[Paul_1978_yorks]

I'm getting water in my boot (R8) and have determined it's coming from the offside rear light cluster.

I took it out on Sunday and siliconed around the rubber/foam seal - however it's still leaking.

I can't quite work out where it's getting in, so any assistance appreciated as I know it's a common issue, so surely someone have been through the same rigmarole!

[RoverRevival]

this is going to sound extreme but bare with me.

Take the rear bumper off you see vents on both sides which look like this.



These are also prone to leaking.

Take it out, you will need a punch tool as its rivited and make a new gasket.



Then seal the fap out of it.


Thanks to northener51 for the pics.

[Paul_1978_yorks]

Thanks - a job for when there's some dry weather forecast!

[E_T_V]

There are 3 common ways to get water in the boot.

1. Leaking cluster seals - silicone or new foam gaskets are the usual fix here

2. Leaking vents - it is usually the car to vent seal that leaks so again a new gasket/silicone that is the issue here. The vent flap itself is usually much more reliable. R3's got only one vent whereas the R8 got 2 for some reason.

3. Sunroof drains. If displaced can leak all the sunroof water into the boot instead. Fairly obvious once you remove the boot interior trims and can see them.

[Paul_1978_yorks]

It's definitely the light cluster - when I take off the bulb access panel I can see the water.

[Vulgalour]

I think you just diagnosed where my 414 is letting water in though. Have to get the back bumper off again - which is a good opportunity to sort the saggy bracket I suppose - and get those sealed up properly.

The water is sitting in the corners of the boot as photographed.




The only place I can see it might be getting in is the vents that are hidden by the bumper, you can see in that last picture that there's some water staining from it to the wetness in the boot.

I'd dismissed it being the vents because they looked okay but having seen those pictures above I'm fairly sure that's what's doing it because the water is coming in at boot floor level and soaking across the trim.

[RoverRevival]

STICKY!!!!!

[alviseven]

I have had water come in through the rear boot seal as well - I had a sticky hinge on one of mine which was so sticky it turned out to be pretty much seized and so had bent very slightly - only just so you know but it was enough to pull the boot lid up off the seals on the one seized side and allow water in the side.
Cured with a new hinge from another car which sadly was THE last one I have found in a yard now over three years ago.

[cabriolet106]

Check the water isn't coming in from higher up. Check the roof seam for leakage there may be a small pin hole under some trim. The new generation Ford Fiestas have a fault where the same thing happens.
When you remove any carpet type trim check if it's damp high up or smells. I would also check the tailgate rubber seal if it's getting tired it won't be doing its job. The other alternative is to drill a small hole where the water pools to let it escape.

[Montegoman]

The other alternative is don't take it out when it rains!