[Zee]

Just emptied out 4 INCHES of rain water from the trunk of my '96 Avalon. Water was in the spare tire well and the two fender pods. Carpet and liner were wet toward the rear edge. Cardboard spare tire cover soaked through.

It's been going on a long time -- even had slime and algae growing!

Cleaned it all up and dried it out.

But I couldn't find the leak.

Put water onto the taillights, lid seal, power antenna,, and rear windshield, but could not produce the leak.

Anybody know what's up with this?

 

[Your Uncle Moe]

I think its coming in from around your trunk area and not from the lights. try pouring water around the rear window and edges of your trunk. Im almost positive that its coming from there.

There should be a rubber piece all around your trunk when you open it. Wiggle it around and see if it comes off. Then check for tears/ cracks/ missing parts of that rubber.

-Ginsu

 

[MCTOY]

Could be that the seal allows water in (On the top edge) when you drive it in the rain (Wind pressure):dunno: Is the seal soft?
Mctoy

 

[evangelos K]

mY 90' LE V6 has the same problem, only in the drivers side fender pod though.

 

[amerikim]

Could be that the seal allows water in (On the top edge) when you drive it in the rain (Wind pressure):dunno: Is the seal soft?
Mctoy

That is exactly what happened to me. I went through a carwash to figure that one out. When i used a garden hose, nothing dripped but those car washes showed me exactly where..just at the top trunk corner...

Rubber looked okay, but I adjusted the alignment of the trunk and have not seen water in the trunk lately. Adjustment is under the rear parcel shelf, not in the trunk. My lid was sitting kind of high,so i used washers to lower the hinge.

 

[Zee]

Could be that the seal allows water in (On the top edge) when you drive it in the rain (Wind pressure):dunno: Is the seal soft?
Mctoy

I should have mentioned that the seal is complete, looks good and the trunk lid aligns correctly as its gaps.

 

[cam2Xrunner]

On my gen4 There are tubes running down from the moonroof unit all the way to where the jack is and the storage on the left side of your trunk. I would rec. checking those to see if they have torn or have came out of the hole.

 

[Zee]

On my gen4 There are tubes running down from the moonroof unit all the way to where the jack is and the storage on the left side of your trunk. I would rec. checking those to see if they have torn or have came out of the hole.

No moonroof. Thanks.

 

[amerikim]

take everything out of your trunk, including carpet and go have someone spray your car with you in the trunk with a flashlight. Agree with them on the pattern they are spraying so you know where they are. Have them spray in your wheel wheels as well. It may be leaking from more than one place so be careful to check.

I have heard of putting chalk on the rubber seals, then closing your doors and lids to help you check if water is making its way past the seals.

4" of water is a lot. It should leak fast enough.

 

[Zee]

take everything out of your trunk, including carpet and go have someone spray your car with you in the trunk with a flashlight. Agree with them on the pattern they are spraying so you know where they are. Have them spray in your wheel wheels as well. It may be leaking from more than one place so be careful to check.

I have heard of putting chalk on the rubber seals, then closing your doors and lids to help you check if water is making its way past the seals.

4" of water is a lot. It should leak fast enough.

I agree 4 inches is a big leak. That's what is so unusal about not being able to produce it in my testing. I am good at sourcing leaks, having owned several 200 series Volvos over the years. I give other people advice like this!

 

[amerikim]

Well, since you have me stumped, happy trails.

 

[fj40supraman]

Had this exact same problem on my Avalon. Don't mean to sound stupid, but did you check to make sure plugs are sealed up real good? Next check your taillights and how they seal. Mine had a chip out of the right lower corner and it was sucking in water like a gutter, had me stumped for a long time. A little silicon fixed that. Realistically it is pretty hard for the seal to leak as water must defy gravity. You can always go and get a tube of silicon calk and rule them (gaskets) out too. Next, I'd do what was already said and take everything out lay in there with a flashlight and spray away, you will find it. Let us know where it was, I'm kinda curious.

 

[JavaJoe_2]

I had the same problem with my '95. I came from the side moulding bolts. The 4 inches of water had probably built up over time ( if you said you found algae in it ) so it doesn't have to be a major big leak. I had found the bolts quite rusted and loose. I just bought new hardware, cleaned up the threads and used some silicone to help seal it all.