Water leak from hatch seal

[Hallsy]

My back was feeling better over the weekend so I had a better look for the water leak I was getting into my 944.

The water was gathering in the rear passenger footwell. Stripped seats out and pulled the carpet back, and some of the rear quarter trim. Got the other half to spray the hose around the car, hatch, rear windows, underneath, windwscreen, scuttle, etc - nothing, other than a fair amount of water coming in on drivers side of rear hatch.

After having a good look it seems to be getting under the headlining. The hatch seal on this corner does seem a little un-squashed, i.e. when the hatch is down it doesn't really trap the seal. However it looks like the problem is that the seal has lifted a little on the roof side which is allowing it to run in behind and get under the headlining. It could be that if the seal was deformed by the hatch it would compress it enough, but I couldn't get it under there without trapping my fingers!!

Only other thing I noticed is that where the headlining has shrunk back, and it is usually doubled over the lip where the hatch seal fits over, on the corner it has shrunk enough that it is not doubled over. I wonder if this is part of the problem, where there is not a continuous thickness of vinyl underneath the seal, it could be leaving a void.

When refitting a hatch seal has anyone had problems with the vinyl, or does it sound like the seal has just swollen/grown a bit? I have put a load of silicone grease around the area for the moment until I get a new seal - but I'm thinking that if part of the problem is the way the headlining is uneven underneath the seal, then I need to factor in replacing the headlining at the same time. Luckilly it only seems to come in when hosing that area, if it's only a light trickle of water (i.e. rain) then it doesn't seem to come in (at any great rate anyway).

Shame, as it has ruined the rear quarter trim panel on that side as well!

 

[eddieedmo]

could be sunroof seal or the rubber connectors between the sunroof rear drain holes and the pipe which drains to the rear wells in the boot behind the wheel arches.

Nick

 

[Hallsy]

No, it's definitely the hatch seal - I could see it clearly.

Sunroof seal & drains I had already checked with no problems.

I'm just trying to ascertain if the uneven vinyl under the seal can also cause a problem. I have no problrm buying a new hatch seal, but retrimming the headlining would need a bit more time put into it!!

I can probably explain better with photos!!

 

[Hairyarse]

Could be worth checking your hatch is aligned properly. If you remove roof trim panel behind the sunroof you can slacken the hatch bolts, see if it moves at all. The seal is easy to fit - I've replaced them on my last two 944's and they're no fuss to do - perhaps invest in one anyway. It was 30 or so pounds from Porsche shop although you can buy a very similar seal by the metre from seal specialists.

 

[Kongsodoken]

An original seal will have a cream mastic in the carrier this stops water getting under the carrier they are £76 from OPC

however I looked at this area when I was doing my hatch the radius of the body is greater than the radius of the hatch frame this causes the glass to lift away From the seal, even adjusting the hatch down I could only get a minimal touch in the corners but you can only see this with the glass out and the hatch frame in place.

Bad design by Porsche

I have an original seal that is only 12 months old but I marked it very slightly whilst fitting it it still has plenty of mastic in the carrier open to any offers as I,m buying a new one[]

 

[Hallsy]

I did wonder about hatch aligement. By eye it looks right to the body, bug I'll measure to be sure.

I can see that the hatxh seal is easy to replace (although ones I had seen were more like £60), I was just wondering about the poor vinyl underneath being part of the problem.

Mine still has plenty of the white grease present and in the area it's leaking I added extra silicone grease.

I'll try the aligement but think I'll end up trying a fresh seal to see if it's any better.

 

[Hallsy]

Bloody phones and predictive text!!

 

[kdp]

I had a water leak that emerged from the lining and dripped onto the rear seats. I suspected either the sunroof seal or the hatch seal, but couldn't find a problem.

It turned out that water was entering through the hatch bolt area - I don't know if there should be any sealant etc here, but there wasn't from what I could see. I removed the bolts (one side at a time) and used a piece of approx 2mm thick rubber with holes for the bolts and some additional sealant and resealed both sides in this manner. No leaks now!

Keith