R230 freaking boot leak!!!!

[Fakeindian]

Ok I have had issues with the boot leaking since I have bought the car - I applied the fix recommended by television and it does not leak in the centre sections anymore.

It now drips from the top left of the trunk (passengers side)

I get a drip which will form into a puddle in the boot :-(

I have put some Pics on the following links to show where the leak is coming from...

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/A6D7F993-F12A-4721-89BC-6D1F570DEF34.jpg

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/016088B3-5F7A-40F5-AD8F-3BA8236EC698.jpg

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/3DD76FB7-3C3D-44DD-8A30-067197B59ADC.jpg


Can anyone help or has had this issue and fixed it? It's the only place the car leaks now so would love to get it sorted so that I can have a dry car.

Thanks in advance

 

[television]

The seals at the bottom of the C panel are leaking, these must be sealed on the outside and the insides. Water will go down the outside and then travel up the other side into the car. Self adhesive rubbers seldom work here as there are 3 welds on overlapping metal and the water runs down and up the part that overlaps. It is easy to do and you do not have to be that fussy as it can never really be seen on the inside, just lift the rubber and apply the sealer all the way way round including the ends.

 

[triumphstag]

Agreed - I had the same problem and doing this fixed it.

 

[Fakeindian]

Thanks Malcolm,

Do you have a pic at all of the bit that needs to be sealed (sorry for being thick) but I'm not sure what you mean by the c panel

Thanks

Neil

 

[drmw]

The C pillars are the painted bits either side of the rear screen. The bit and indeed the seal in shot on your first pic

 

[television]

Just start the roof opening sequence and when the boot lid is open backwards so to speak, and turn off, the insides of C pillars are facing you.

 

[Fakeindian]

Ok let me just confirm I understand - I need to open the roof half way and then seal all around the plastic bits on the sides of the rear windscreen and then close again?

Do I do this just at the bottom or all around?

Are we talking about these bits...

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/1E6568F0-31A8-4D11-85DB-6C377A442A86.jpg

Do I just seal it at the bottom here...

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/2BE51812-ECCE-4605-8D9F-21A3482C91A1.jpg

Or do I need to take it off and seal all around the rubber...

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/823EAA14-0626-470F-8317-0486FB9E3F8F.jpg

Sorry to be a pain but just don't want to seal the wrong bit or mess it up even more.

Thanks

Neil

 

[Philedge]

The second picture above ending in 1A1.jpg is the outer/primary seal thats come away from the bottom of the C pillar. Any water running off the roof/pillar will work its way down the gap where your finger is. This needs to be cleaned up and re sealed along the full length. When you pull the seal out you'll be able to see the original double sided tape that was used in the factory and has probably come away from the paint work.

Once the outer seal is sorted then you can look at the inner seal which is the channel under the seal you are pulling away. This inner channel is formed by the folded steel lip of the C pillar and the rubber seal that sits over it. Where the seal sits over the steel lip was originally sealed with mastic which fails over time. This joint between the seal and the steel channel needs sealing where the two meet along the full length of the join.

When you look into the inner channel you'll be able to see where layers of sheet metal overlap each other to form the C pillar. The joins between the pieces of metal need need sealing to stop water working its way into the spot welded joint.

Its all a bit fiddly to seal up but worth it for a dry boot

 

[Fakeindian]

Ok I think I understand - will probably make more sense once I start doing it - thanks for all your help guys and I will let you know how I get on

 

[drmw]

if you look at the rear of the setup, you have the two C pillars - the bits that are painted. At the base of each is a rubber seal - near enough a quarter circle each side. It's those and only those that need to be resealed. They are held on with double sided sticky, so will rarely be completely water tight.

Start the car & start dropping the roof. When the C pillars are separate to everything else (or the roof has moved back about 12", stop the process. Using a piece of wood, prop the roof against the top of the windscreen & turn off the engine - Gravity will start the roof closing again until it reaches the wood. Turn off then engine.

At this point, you can now work as long as you need.

You need to clean as best you can the "outer" seal - it'll have gunge between it and the painted part. Apply the sealant under the rubber all the way round.

Then you need to do the inside of the same seal same way and that should be it

 

[Fakeindian]

Ok I'll give it a crack - thanks guys!

 

[Fakeindian]

Ok are you guys talking. About this bit?

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/91F43EE2-783C-41AD-8A68-6B0C6C9FCF6E.jpg

Do I apply the sealant to this part?

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/D7945DE6-AF03-4C9A-AAAD-6DED0608D589_1.jpg

 

[television]

I see that you have done the seal on the left in the first picture, that is the part to be sealed on the inside as well, part 340 is the one

 

[television]

Only seal it up to the edge of the metal C panel. My pictures have gone from the DIY,,, I will try and find some

 

[drmw]

Only seal it up to the edge of the metal C panel. My pictures have gone from the DIY,,, I will try and find some

That's odd Malc - the images were on photobucket but say they've been removed

 

[drmw]

Do I apply the sealant to this part?

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/fakeindian/D7945DE6-AF03-4C9A-AAAD-6DED0608D589_1.jpg

That's the bit - I also squeezed a bead of sealant into the hard "U" shaped channel that clips over the metal edge

 

[television]

That's odd Malc - the images were on photobucket but say they've been removed

The whole thing is a mess anyway and it needs to be re done.

 

[Fakeindian]

Thanks guys, I have tried my best to seal along the whole c section - fingers crossed it will work - once again thanks for all the info, you guys are ace :-D

 

[drmw]

Thanks guys, I have tried my best to seal along the whole c section - figures crossed it will work - once again thanks for all the info, you guys are ace :-D

Having just seen the weather forecast for tomorrow, I don't think you'll have to wait long to find out !

 

[Fakeindian]

Having just seen the weather forecast for tomorrow, I don't think you'll have to wait long to find out !

Lol I know was happy to get it done today - I just hope it fully dries in time.

will let you know how I get on - know my photos ain't the best but if they help other people please fill free to add them to part of a guide (I'll leave them up on photobucket)