Help! Bad leaks - Back seats flooded after heavy rain!

[Sherwy]

Hey guys,

This has happened several times over the last few years. Basically the rear seats and boot floor are soaked after heavy rain. I can't see any obvious defects in the rear door or hatch lid seals. No leaves or sticks causing a break in the seal.

Strangely it doesn't happen every time it rains. Last weekend in Brisbane we had over 120mm of rain and no leaks, the car was dry. This Friday and Saturday we had about 75mm and it's drenched. Got me completely bamboozled. Any ideas?

Sherwy.

[JustCruisn]

Do you have a sunroof?
Is the car parked on a hill when this happens?

Yes Brisbane got a lot of rain this and last weekend but quite a bit less than your claim. ;)

[Umai Naa!!]

Antanna gasket?

[Jmac]

Water test it. someone in the car. Only way

[Sherwy]

No sun roof, parked on flat. Rain was measured in my backyard. Judging by how much water was in the car and how soggy the ground is I'd say my rain gauge is actually reading a little low.

You are dead right Jimmy, only way to be sure. You would think that having worked and played on boats all my life I might have thought of that before posting? Sunday arvo, mind stuck in neutral!

I'll check the antenna gasket too. Thanks lads.

Cheers,

Sherwy.

[blackers10]

check that there is no water around your tail lights.
I had my GTI parked on a hill nose up and when i drove the car up onto the flat my spare wheel well drain hole was flowing pretty hard for a while...
Turned out 1 of my tail lights was not bolted in properly as 2 of the bolts and snapped off(aa the broken things you find on a 2nd hand car, found $4 under the rear seats..booya!!)
glued it back together and so far. so good :)

[RolfGolf]

Rubber seals can appear sound, but still let water through with heavy rainfall. I'd go with the water test as suggested by Jmac. Just replaced my rear hatch rubber seal for this reason. Door seals are on the "to do" list when I stumble upon a pot of gold in the back garden.

[KWICKS]

Drill holes in the floor. :p

Failing that check the drains in the door closest to the wet patch are clear?

[louie]

water stuck at the bottom horizontal seal of front doors, i just put a towel between bottom seal and frame. after raining the towel soaked but my car floor is dry

[clifforddd]

Do you have a sunroof?
Is the car parked on a hill when this happens?

Yes Brisbane got a lot of rain this and last weekend but quite a bit less than your claim. ;)

Sorry to hijack, mine flooded over night as well (first time in a while). I answer yes to all these questions so what could be causing it?

[JustCruisn]

Sunroof drains can get blocked. On a hill the water may flow only to one or two of the drains and then overflows into the headliner.

[Jmac]

No sunroof

[JustCruisn]

Sorry that was directed at clifforddd with the sunroof.
Go clean the drain lines Clifford !

[Jmac]

I do agree with the lines with a sunroof car though, seen them so blocked they back up and even come off making a right royal mess of the hoodlining

[clifforddd]

Sorry that was directed at clifforddd with the sunroof.
Go clean the drain lines Clifford !

Suggestion how to clean? I actually noticed after i posted that the rear left c pillar had water marks seeping into the liner (same side as which it floods).

[JustCruisn]

Remove the grommet at the end of the line in door frame or under bumper in rear. Use line trimmer cord down the drain. Jiggle it about.

[clifforddd]

Suggestion how to clean? I actually noticed after i posted that the rear left c pillar had water marks seeping into the liner (same side as which it floods).

Scrap that, just did i quick search of vortex and found out where the nipples/drains are. I put a screw driver up them and about 1/2L drained out of each one ( in the rear) and the car hasn't been in rain for about 24 hours. Hopefully that helps!