Boot Leak

[stefan9107]

I feel like I'm just moving from one problem to the next at the moment...

I've just had the issue where the centre console vent doesn't go up and down fixed under the approved used Jag retailer warranty, but now I've found the dreaded boot full of water.
I don't think the warranty will cover this one though as it specifically states that it does not cover "Bodywork, body seals, cosmetic finishes, glass, paintwork, trim, upholstery or
weather strips."

I noticed the back window fogging up a lot but put it down to a crack in the rear window that I need to get replaced (side note but I wonder if I can get autoglass to replace it with privacy glass under insurance without extra charge...)
I then noticed that the boot carpet was damp, especially on the left side and after pulling out the floor panels found this lovely puddle.


I found the main thread on where this leak comes from and how to fix it thanks to SHAGUAR https://www.ftypeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3976&start=10

I've soaked up and cleaned it out as best as possible for now, but I'm sure there is plenty more rain on its way over the rest of winter so want to fix the issue for good tomorrow.
I'm assuming mine will be the same fix but just to be 100% sure, is it this piece that I need to remove in order to access the clips with the leaky o-rings?



Also, on a side note, I noticed that the previous owner left his Ctek quick attachment on the battery (actually helpful as I left mine on my Golf R when I sold it).

I seem to remember though that it shouldn't be connected up to the battery like this one is right? Isn't it meant to connect to the bus bar?

 

[Geetee68]

Hi. I can’t help with the leak, but as a recent owner I read a LOT on how to connect battery conditioners / chargers and the overriding information was to connect to the busbar. I fitted my CTEK to the busbar and earthed it to a bolt in the boot and it is working perfectly.

 

[68MBC]

Regarding the leak, I found my boot flooded with around one inch of water a year ago, and after searching the origin I´ve found that mine comes from the two water drain pieces under the aileron. They are used to let the water drain through the boot door and they have some rubber sealing around them, which was not sealing anymore. I´ve removed them, applied silicone around and fitted them back, since them there is no more humidity in the boot. Also as a measure of extra safety, I´ve drilled a small hole in the lowest part of the plastic lining around the boot door mechanism, where water tends to accumulate and later drain into the boot.

 

[MikeM]

Re CTEK connection, Busbar connection is best option, can also leave the positive directly on the battery pole but (subject to cable length) move the negative to any suitable earth other than the negative battery pole.

 

[stefan9107]

Regarding the leak, I found my boot flooded with around one inch of water a year ago, and after searching the origin I´ve found that mine comes from the two water drain pieces under the aileron. They are used to let the water drain through the boot door and they have some rubber sealing around them, which was not sealing anymore. I´ve removed them, applied silicone around and fitted them back, since them there is no more humidity in the boot. Also as a measure of extra safety, I´ve drilled a small hole in the lowest part of the plastic lining around the boot door mechanism, where water tends to accumulate and later drain into the boot.

Are you referring to these three holes here?

 

[stefan9107]

Hi. I can’t help with the leak, but as a recent owner I read a LOT on how to connect battery conditioners / chargers and the overriding information was to connect to the busbar. I fitted my CTEK to the busbar and earthed it to a bolt in the boot and it is working perfectly.

Re CTEK connection, Busbar connection is best option, can also leave the positive directly on the battery pole but (subject to cable length) move the negative to any suitable earth other than the negative battery pole.

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

 

[68MBC]

No, they are on top of the boot lid, under the deployable wing, put it in manual mode and you´ll see them underneath, two big holes oval in shape, with a plastic tube leading to the other side of the boot lid and to the drains you mentioned.
Unfortunately I´m not at home to send you photos, will be later next week.

 

[stefan9107]

No, they are on top of the boot lid, under the deployable wing, put it in manual mode and you´ll see them underneath, two big holes oval in shape, with a plastic tube leading to the other side of the boot lid and to the drains you mentioned.
Unfortunately I´m not at home to send you photos, will be later next week.

No worries, I'll take a look tomorrow. I think I know where you mean. Thanks for your help.

 

[Elibomrod]

https://www.ftypeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6845

Try this…I had a leak and Jaguar had forgotten to fit a bung!
Also def a small leak where the panels met

Small amount of silicone and a bung and been fine ever since

 

[stefan9107]

https://www.ftypeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6845

Try this…I had a leak and Jaguar had forgotten to fit a bung!
Also def a small leak where the panels met

Small amount of silicone and a bung and been fine ever since

Thanks for the tip. I'll keep an eye out when I take it apart to see if the bungs are in.

Out of interest, what did you use to stick the the trim back in place when you were done?
It looks like there was some kind of adhesive as well as the usual clips.

