Spare tire well swimming pool is back!

[seattlestiva]

Thought I had wet carpets ect. solved last spring. But Seattle just went through
our once or twice a year deluge (2 inches of rain in a 24 hr. period). We usually
get a little every day. Anyway, discovered that the carpet behind the front passenger seat is soaking wet. Took a look at the spare tire well and it's filled with water.
Last year I replaced the hatch gasket, replace both tail light gaskets, replace one tail light with a nearly new one and reconditioned the rear vent window seals with silicone spray.
Question - Can water seep in from the old tail light itself? Are the lenses segmented so water could seep through the one not replaced? Also, has anyone else
just drilled holes in the spare wheel well to get water out?

[william]

I get the same thing, but I need new tail light gaskets lol .

[WmWatt]

Punch a hole in the bottom of the spare tire well for the water to drain out. Slather the well with grease.

[Darlo]

Punch a hole in the bottom of the spare tire well for the water to drain out. Slather the well with grease.

+1

That is EXACTLY what I did to a previous car when I couldnt figure out where the water was coming from. Put hole at lowest part and make it at least 3/16" or 1/4" to ensure drainage........ (Ps. When I did find the leak, it was the tail light seal.)

Good luck

[seattlestiva]

Hey All - Saw that the spare wheel well has 3 rubber plugs in the floor already. Maybe they saw this coming.
Yanked them out with a channel lock. To william - Make new tail light gaskets out of mouse pads. Use the old one as your pattern. It works!

[Darlo]

Hey All - Saw that the spare wheel well has 3 rubber plugs in the floor already. Maybe they saw this coming.
Yanked them out with a channel lock. To william - Make new tail light gaskets out of mouse pads. Use the old one as your pattern. It works!

Two of those holes are for the installation of a hitch (at least they were on mine)......Maybe the 3rd one is a "drain hole" lol......:p

Ps. If you install a Kamm-back, you will get no leaks AND you will improve your mpg! lol

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad94/heydarlo/Festiva/August14FestivaKamm021.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad94/heydarlo/Festiva/August14FestivaKamm025.jpg

[zoom zoom]

Two of those holes are for the installation of a hitch (at least they were on mine)......Maybe the 3rd one is a "drain hole" lol......:p

Ps. If you install a Kamm-back, you will get no leaks AND you will improve your mpg! lol

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad94/heydarlo/Festiva/August14FestivaKamm021.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...ivaKamm025.jpg

I couldn't force myself to do that to a car.. it's got a cool sounding name, but that's about it.

I've drilled holes in the spare tire well for my 626, my aspire, my moms caddy, and other friends vehicles.. it will keep the water drained and with any luck keep the carpet from mildewing and rotting out as fast.

[Darlo]

I couldn't force myself to do that to a car.. it's got a cool sounding name, but that's about it..

It is not for looks, but for reduction of drag and statistical purposes......:p

I've drilled holes in the spare tire well for my 626, my aspire, my moms caddy, and other friends vehicles.. it will keep the water drained and with any luck keep the carpet from mildewing and rotting out as fast.

Yeah I think the car I had to do it on before was my 626 Turbo (that was a sweet car)........ Sold it to a "friend" and gave him the extra turbo and extra digital dash.......Very sad...... He never paid me the ammount we agreed and I found out he drove it into the ground and drove it out to the wrecker WITH THE EXTRA PARTS! :cry_smile:

[WmWatt]

If you have a garden hose or a watering can you could drip water over the car after it dries out and see where it's coming in.

[zoom zoom]

Ouch..was that the v6 626? I have a non turbo 4cyl 2.0, its a complete turd lol..it goes, but not in a hurry...when it's working, water pump went out last week, should have it running monday when I can get in the jy again, lost a bolt.

[Darlo]

No it was an 1990 (I think) 2.2l 4cyl.

Looked like the one posted here by MonoxideChild

http://www.mazda626.net/topic/6295-everyone-post-pics-of-your-ride/page__st__120

Dash looked like this!


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Mustang196t8]

Thought I had wet carpets ect. solved last spring. But Seattle just went through
our once or twice a year deluge (2 inches of rain in a 24 hr. period). We usually
get a little every day. Anyway, discovered that the carpet behind the front passenger seat is soaking wet. Took a look at the spare tire well and it's filled with water.
Last year I replaced the hatch gasket, replace both tail light gaskets, replace one tail light with a nearly new one and reconditioned the rear vent window seals with silicone spray.
Question - Can water seep in from the old tail light itself? Are the lenses segmented so water could seep through the one not replaced? Also, has anyone else
just drilled holes in the spare wheel well to get water out?

This is one of the frustrating things I experienced with my '88 LX. I replaced my taillight gaskets (I actually got new ones from FMS) thinking it was that, but when it rained I would still get water back there. My hatch seal seemed to be fine as well.

One thing I noticed but I never got to fix before I got rid of the car was those plastic 'vent' looking things on each side of the hatch seal. I think the water may have been leaking around those - there was some dirt buildup around them. I wanted to pull them out (if possible?) clean the area then silicone them. But I never got the chance, but maybe they were the culprit since I did everything else. Since they are on the outer perimeter of the hatch seal it is possible the water runs down from the top then through them. Maybe take a look at those as well...

It really sucked because after it rained there was so much moisture inside that it would fog up all the windows. I would have to dry out the carpet before it started to mold and mildew

[Advancedynamix]

I fixed all my leaky car problems once and for all. Moved to Arizona, we only get like 6 inches of rain a year! Problem solved!

[ECCustom]

I used a thick piece of paper to make a template taping it to the back of the car and tracing from the inside, worked great, I used the 1/16" craft foam and found I needed 4 pieces or 1/4" with gasket sealer in between each layer to make it seal right, I should have gone with the dollar store mouse pads that are thicker but it works!

[bravekozak]

Perhaps you have a leak in your ditch. Check under the ditch molding (where the roof is welded on).
There could be a bad weld from the factory or a rust hole.