Rover 75 - the old boot leak problem

Edward Huggins · 26th November 2020, 13:19

Being aware of this issue and having read the many and various Posts on here, I thought I would get ahead of the game and so have lined my boot with thick polythene sheeting all over the boot carpet and up the side walls. BUT....having noticed, over time, serious condensation and mould forming on the inside (door linings/dash/seating) I checked the boot and there was no apparent water pooling on top of the sheeting. I could not work it out. I then lifted up the sheeting I had installed, only to find the boot carpet soaking and dripping into the boot well around the spare tyre. How can the water get in if the boot floor area is carefully lined to protect it from ingress? HELP! I have a March 2005 Rover 75 CDTi.

Oldoaks · 26th November 2020, 13:25

A multitude of areas unfortunately. Do you have a saloon or Tourer?

Obviously there is slight variation on ingress points based on the two body styles, but generally speaking, rear light seals, side trims, and boot vents are good places to start.

I have also come across side windows letting water in and also a dislodged parking sensor loom bung as another point of entry.

Edward Huggins · 26th November 2020, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldoaks

A multitude of areas unfortunately. Do you have a saloon or Tourer?

Obviously there is slight variation on ingress points based on the two body styles, but generally speaking, rear light seals, side trims, and boot vents are good places to start.

I have also come across side windows letting water in and also a dislodged parking sensor loom bung as another point of entry.

My car is a Saloon. Please advise what are the "Boot Vents".

suzublu · 26th November 2020, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

My car is a Saloon. Please advise what are the "Boot Vents".

Behind the side carpets you'll see them, may be covered in tape, which isn't waterproof

chris75 · 26th November 2020, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

My car is a Saloon. Please advise what are the "Boot Vents".

I think they are item 9 in this picture :
https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID001823
The RAVE manual says that there is one each side of the boot , consisting of a grille with a rubber flap to vent air from inside the car to the outside space under the bumper . Not sure if they are in the carpet side-liners or beneath them . If they have been sealed off then condensation will happen .

bl52krz · 26th November 2020, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris75

I think they are item 9 in this picture :
https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID001823
The RAVE manual says that there is one each side of the boot , consisting of a grille with a rubber flap to vent air from inside the car to the outside space under the bumper . Not sure if they are in the carpet side-liners or beneath them . If they have been sealed off then condensation will happen .

Hi. The vents you refer to are fitted into the metal of each side inside the boot where the wheel arch is. Sometimes these are not fitted properly at manufacture. Out of sight out of mind. You can fix this by running a bead of silicon sealer around the outside edge of them.Mine in the diesel have been ok, also the KV6. My friends Connie has/had a leak into the boot and we discovered that one of these was not fitted properly.

Edward Huggins · 27th November 2020, 11:56

Many thanks for all of your suggestions. I have now played a hose directly on to all of the areas you have suggested. There was no ingress. Finally, I lifted the boot lid and played the hose under some pressure directly to the side valleys and top seal and let it run heavily into the rearlamp clusters. Nothing, no ingress. Is there a more demanding test I could try? Shall I spray form the underside?

Parisien · 27th November 2020, 21:13

If you remove both boot inside side coverings, there's a plastic ventilation vent either side, about 8 x 4 inches. To successfully reseal, you need to remove bumper, push flexible click tabs back through, then seal opening with silicone based sealant. Click vent back into place, also check masking type tape nearby , plus other mastic finishes in that area.

P

Workhorse · 28th November 2020, 14:35

Just a thought as I'm currently chasing the source of a very leaky boot as well - are either of your rear lights cracked? I've just replaced one of mine that had a relatively minor crack and once it was off the car I filled it up from the inside using a tap and it was surprising how rapid the drip through the crack was.
I've also replaced the rear gaskets with a set of these, so next time it rains I should know if the rear lights were the main source: https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=142690

Teranchelope · 7th December 2020, 13:34

My saloon leaked past the lower trim of the rear window! Ran down and along inside right boot. Sylicone sealer smeared along trim helped.

26th November 2020, 13:19	#1
Edward Huggins Avid contributor Rover 75 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southwold Posts: 130 Thanks: 15 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Rover 75 - the old boot leak problem Being aware of this issue and having read the many and various Posts on here, I thought I would get ahead of the game and so have lined my boot with thick polythene sheeting all over the boot carpet and up the side walls. BUT....having noticed, over time, serious condensation and mould forming on the inside (door linings/dash/seating) I checked the boot and there was no apparent water pooling on top of the sheeting. I could not work it out. I then lifted up the sheeting I had installed, only to find the boot carpet soaking and dripping into the boot well around the spare tyre. How can the water get in if the boot floor area is carefully lined to protect it from ingress? HELP! I have a March 2005 Rover 75 CDTi.

7th December 2020, 13:34	#10
Teranchelope Regular poster Rover 75 Facelift 54 plate saloon Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Pulborough Posts: 70 Thanks: 15 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Boot leaks My saloon leaked past the lower trim of the rear window! Ran down and along inside right boot. Sylicone sealer smeared along trim helped.

26th November 2020, 13:25	#2
Oldoaks Regular poster Rover 75 Contemporary SE Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Little Bentley Posts: 42 Thanks: 14 Thanked 23 Times in 13 Posts	A multitude of areas unfortunately. Do you have a saloon or Tourer? Obviously there is slight variation on ingress points based on the two body styles, but generally speaking, rear light seals, side trims, and boot vents are good places to start. I have also come across side windows letting water in and also a dislodged parking sensor loom bung as another point of entry.

27th November 2020, 11:56	#7
Edward Huggins Avid contributor Rover 75 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southwold Posts: 130 Thanks: 15 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Many thanks for all of your suggestions. I have now played a hose directly on to all of the areas you have suggested. There was no ingress. Finally, I lifted the boot lid and played the hose under some pressure directly to the side valleys and top seal and let it run heavily into the rearlamp clusters. Nothing, no ingress. Is there a more demanding test I could try? Shall I spray form the underside?

27th November 2020, 21:13	#8
Parisien Regular poster Rover 75 saloon 2006, MG ZT 190+ 2002 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: N Ireland Posts: 40 Thanks: 45 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	If you remove both boot inside side coverings, there's a plastic ventilation vent either side, about 8 x 4 inches. To successfully reseal, you need to remove bumper, push flexible click tabs back through, then seal opening with silicone based sealant. Click vent back into place, also check masking type tape nearby , plus other mastic finishes in that area. P

28th November 2020, 14:35	#9
Workhorse Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: West Midlands Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts	Just a thought as I'm currently chasing the source of a very leaky boot as well - are either of your rear lights cracked? I've just replaced one of mine that had a relatively minor crack and once it was off the car I filled it up from the inside using a tap and it was surprising how rapid the drip through the crack was. I've also replaced the rear gaskets with a set of these, so next time it rains I should know if the rear lights were the main source: https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=142690