Water in trunk

[walsh82]

Today I went to the grocery store and as I was loading the trunk I noticed the carpet was damp. I removed the spare cover to find 2 inches of standing water. The trunk seal seems to be ok. Has anyone run in to this problem before, or have any suggestions where the water could be coming from? Thanks

 

[kevinspann]

Most likely from where the studs for the tail light enter the trunk. Take off the wing nuts for the tail light, pull the light out, then put a bead of silicone around the studs, then put it back in and tighten it up. That should help a lot.

The only other place that much water would be coming in at is from the trunk seal, but I would seal the tail lights first.

 

[mrecoolgar]

It's always the gaskets around the tail lamps.
1) Remove the light
2) Carefully remove the foam gaskets (2 pcs) from the light
3) Silicone the gasket (light side) then install back on tail lamp
4) Silicone the gasket (body side) then install to body.

 

[kevinspann]

It's always the gaskets around the tail lamps.
1) Remove the light
2) Carefully remove the foam gaskets (2 pcs) from the light
3) Silicone the gasket (light side) then install back on tail lamp
4) Silicone the gasket (body side) then install to body.

As far as I have seen Gen 2s do not have gaskets, but am I wrong?

Of course, he didn't list the year of his car.

 

[walsh82]

Sounds easy enough thanks guys!

 

[sperold]

My old 89 had plenty of holes everywhere, except in the trunk tire well, where I found my spare tire floating.
Somehow the water syphons back into the car while you are driving, through those tail light holes.

 

[walsh82]

I pulled the lights off today there were no gaskets anywhere around the lenses. So I put some silicone around the studs that go through the body for the taillight assy as recomended. I then sprayed waster and didn't find any water in the trunk. I guess I'll really know if it worked the next time it rains. Oh and it is a 95mtx.

 

[jimtash]

Don't use silicone around the tail lights. Use 3M strip caulk or you risk breaking the housings if you ever need to take them out. The silicone will glue them to the body and make it extremely difficult to remove them.

 

[green95]

Check the hot patches in the channel where the seal sits. They dry out and crack and water can get past there. It could also be this along with the taillights. I've seen this happen alot to older Taurus'. Use some sealer on there if its cracked and that will solve that problem.

 

[frosho]

Both my '94s have let water in through seams in the sheet metal behind the tail lamps. Not around the lamp studs, but at the seams themselves. I used silicone to seal them up. So far so good.