Leaks

[Charles H]

Just checked the product I use. It is a Tex branded product and is in a blue and green mastic type tube applied using a mastic gun.

[Mike Stevens]

Earlparts also list some sealant they recommend for the job. I have a tube of it, (but not tried it yet!).

Cheers,
Mike.

[mach1rob]

I'm still getting a leak inside even after re-sealing the windows, it's much better, but still not sorted, so I had the watering can out, and it appears the boot seal is about as much use as a chocolate tea pot! Removing the boot carpet and trim revealed a a good 2" of water slopping about in the wells. Both the small drain tubes through the boot and wheelarch were blocked so I've cleaned those out, but I'm not convinced on the seal. Mine is fitted with a sponge type affair, and is glued on in a couple of places, I'm thinking it should be a proper rubber job to provide a decent seal?

Whats fitted



What I suspect it should have, or one that should provide a better seal

[Mike Stevens]

I couldn't see the first image, but the boot seal did change in production. Early ones are glued to the boot lid itself while the later ones clip to the lip around the boot, very much like the 2nd image you showed.

My PI has the glued seal and it also leaks water sometimes. The seal gluing is not too good in places! Another job on the list. Also check the boot lid shape. If it doesn't follow the line of the rear wings fairly accurately, then the boot seal won't be compressed equally all round, with inevitably a gap in some places.

Clearing the drain tubes is a must though. If those are blocked, water running off the rear screen is much more likely to overflow the seal.

Cheers,
Mike.

[mach1rob]

Thanks Mike, the boot does tend to sit proud of the wings, but the lock is on it's lowest adjustment already, and I can't see any way to adjust it further, unless I elongate the holes.

I've attached the first image rather than link if it's not showing.

I may swing by the local scrappy and see what seals they have kicking about to replace the one on it, that way if it doesn't make any difference I've not wasted loads of cash on a new bespoke one

[Jonathan Lewis]

AFAIK, the earlier type of seal (the one glued to the bootlit pressing) was always of near-rectangular section, not the 'blade' type shown in your first illustration.

I don't know why the change in section was made in the mid-1970s, whether it was to address shortcomings in performance or merely to save costs by commonising with a section in use on other vehicles. During the body restoration some years back, however, I was advised to opt for the later type unless originality was of prime concern, as it was reckoned to provide a more reliable seal...

Mike makes a good point about the shape of the bootlid. On Mk2s they do seem to be prone to adopting a slight upwards 'bend' from front to rear (i.e. sit higher in the middle than at leading or trailing edges), and I doubt that this will help matters if the seal isn't compressing evenly.

[Mike Stevens]

I believe that both types of seal are available, from CW and others.

I have the "bent bootlid" problem on the PI. As Jonathan said, it sits slightly higher across the middle than at the hinge and catch end. This means the seal there is not so compressed in the middle. Basically, it needs a block of wood between it and the body at the catch end, and for me to sit on it at the middle!

Seriously, they can get bent just behind the double skinned section and before the catch area so they don't sit right. Have a look, you should see what I mean.

Cheers,
Mike.

[mach1rob]

Sounds like mine, it's flush at the back and by the catch, but sits around 5mm higher across the middle. I currently have an MOT failure Corsa dumped outside so may rob some seals off it before I call the scrapman to come and get it.

I must admit it's been undercover last couple of weeks, and now I'm on holiday the weather has turned, but then what do you expect for the Easter bank holiday? I'll try the bock of wood trick, but being of shall we say, not supermodel size, I may get the wife or kids to do the sitting so it doesn't just cave in!

[mach1rob]

So I left the cover off after yesterdays run, todays rain has filled the boot up along with a nice puddle in the rear footwell again.

[mach1rob]

And the culprit(s) has been found! At the base of the pillar, the chrome trim has a finisher, this appears to have a small pin which pushes into the bodywork, well I'm assuming it's that as there was a piece sticking out of the bodywork which had broken off, and the trim had just been stuck back on, so water was getting under the chrome and coming in through the pinhole. At this is right above the top of the wheelarch, it was running down both sides, so filling the boot and under the rear seat, which would then leak down through the gap and into footwell.

Sealed it all up so fingers crossed, we'll now finally have a dry boot and inside!