around each of the three mounting holes. Been dry for years now.

Gotcha!!! Thank you.

[fumigator]

have you checked your drains? make sure they are clear or recent stoppage?

[jpilk99]

have you checked your drains? make sure they are clear or recent stoppage?

Do you know where they're located?

[jpilk99]

The first thing to check is your Tail Lights for delamination. I found all four of mine had delaminated. I resealed the outer two and just replaced the trunk mounted with new. When I reinstalled them, I put a bead of Gorilla Silicone directly on the foam gasket and around each of the three mounting holes. Been dry for years now.

I feel kinda stupid for asking, but, I assume "delamintion" is the ...outer shiny layer to the plastic tail lights ...and that that may have ...peeled away, hence allowing water in? What do you use to reseal - I'm assuming a bit of a more flexible epoxy or the Gorilla Silicone you mentioned for the gasket? thanks so much

[All2kool]

I assume "delamintion" is the ...outer shiny layer to the plastic tail lights ...and that that may have ...peeled away

The Tail Lights are two pieces. The outer shell can delaminate from the inner shell. It's quite noticeable when it occurs.

[fumigator]

Do you know where they're located?

under the roof mounting brackets. not visible. youtubes on how to clear.

[jpilk99]

under the roof mounting brackets. not visible. youtubes on how to clear.

Thank you. Curious, in my attached pic, what are those 4 round rubber things? I thought those might be drain plugs ...

[dworthy]

Yes, those 4 black rubbers are plugs that you can remove to allow the area to drain.

[fumigator]

here is a youtube on clearing drains in the roof compartment. they clog over time. make sure they are clear so you can return the drain plugs. also ensure your battery compartment is drained.

[MarcoZandrini]

Who knew verts have roof drains!

[jpilk99]

Success. It was the drain plugs. As many have commented: What a curious design to hide a 1/4" hole UNDER the bracket that holds the roof - and to have a 90 degree elbow below the surface. Easily plugged and near impossible to clear without incredible savvy. Since I lack that savvy, I just did what a caveman would do and drilled a hole down through the bracket as close to what I believed the drain hole was. Once through, I rammed a sturdy length of wire down into the drain hole and pushed out whatever was clogged at the elbow.

Crazy too how both were clogged. I could understand one side or the other, but both at the same time... Weird. Thankfully I'm clear and know how to resolve in the future.

Thanks all!!!