So I locked my girlfriend in the boot...

[hogweed]

I first cured my wet boot some time around 2012, using Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure (can’t even type that without laughing) on the trim pins, and it was fine for at least a couple of years.


However, a couple more and it started to get wet again. I re-did the pins; I removed and sealed the chrome strip along the side; I sealed the vents in the rear arches; I got new rubber gaskets for the rear light clusters from some guy here who does them, but they leaked worse than the originals.


We don’t get many sunny days here in NI, so I was determined to make the most of this weekend – and, as per the title, closed my girlfriend in the boot with a torch. She’s very petite. And obliging



You know when you KNOW something – like religious types and Richard Dawkins, you’re right, you KNOW you're right, and won’t look at any blinding evidence to the contrary? Well, I’ve read all the posts on this topic, again and again, and knew the only things I hadn’t checked were the two welded seams near the hinges.


As they say in tabloid letters pages, imagine my surprise when she reported water running quite freely through both of them as I poured water over the rear screen and boot lid. And they still look like there is absolutely no gap at all.


Boot left open for hours in the sun today to dry out – Captain Tolley to the rescue tomorrow.


Will report back

[bl52krz]

I used Waxoyle to make sure mine were sealed on the V6. Brushed well down into the crack between the two panel gaps. Never leaked since.

[hogweed]

Originally Posted by bl52krz

I used Waxoyle to make sure mine were sealed on the V6. Brushed well down into the crack between the two panel gaps. Never leaked since.

Thing is, I can't see a gap, even with a magnifying glass but that's where it's coming through all right, so we'll see what the Cap'n can do

[madeupname]

Originally Posted by hogweed

I removed and sealed the chrome strip along the side;

How did you do this please?

[Sonic ZS]

I hate to mention this, but just because you can see where the leak exits, does not mean that's where it's coming in.

Case in point was a Rover 45, leak was dripping out of an aperture (clip hole from memory) half way down the drivers screen pillar. But the water was actually getting in through a split in the seam sealer above the B-pillar, then tracking forward inside the body structure.

To make matters worse, the split was so slight, it took a few minutes of water testing in the right area before anything appeared.....so easily missed.

Took me a good few weeks with the interior stripped & water testing to cure all the leaks on that one. But I'm pleased to say been bone dry since

[hogweed]

Originally Posted by Sonic ZS

I hate to mention this, but just because you can see where the leak exits, does not mean that's where it's coming in.

Case in point was a Rover 45, leak was dripping out of an aperture (clip hole from memory) half way down the drivers screen pillar. But the water was actually getting in through a split in the seam sealer above the B-pillar, then tracking forward inside the body structure.

To make matters worse, the split was so slight, it took a few minutes of water testing in the right area before anything appeared.....so easily missed.

Took me a good few weeks with the interior stripped & water testing to cure all the leaks on that one. But I'm pleased to say been bone dry since

Heh - good point, just have to hope you're wrong in this case. but I'm pouring the water from the watering can onto that area, so it can't be too far away... we'll see...

[hogweed]

Originally Posted by madeupname

How did you do this please?

Sorry, I can't remember I'm afraid - it was a few years ago. But I did it from posts I found here - search for things like "wet boot".


Probbaly somebody will pop along and answer you anyway

[tonybel]

i have tried everything, i now keep a sponge under the leaking area and use a car cover when i can.

[hogweed]

Originally Posted by tonybel

i have tried everything, i now keep a sponge under the leaking area and use a car cover when i can.

Yeah. After several liveral applications of Capt Tolley's, the water's still coming through. It can't be travelling from a different part of the car, as I'm only watering a very small area above the leak... unfortunately, the part of the seam it's coming through inside the boot doesnt coincide with the seam I've tried to seal on top.


Another nail in the old girl's coffin, I fear... I just get so tired of trying and failing to address the same problems, over and over again

[roverbarmy]

I have used paintable seam sealer to good effect on several cars/caravans that I have owned. Clean and dry affected area, brush it well in, then allow to dry. Test. add more if needed or paint over with finishing paint as and when required. Done once and never had to do again in the life of the vehicle. It is flexible and sticks like sticky stuff should! Available from most car paint suppliers and the bay of E.

My boot leaked in via the lower clips that supported the rear screen (all had to be reset in sealer). For belt and braces, I applied a semi circle of silicone sealer above the position of the clip to the screen directly, to divert any liquid from the screen, to either side of the clip, also eliminating that route. The rubber screen surround covered the sealer, (ie was higher than the position of the silicone) so it couldn't be seen when back in place. Any water, then ran around the edge of the boot lid and drained away underneath as it was supposed to, rather than entering the boot void.

Lowering the rear seat backs makes it less claustrophobic for the "observer" in the boot (but maybe not as much fun!!! Especially "releasing" the prisoner at the side of the road!!!).