Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

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rmorton
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Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by rmorton »

Can't remember ever using the spare tire, but I'm sure I've checked air in it a few times. Had a mysterious clunk in the trunk for a while so I decided to check the spare tire well...

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I don't recall the trunk leaking. It has obviously been pooling down in the well for a long time.

Any thoughts on finding the leak besides laying in the trunk with a flashlight while somebody hoses it down?

And what should I do about all rust in the bottom... I'm still in a bit of shock...
96 SSEi
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by 96 SSEi »

hi, I had this also when I bought my 2000 and I pulled the two rubber plugs on the lip of the trunk- no issues after that

you may want to inspect the stripping that seals the trunk lid also

put a diaper in the hole just in case....lol
Last edited by 96 SSEi on Tue May 24, 2016 6:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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J Wikoff
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by J Wikoff »

Is that a drain tube sticking up out of the rust in the second shot?
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nos4blood70
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by nos4blood70 »

I found my leaks by having my dad pour water on the trunk while I was inside... It might be the only way to go.
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ddalder
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by ddalder »

J Wikoff wrote:Is that a drain tube sticking up out of the rust in the second shot?
No drain tubes (at least in this vintage). The only factory installed component is a sheetmetal attachement that the tie down for the spare clips onto.
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rmorton
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by rmorton »

No drain tube. That's the tip off of some tube of caulk that fell down in there.

I guess I'll pull those plugs in the trunk lid and do a water test to see where it's coming from. There is a lot of rust in that well. I'm pretty sure if I punched it hard enough I'd go through. The spare is shot. The rim just disintegrating. What a bummer. I had no idea that was going on. Should have checked the spare more often...
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by MKMike »

ddalder wrote: No drain tubes (at least in this vintage). The only factory installed component is a sheetmetal attachement that the tie down for the spare clips onto.
I have a 2000 SSei and can attest that there absolutely are 2 drainage tubes in the trunk, 1 attached to each quarter panel, behind each wheel, visible after you detach the cloth lining in the trunk.

Mine was filling up the tire well because the tubes detached from the fittings on the inner quarter panel AND because the lip of the trunk needed to be bent back inward, after years of people leaning on it.

That was just where it leaked in the trunk.
The rear footwells were filling up, too from tubing detached in the front, behind the kickpanels.
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by ddalder »

MKMike wrote:
ddalder wrote: No drain tubes (at least in this vintage). The only factory installed component is a sheetmetal attachement that the tie down for the spare clips onto.
I have a 2000 SSei and can attest that there absolutely are 2 drainage tubes in the trunk, 1 attached to each quarter panel, behind each wheel, visible after you detach the cloth lining in the trunk.
What I was saying is that there are no drain tubes in the spare tire well because the picture in question was of that area. The drains you are referring to are for the sun roof. If those are leaking, yes, you can have water drain from the sunroof into the spare tire well. Water should not get into those drains from the outside because of their duckbill design.
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by skregal »

Mine was leaking from the third brake light not being installed properly
at the factory.
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As you can see it was not fully positioned into the rubber gasket before
it was jammed in the hole. GM :roll:
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by Luxrain »

I was going to also suggest the gas door rust if it's bad enough could let water in too
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96 SSEi
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by 96 SSEi »

I would go to scrap yard and score a new tire and jack - wouldn't trust that one
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Re: Wow. Looks like the trunk has been leaking for a while

Post by ddalder »

96 SSEi wrote:I would go to scrap yard and score a new tire and jack - wouldn't trust that one
Ditto. Those are in bad shape!
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