Rear storage area leak

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

I'm on hols and internet access here is criminally slow (N Wales, access via WiFi hotspot from 'phone, data speed of around 5k ... yes, slower than a modified 944 turbo ... [] ), but I'm in need of some inspiration.

The rear storage dockets in my S2 are getting wet whenever it rains. The ones under the flappy bits at the side of the boot carpet. And I have look at all the usual culprits; I have removed and re-sealed the rear lights and am confident they are properly sealed, I have pushed some bicycle brake cable down the sunroof drain holes and they drain very freely indeed, I have done the same for the drain in the bottom of the fuel filler recess and for the drain pipes at the bottom of the boot catches - water poured into any of these disappears with a satisfying 'gurgle' and small whirlpool.

And yet I am still getting water in the offside storage docket when it rains. What else can cause this? Does anyone have any tips to find out where it is coming from? My best idea so far (don't laugh) is to take all the trim and carpets out and sprinkle a light dusting of talcum powder around to see where the water trickles from, but this will be time-consuming and very messy.

All suggestions welcomed - thanks.


Oli.

 

[Cater_Racer]

What are you doing North Wales Oli? That's my neck of the woods.

 

[atticlab]

Before using up your best talcum powder...
I have diagnosed similar leaks by sitting in a car while a chum sprays it with a hosepipe.
Maybe with the rear seat backs tilted forward you could squirm towards the problem area.
As you are in North Wales you probably won't need the hosepipe.....

 

[Catamax944]

Is the hatch properly aligned ,does it sit properly on the seal ?

Where exactly are you seeing water ,on the edge behind the lights or down in the storage docket itself ?

 

[944 man]

I was going to suggest a watering can with a rose fitted. This way you can target a specific area. However you do it you need to be in the back seat with your head in the boot looking for the drips.

I will venture a guess that its coming from the bottom of the hatch locks.

 

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

That's good advice - using a hosepipe or watering can and sitting inside to see if I can see the leak. Thanks. Maybe a job for a quiet Sunday when we get home, with the missis ...

Catalin - it's in the bottom of the storage docket. Only on the one side (I think - it's hard to see underneath the battery). It may be trickling down from a higher spot (almost certainly is), but I can't see for sure. As far as I am aware the hatch is aligned and sitting properly on the seal, although I will check - thanks.

Simon, from the bottom of the hatch locks - how do you mean? If I pour water into the hatch lock receptacle then it drains out from underneath the car, as it should. Should I be looking somewhere else?

ORIGINAL: Cater_Racer

What are you doing North Wales Oli? That's my neck of the woods.

Gerry, we're in Abersoch, on the end of the Llyn Peninsula. Mrs zcacogp and I do the catering for a Scripture Union Beach Mission here every year. Drop in if you are passing! (I saw a black lux parked outside the village about 4 days ago, but no other 944's in sight ... )


Oli.

 

[944 man]

Even with the drains properly fitted, my old grey car used to leak into the spare wheel well and the rear storage areas through the latch units. I couldnt see where from exactly, as the water ran everywhere is small snaking rivulets.

 

[bmnelsc]

just a thought but maybe u could tape some paper towels around the suspect area then use a hose or watering can. Probably a little less precise (depending on how much water u get in) but a lot cleaner and no risk of staining the carpets. What does talcum powder turn into when its wet? Plaster?

 

[Catamax944]

In some cases if the hatch lock gaskets are even slightly perished or not seated properly water will seep past them and won't go into the receptacles .

 

[JamesBall]

Could it be the seal on the hatch glass?

If it is, and you need a new hatch, I know of one that should be going cheap (nothing to do with me).

 

[ukmastiff]

Ive had this on cars (non 944) and its been the rear hatch rubber. If it is cracked or perished youll see on examination with no water test required.

Mas

 

[simkin911]

Hatch glass coming away from the frame.... [8|]

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Might be a stupid question, but do you have the non-return plugs in the drain holes at the bottom of the storage bins?

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: Catamax944

In some cases if the hatch lock gaskets are even slightly perished or not seated properly water will seep past them and won't go into the receptacles .

This is what Id presumed had happened to mine. It didnt have any carpets or trim in though, so I left it as it was and removed the rubber sphincters from the bottom of the body...

