Hey all,
I have a bit of water that gets into my trunk when it rains. Water enters on the right hand side to the right of the opening. The pan is solid on that side. Walls are also.
The rubber trunk seal looks solid but the top of the rubber is wet when it rains. Water can't climb up and over the rubber seal, can it?
Is there any test for the efficacy of the rubber seal? Any leaks common in this area on these cars?

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.

Check the tail light and seals around it. I'm not sure about the 75 taillights, but on the 70-71 horizontal lights you have to be really liberal with the sealer around the taillight housing.

Body shops use a white spray powder to look for gaps in the seal between weatherstrips and body parts. I'm not sure where you could get it but probably NAPA or you could just brush on some chalk dust. You put the powder on the gasket then close the trunk. When you reopen the trunk inspect the mating surface for gaps in the transferred powder. Water can indeed flow up and over the seal, especially when the car is in motion; air pressure and capillary action can push or pull the water through even the smallest opening.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Baby powder or foot powder also work well for finding water leaks.

We've always used industrial smoke bombs for finding water leaks in the cars. Just place it in a metal pan in the trunk and close the lid and wait. It often works better in the evening to with a flashlight to find the smoke.

HEY!
You're working. You're not supposed to be having fun! That sounds like a great way to scare the crap out of your mother.

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Hi there. I think you got some of this wrong. But on the other hand there are a few things you acctually convinced me with. Can you add more to that?




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75,
Are you saying it gets wet just sitting in the rain, or you notice it after driving in the rain? I can see how the top of the weatherstripping could get wet, if you are driving 60 mph in a rainstorm. The wind velocity could drive water up there (kind of like using a spray nozzle on your garden hose). On the other hand, I don't see how it would get wet just sitting in the rain (kind of like letting the garden hose simply wash over the area without the spray nozzle).

I like the suggestion of using talc or baby powder. Just make sure you dry every contact surface thoroughly. Lightly dust the weatherstripping and gently close the deck lid. If you slam it or press really hard, you might actually compress the rubber until it picks up some powder, but then rebounds when you let go, leaving a minor gap when in the latched position.

The smoke test would probably be the best. You wouldn't run the risk of picking up powder while closing the lid, giving a false indication of the tightness of your seal. It would help get the smoke out the gap, if you could run compressed air into the car's interior somehow. You might find possible leaks all over the car, with smoke pouring out from every nook and cranny.

One other thing you might try is to drape a length of dental floss or sewing thread over the suspected area (after drying it off), then tug on it gently. If there is resistance to your pulling, then the weatherstripping is contacting the deck lid. If it slips out easily, then you have an air gap.

Let us know what you decide to do and how it turns out.

Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Right now I'm thinking I could spend some time testing, or I could assume that there is a leak, get some thick weather stripping next time I am at Lowes (which is every weekend as I just bought a house) and then trace the rubber pattern onto the trunk lid and put the weatherstripping on it so that I have a tight seal.
Am I stupid? Don't be afraid to say so. This seems much quicker and cheaper than testing/buying a new trunk seal.

_________________
God took you away, then brought you back to me.