found my trunk leak, now what?

[jabstick420]

lucky for me, its been raining in the sf bay area for a few days.

opened the trunk and saw some droplets.

followed it up to just behind the trunk lid where the trunk hinge is attached to the body panel.

seems to be right below the bottom passenger corner of the rear windshield.

so, is this definitely a windshield seal issue, or could it be something else?

I know there are some drains that run down along the side of the windshield, are those suspect?

or should I just be sourcing a new seal.

thanks for reading.

[vstech]

You got in there and found the channel leaking? I'd source a new seal, but be prepared for SERIOUS RUST...

[Junkman]

I could gently lift the rear window seal enough to slip an o-ring pick in. I found a rust hole and it will be a repair for a competent bodyman - and also a glass man. Probably ~$300 or less to have it fixed right and I don't have to fool with it. I hate rigged crap that has to be done again because I was too cheap or didn't have the tools, time or expertise to do it right the 1st time.

There is a small hole in the floorboard that will be addressed at the same time.

[rocky raccoon]

My coupe had the same and I found a rusted-out channel. No amount of squeezed in sealer will fix it permanently. Any competent body shop can repair/rebuild the channel and the cost quoted by junkman is about right for the body shop but .....

Since coupe; new seal very expensive, near $200 and pay a glass shop about $100 to r&r the windshield. DO NOT allow an amateur to r&r that windshield. Should it crack, they are very rare and command big $ if you can find one.

[jabstick420]

Hopefully the rust is minimal since the car hasn't had much rain exposure.
Fingers crossed.
Are the rear windshields NLA, or just prohibitively expensive from the dealer?

[jbach36]

I used Prestone Power Steering Stop Leak fluid when I first bought my car some 8 years ago. The power steering fluid was leaking. I sucked out all the fluid I could, put in the Prestone product and whammo! No more leaks in 8 years.

My sunroof seal was getting weird on a corner. The rubber has gotten hard making it contract, so it shorter, and it couldn't bend the whole way into the corner anymore. The rubber was no longer supple and the sunroof was starting to leak a bit. I brushed some Prestone on there on a dry day, let it soak in for an hour or two, wiped off the excess and WHAMMO! No more corner problems, and no more leak. That was 2 years ago.

About a month ago, I found that my trunk seal was leaking. I looked into buying a new one, then thought maybe the Prestone would work on that. I took the seal completely off, got all the gunk out of the rubber, washed it off with a hose and let it COMPLETELY dry. I cleaned the trunk channels out too and let that all dry. When the seal was COMPLETELY dry, I brushed on Prestone, let it soak in for a day, wiped off the excess, put it back on and WHAMMO! No more trunk leaks.

If yours is leaking on your window seal....WHAMMO! Probably have no more leaks if you use this product. Apply, let it soak in for a day, wipe off the excess.

Good luck!

[jabstick420]

is is possible to get a trunk leak from the side channel drains? or is this for sure a windshield issue?

I know there are two rain gutter drains. Could an obstruction in these drains cause this problem.?

it doesn't rain here that often, so if its the windshield seal I may hold off till next year. If its other stuff, then I'd like to tackle those first.

thanks.

and I may give the prestone a try