 

[Stral]

I have the same problem on my 944. I have tried everything, new boot seal, hatch pins, rubbers, ensured the drain holes were clear, even took them off and cleaned everything, checked hatch alignment, .... And it still leaked water. If all off the above is okay on your car then it is deffo the bonding between window and frame that is perished and that is the likely source of the leak. It can be repaired according to an article I found on pelican parts I think, but it's a long DIY job. So you have a few options, 1. take it to a trusted windscreen repairers and see if they can help, you'll need to remove the spoiler and side trims. 2. Get a "new" hatch, beware, I did this and it leaked just as bad, most people selling hatches are doing so because it leaks, so ensure you see it keeping the boot dry before buying. 3rd option is where I have left mine, live with it. I painted the compartment with body seal, and added some black rubber lining to the offending area so as the water comes in, it is caught by the rubber matting, and chanelled to drain out the car instead of soaking the rear carpet. Mine is living outside again as I have the 968 in the garage, so an outdoor car cover is also used. I hope you get it fixed with a new seal, this has been my number one pain with my 944 and it is unlikely to be fixed properly [] . All the best.

 

[T3rra]

Rubber seal around the hacth. I used the side cubbys 4 my work clothes and boots, they where wet one day, so was the sound dreading under the carpet. I checked everything, even refitting the fuel drain a few times. But yours is battery side?

Anyway removed the hacth rubber and re instoled it, not had wet clothes sense, always remove them bungs in the base anyway.

Paper towels along where the light are will tell u if it's from the light hacth pin area.

 

[Stral]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/944_hatch_glass_repair/944_hatch_glass_repair2.htm

Visit this link and read through the problem description , and the DIY solution if you are brave.


Cheers.

 

[Joss Walker]

I have this in my Cab and was thinking of posting a query to see if any of you bright chaps had ideas. I haven't checked the seal on the rear lights yet so I will try that first and then will line the boot with paper towels to try to trace the leak. Any suggestions on the best way to protect the bottom of the wing where the water collects? I have no grommets in the drain holes so that is some benefit but was intrigued with the suggestion of the stonechip paint, any other ideas?

 

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Many thanks for your answers. This thread is getting longer than I'd expected ...

It rained again this morning. And I have checked the car (should specify - all this is with the car parked stationary for several days; it's not a symptom of driving the car in the rain.) And there is more water in the off-side storage area - the battery side seems to be OK, although it's harder to tell as the water will gather under the battery where it's harder to see.

More precisely, the car is parked very slightly nose-up (dunno if this is relevant), and there is clearly water in the bottom of the storage area. There is also a puddle of water on the floor behind the storage area (there is a small shelf here), and it seems to be trickling down to this from a higher point. I have dismantled the rear light (taken the bulb carrying section out) and there is water inside this as well - quite a puddle. What is interesting is how it got here; the design of the lights suggest that it has come in from a higher point, and the likely option is that is has come onto the top of the light moulding and tricked inside it, through the slight gap between the light moulding and the bulb section. (I have photos of all this, but uploading them via the data connection I have here would take until the end of the holiday - it would be quicker to drive home and upload them there and drive back here again!) This means that it has entered the body of the car from above the light moulding, so either through the top of the seal between the light and the car body, or from the lock mechanism (which is directly above it), or through the rubber seal between the hatch and the body, or through a badly-sealed hatch itself. So all the options you chaps mention are possibilities ... [:'(]

However the carpet doesn't seem to be wet.

(Note: in the description above I'm NOT saying there is water between the transparent coloured plastic of the light and the opaque silvered light moulding - I'm talking about the space behind this.)

Paul, I think the parts you mention are in place but I am sure the water isn't coming in at the bottom of the storage bins, so it's a moot point.

Simon - it could be those gaskets, for sure. But the carpet (full set in mine - it's a road-going daily-driver) is dry.

Alan, thanks. That's certainly a possibility, but as I said the carpet is dry. Does this discount the possibility of a badly-sealed hatch? Thanks for the pelican link. Painting the inside of the boot with underseal seems to be a sensible precaution and certainly something I will do before the summer is out. There is no rust in it yet (or anywhere else on the car for that matter) and I want it to stay that way! I'll read the article when I have a better internet connection.

Terry, when you say you removed the seal and re-fitted it do you mean you just pulled it off and pushed it back on again? Why did this improve things? As far as I can tell the seal is OK (as in, it's not perished or cracked), but I haven't looked that closely at it yet.

Thanks again for your input and suggestions chaps.


Oli.

 

[944 man]

If the carpet isnt wet at all then Id suspect the seal around the hatch catches. You need it hosing whilst you observe.