Can't locate my water leak.

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  • Kruzen
    R3V Elite
    • Mar 2004
    • 5603

    #1

    Can't locate my water leak.

    So last week, after an abnormally always-sunny summer here in washington, the heavens let lose and we had a massive downpoor for a few days. (also my first time having the car in the rain since i bought it)

    It was during this time that i noticed that my wheel well area in the trunk, where the jack and such sit, somewhat damp. i peeled back the trunk liner a little bit and noticed a hole in the bototm, and a small piece of metal with some arms/clings on it. It was body colored, so i thought it was odd that it was removed from the hole, and figured the water was from it being sprayed up into the car while driving, so i took some silicone sealant and put it back in.

    A couple days later, i looked in the trunk and found an inch or so of standing water!! EEK.


    I promptly dried it up with some paper towels, and removed the trunk liner on that side, so i could observe where the water was coming from.

    I felt the hose that sits in the little jack well, when the car originally had standing water in it, and it felt dry.

    There was a couple drops of wetness on the battery side as well, but no standing water (From what i could tell.. i didn't rmove the battery so i couldn't see, but i reached down with my hand. and a paper towel and found only a couple small drops. )

    Couldn't see any noticeable dampness anywhere, other then around the side-light marker assembly. but not enough to warrant a whole inch of water coming in.

    I also found a small nickel to quarter sized bit of a rust, above and to the left, (near the far back left corner of the car, in the trunk, almost at the top. Dunno where it came from.

    Anyway, the next coupel days i watched it, it rainedp retty hard again overnight, but i only had a small amount of dampness this time.

    So today (home for the weekend) my dad and i went with a hose and let a large amount of water flow over the following:

    sunroof
    back window (getting lots of water flow over the trunk seal)
    side-light marker assembly
    driver side window drains (the ones that run parrallel to the roof of the car)
    driver side rear window gasket
    antennae gasket (has cracks in it, new one ordered, but nowhere near enough clearance to allow alot of water in..


    There was NO evidence of any water entering the jack well, during our hose tests. We even tried runnning water on the same spots on the passenger side of the car, to see if somehow water was running from a leak over there.

    anyone know where the hell my leak is at?
    Who doesn't love a little BBQ?
    Griot's Garage at a Deep Discount
  • Brew
    No R3VLimiter
    • Oct 2003
    • 3060

    #2
    Taillight gaskets? Pretty common source for leaks.
    '91 318is
    sigpic

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    • Kruzen
      R3V Elite
      • Mar 2004
      • 5603

      #3
      Originally posted by Brew
      Taillight gaskets? Pretty common source for leaks.
      i ran alot of water over the back and had a large amount of water running over the taillight gaskets, no water accumulated there at all, i'm going to replace them for kicks.. but i think its weird that my water leak has magically dissappeared.
      Who doesn't love a little BBQ?
      Griot's Garage at a Deep Discount

      Comment

      • DSchultz325e
        E30 Enthusiast
        • Aug 2004
        • 1158

        #4
        my leaks were very random, too. sometimes they'd leak, sometimes not. replacing the gaskets lessened it to not leaking at all. i think the other source of the leaks is the sunroof drain, but i havent messed with it so i'm not 100% positive.
        I retired my E30 for now...
        E46 323i
        David Schultz

        Comment

        • Kruzen
          R3V Elite
          • Mar 2004
          • 5603

          #5
          hmm aight. should ij ust buy some off the dealership?
          Who doesn't love a little BBQ?
          Griot's Garage at a Deep Discount

          Comment

          • DSchultz325e
            E30 Enthusiast
            • Aug 2004
            • 1158

            #6
            I don't like wearing dirty underwear. (yes)
            I retired my E30 for now...
            E46 323i
            David Schultz

            Comment

            • BavarianBimmer
              E30 Modder
              • Oct 2003
              • 951

              #7
              Originally posted by Kruzen
              Originally posted by Brew
              Taillight gaskets? Pretty common source for leaks.
              i ran alot of water over the back and had a large amount of water running over the taillight gaskets, no water accumulated there at all, i'm going to replace them for kicks.. but i think its weird that my water leak has magically dissappeared.
              or tighten the nuts a bit more from your taillights
              mine were almost loose

              1989 E30 318iS_______________________________1989 E30 325iC M-Technic I
              1997 E36 328iT
              1990 E30 325iT 24v SOLD
              1989 E30 325i 2.7i M-Technic II SOLD

              Comment

              • Kruzen
                R3V Elite
                • Mar 2004
                • 5603

                #8
                alright, so i still haven't gotten around to replacing those seals yet, but i did try something last night. it was raining pretty hardcore, so i put a cup underneath that drainage tube.

                This morning, the cup was half full!

                so what does that drain go to? the sunroof?
                Who doesn't love a little BBQ?
                Griot's Garage at a Deep Discount

                Comment

                • BS87
                  E30 Mastermind
                  • Oct 2003
                  • 1606

                  #9
                  Yeah, pretty sure there are drains on each side of the car for the sunroof. Should be able to see them if you peel back the carpeting.

                  Comment

                  • Kruzen
                    R3V Elite
                    • Mar 2004
                    • 5603

                    #10
                    Originally posted by BS87
                    Yeah, pretty sure there are drains on each side of the car for the sunroof. Should be able to see them if you peel back the carpeting.
                    hmm k. i wonder why they are draining to here instead of where they are supposed to drain ..

                    i guess i'll just put an extension on the tubing and run it into the drain hole down there for now.
                    Who doesn't love a little BBQ?
                    Griot's Garage at a Deep Discount

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