88 LE water leaking into trunk

[cadillacdude1975]

when it rains, or the car goes through the car wash or even hand washing, the drivers rear quarter panel of the trunk fills with water.

i have the entry point narrowed down to 2 places. the next step is to get into the trunk with a flashlight and observe.

i think it is entering through the left (driver) outer tail light assembly. there is condensation all over the inside of the lense, so i have to see what light i have. amber on top or bottom? like i pay attention to those details LOL

i also want to change the weather stripping around the trunk for good measure. the factory seal is over 20 years old anyway. anyone got a link to where i can order that at a reasonable price?

thanks,

Rob

[71Corolla]

Common sources of leaks are failing seam sealer along the edge of the trunk well, below the rubber seal. Also check the fuel filler area. Here's where I sealed mine up it cured the constant leaking problem.



Part number for the weatherstripping is 64461-32051. Contact Gary aka TOYOPARTSMAN for a price.

[white90dx]

If you remove the tail light on the leaking side, you will probably find a dirty/old/dry butyl rubber seal. You can probably find replacement butyl rubber 'rope' at the local auto parts store, like this:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...=ribbon+sealer

Otherwise, the suggestion for the trunk seal is the next step.

-Charlie

[cadillacdude1975]

thanks guys. i will pull the light later. i wish i had checked this post from my phone. i just left oreillys LOL

['88 All-Trac]

My outer lights are both broken but, amazingly, don't leak.

My inner lights leak like sumbitches though. That might be something to check.

That seam seal is really bad about leaking, I've redone mine as well.

[cadillacdude1975]

still waiting on the darn stuff to show up in the mail. i wish it had gotten here today. its supposed to rain like mad sometime thursday and i will be in north carolina. blah.

[cadillacdude1975]

it arrived today. i can already tell a big difference in the way the trunk opens and shuts. its a lot tighter. im gonna get the water hose out tomorrow to be sure this problem is no more. i did see 2 spots that were slightly rusted on the lip, so maybe this was the problem.

[Musikmann]

Mine leaks too but I think it's a different problem. After the car sits out in the rain, and when I open the trunk, water drips from the drain holes in the truck deck lid on to the trunk floor. I suspect the seals around the tail light assemblies but I have done no investigation.

[cadillacdude1975]

something else came across my mind a few minutes ago at the car wash when cleaning out the trunk.

the motorized stereo antenna took a crap afte rshe got the car. i wasnt paying 60 bucks for a fancy up and down antenna. i bought one of the rubber ducky flexible ones and put it on the quarter deck. no difference in reception. i just dont have to worry about it snapping in a car wash.

i did notice today that when i tightened the base on the flex antenna, there is an ever so small gap that goes direct to where the water was pooling. a little silicone will stop that.

who is to say that is what was letting that massive amount of water in there, but it did need the weather seal.

[cadillacdude1975]

update: i found the leak. when it rained the other day, i was at the store. i thought to go check the trunk and the new weather seal is water tight. the water was running down the outer left channel by design, then down between the frame and the tail light assembly.

i then felt behind the carpet in the trunk, and bingo. entry point found. im gonna do it the easy way and use clear silicone to stop that little problem for now.