Water ingress 244 trunk

[OVERDRIVE]

I have water that enters my trunk through the tail lights. It happens on both sides. What's the best way to fix this, just replace the tail lights?

 

[threewagons]

 

[threewagons]

how are the foam gaskets? even if they aren't crumbly they can compress over time and not really seal well. I'd replace the foam or put a smear of sealant on either side of the existing gaskets (like 3m 8302)

 

[OVERDRIVE]

3M 8302 is $40 for a 5oz tube. Eek. I have some hylomar left over maybe I'll try that.

I have a spare pair of PPS (ALVO?) tail lights, I'll dig them and the foam out and see if they're any better.

 

[945T]

It's a common problem. Either the lenses are leaking (the seals degrade and get crusty) or water is getting past the foam gasket (especially aftermarket gaskets) and trickling in from the back. A quick fix is to drill a couple of small 1/8" drain holes up at an angle below the lens. They'll barely be noticeable. You can put thin strips of newspaper behind the gasket to see which ones easily pull out to find the leaking areas. As needed, reseal around the lenses with clear silicon sealant (UV resistant marine grade is ideal) or add padding between the foam gasket and taillight using something like butyl mastic, thin weatherstripping or a bead of caulk. Armorall can be tried to clean and moisten the dried rubber and make the gasket more pliable against the body. The foam gaskets supplied with aftermarket taillights are often inferior and can be a poor fit even when carefully aligned, especially in wagons.

 

[OVERDRIVE]

I've drilled some small holes in the bottom corner panels already, I believe those are the only ones that fill up with water but I'll check again. I think the holes currently don't drain faster than they fill up. We've had a bunch of flash floods here in the last few weeks.

 

[Khrrck]

You can get a sheet of closed cell neoprene foam off Amazon pretty cheap and cut your own new taillight gaskets.

 

[240 240]

how are the foam gaskets? even if they aren't crumbly they can compress over time and not really seal well. I'd replace the foam or put a smear of sealant on either side of the existing gaskets (like 3m 8302)

you can steam foam and it will return to its original shape

 

[Kjets On a Plane]

Either get the 1-year-only ‘79 260 tails that are color stable w/decent circuit boards or just give up and drill them w/great care outside the gasket to allow whatever water inevitably enters thru the lenses on those miserable defective sedan tails w/ great care & fog them with something WD40-like to keep the moss and junk out & do the Art Benstein / Cleanflametrap printed circuit board bypass &/or polish them and cherry pick the bulb holders and eliminate the dual-filament function (swap the pins on the connector plug if ‘85 + style dual filament printed circuit board or back date to -‘84 circuit board (if it’ll take to removal intact at this late date / not tear and have the peg and glue it is attached to the housing crumble / turn to shit upon removals) / forego the rear fog light function / accept the 2 brake lights in the upper inner position.

Good luck?

Spare tire well full of water and aquarium tail lights is a common sight on a later model sedan that has anything, but near new low UV tails on a garaged car?

Installed a slightly chipped set of ‘79 tails on mom’s low mile ‘93 and polished them up a decade ago? No fuss?
No fog light function and brake light is upper inner -‘84 style, but so what?
At least they work consistently / no fuss and trunk doesn’t fill with water?

 

[johfraser]

The threaded studs are mounted in plastic bosses. It's been a few years, but I think you just tighten the mounting nuts until the plastic bosses meet the body.

 

[petiww]

IIRC original foam is around 5mm thick. 7-8mm will be a bit too much, although it depends on the density aswell.

I sourced closed cell epdm foam rubber in 5mm thickness, cut out in the original shape. Degreased and cleaned every sealing surface. Applied SikaLastomer butyl to the vertical metal joint recess. Smeared the gasket in silicone grease. Bolted the assembly on, no leaks since this operation.

Also my trunk hinge and seal is pretty worn out. I seen water coming in near the windshield. I installed a small E profile household weather strip onto the trunk, sitting against the seal. It is harder to close the trunk now, but it is bone dry even after pressure washes.

 

[945T]

Also my trunk hinge and seal is pretty worn out. I seen water coming in near the windshield. I installed a small E profile household weather strip onto the trunk, sitting against the seal. It is harder to close the trunk now, but it is bone dry even after pressure wash

For worn hinges or after bodywork, if the rubber is still intact and not torn then there's a quick way I used to fix minor trunk seal leaks. Identify the leaking area(s) by laying strips of newspaper around the opening then close the lid and see which strips can be pulled out. You then raise the trim in those areas by pulling it up a bit on its lip then close the lid to re-level the trim. To keep the trim from being pushed down further again you can insert something like a bead of plumber's putty inside the lip.