[HotRod53]

Having only owned this car for a few months, and some of that time it sat at the dealership getting the engine rebuilt, I'm now noticing that stinky tennis shoe smell in the trunk. Any hint where to look? I don't see anything obvious but the XLE has covers on everything in the trunk. I may need to strip it to find it.

 

[Tech1984]

I wonder if they stored engine parts in the trunk while at the shop, but unlikely that would cause it.
If water was to leak into the trunk, somehow, the exact place it would go is the spare tire well.
So...is there any standing water in there?

 

[HotRod53]

You're right, if it was a lot of water it would end up there. My experience in the past with Jeep Chrookees was that it gets just enough water to make the materials wet and eventually smell, I could never see where it was leaking. On the Jeeps it was usually a leaking window or hatch.

 

[motorbreath777]

.. worse than it looks to strip the trunk; just start pulling the panels off.

Does your car have a sunroof? There are drain tubes that may have clogged.

 

[BlackCam09]

I think someone had a gen 6 camry and had water build up where the jack was stored.

 

[nj0ywatch1np0rn]

I think someone had a gen 6 camry and had water build up where the jack was stored.

That was probably me! I still have the same leak since toyota wouldn't do jack$hit about it. My leak was from one of the seals not sealing on the jack side. They tried realigning the trunk but nothing.

Since the jack area drains into the spare wheel well area. I just took off a drain plug and just drive around with it. So far no rust or any standing water problems.

 

[Glenn8963]

Having only owned this car for a few months, and some of that time it sat at the dealership getting the engine rebuilt, I'm now noticing that stinky tennis shoe smell in the trunk. Any hint where to look? I don't see anything obvious but the XLE has covers on everything in the trunk. I may need to strip it to find it.

the trunk will have drain plugs located in the spare tire area. sometimes that plug gets loose when replacing the spare tire and someone whacks it. sometimes that plug cracks and breaks apart, so check that.

on my car, at the left side where the truck hinge is, look for excessive rubbing of the cable for the truck release up against the weather stripping. water WILL come in from that area under heavy rains, or car washes.

i have never has any tail light assemblies leaks, as those are usually sealed very well...UNLESS a former owner or garage mechanic had to remove one and break the seal, and NOT reseal it

 

[Jparkhill]

That was probably me! I still have the same leak since toyota wouldn't do jack$hit about it. My leak was from one of the seals not sealing on the jack side. They tried realigning the trunk but nothing.

Since the jack area drains into the spare wheel well area. I just took off a drain plug and just drive around with it. So far no rust or any standing water problems.

In search of an answer and the first post I've found involving standing water under the jack, right side of trunk, 07 Camry.

Noticed after I washed my car today. It seems to be coming from under. Top layer carpet dry, damp under lower layer carpet and puddle under jack. Very weird. IDK

 

[HotRod53]

If it’s standing water, probably not the drain plugs. I can say that when mine got full of water it was due to the trunk gasket and no carpet on top seemed wet. I had run a wire under my gasket for an XM antenna that caused my issue.

 

[Jparkhill]

If it’s standing water, probably not the drain plugs. I can say that when mine got full of water it was due to the trunk gasket and no carpet on top seemed wet. I had run a wire under my gasket for an XM antenna that caused my issue.

Ok, trunk gasket... Didn't think of that since that comes from above. I'm going to check that out in a few, make sure it's installed properly and not torn. So weird. Thank you, I'll update.

 

[Ocean Zhu]

I had a swimming pool on the jack area after a heavy rain a month ago, took one look at my trunk gasket and it shrunk and it won't pop back into place. Replaced it and problem solved.

 

[bharnois]

I just changed my trunk gasket and problem solved. If your gasket looks flat at all on the mating surface, change it. It was only 80 bucks new. Much more of a pain to pull the tire, jack, and storage box and clean everything out. I put the matt and the carpet in a large capacity washer and they came out perfect. I needed to replace the board over the spare as well.