 

[Elibomrod]

Hello, I used this: (I’m recall seeing a recommendation on a forum, may have been this one)

3M™ Black Super Weatherstrip and Gasket Adhesive, 08008

Is odd but very effective to apply. Dries so fast.
I used small 1/2” artists paint brush to apply to trim but you have to do in one stroke otherwise pulls the adhesive. Then same to body. Def use masking tape on body to get clean line and pull off as soon as you have applied with brush. (I’d recommend trying it first on some scrap plastic/card)
It’s like a contact adhesive…so let tacky and then push two sides together. I did on my own but would have been loads easier with two..

 

[Elibomrod]

Ooo to get the masking tape line…dry fit the parts, then apply the tape flush with edge.
Then pivot trim up from top edge (I.e. boot hinge) and apply glue

You might find pops out the fixing at the top but goes back in easily

 

[stefan9107]

Thanks for the tips.

As I don't have any of the adhesive at the moment I decided to start with pulling the boot apart today...

https://www.ftypeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6845

Try this…I had a leak and Jaguar had forgotten to fit a bung!
Also def a small leak where the panels met

Small amount of silicone and a bung and been fine ever since

I could see the bungs from below without taking the channel trim pieces off so I know both of those are there.

No, they are on top of the boot lid, under the deployable wing, put it in manual mode and you´ll see them underneath, two big holes oval in shape, with a plastic tube leading to the other side of the boot lid and to the drains you mentioned.
Unfortunately I´m not at home to send you photos, will be later next week.

I'm still none the wiser as to these plastic tubes under the spoiler.
I assume you mean the holes pictured below, but on mine it's pretty much just a straight through (as you can see from the above and below picture) at which point the water drains via the channel where the three holes are on the section around the washer refill cap. I tested all three of those holes and water goes in and comes out under the car and as far as I can tell nothing goes into the boot unless its pooling somewhere.




After doing some water testing I found that one, just ONE of the white clips was leaking on the passenger left side of the car.


This would make sense as that side is the side that was damp and showed signs of a leak, but I have a really hard time accepting that one of those clips leaking resulted in that much water in the boot... although we have had A LOT of rain recently and who knows how long that puddle has been there.
From where the water was landing though, it would have to take this route to get into the boot.


I then took it for a spin and when I got back the boot had water in it again (it wasn't raining or wet out). I thought maybe it had come from the rear washer as I used windscreen washer, but after trying it with the car stationary on the drive there was no water I could find from anywhere. I'm not sure where the tube runs that goes to the windscreen either as I couldn't find it. So unless the washer pump/system behaves differently when in motion or with the engine on I can only assume this is residual water from the area under the battery that I can't get under to soak up. I did fly around some roundabouts so it would have sloshed side to side. I should also mention it didn't smell like washer fluid.

Either way, for now I've sealed all of the white clips up from below with silicon on both sides and hopefully that'll stop the leaking.
I've left all the panels and flooring out to monitor it, but of course there is no rain scheduled for a week or more. I'll give the silicon a chance to dry today and tonight and then I'll hit it with the hose tomorrow and see what happens I guess.


I did also find a random unconnected cable if anyone knows what this does/where it goes?

 

[scm]

The random unconnected cable is used for transportation when the car being delivered to the dealer. Nothing to worry about there!
Regarding the washers, there's a reservoir at the front that gets topped up from the main one at the back,so might be worth checking that.

 

[Kev]

The inside of the locking wheel nut is somewhat rusty too, so I’d be suspecting water has also been pooling in here. You should be able to see signs of where the water has been tracking down/from. You can buy ultrasonic sniffers to hunt leaks on cars

Perhaps the water which appeared after your drive had been pooled in the drain channels and the vehicle motion ‘emptied’ them? Do you have an airline to blow down the tubes/channels?

 

[stefan9107]

The random unconnected cable is used for transportation when the car being delivered to the dealer. Nothing to worry about there!
Regarding the washers, there's a reservoir at the front that gets topped up from the main one at the back,so might be worth checking that.

Thanks for the detail.

I can't see the washer line anywhere in the boot so I have to assume it takes a path around the edge by the wheel well. I'm "fairly" confident this isn't the source of the water which means it must just of been that one leaking clip which is crazy.

 

[stefan9107]

The inside of the locking wheel nut is somewhat rusty too, so I’d be suspecting water has also been pooling in here. You should be able to see signs of where the water has been tracking down/from. You can buy ultrasonic sniffers to hunt leaks on cars

Perhaps the water which appeared after your drive had been pooled in the drain channels and the vehicle motion ‘emptied’ them? Do you have an airline to blow down the tubes/channels?

No airline unfortunately. I'm definitely leaning towards it just being pooled water that moved about so hopefully it'll dry out and the sealant will have stopped the leak.

As far as signs of where the water has been running, there really isn't any. No streak marks or anything anywhere. The only thing I found was that one drip, and like you the fact the locking wheel nut was rusty. It makes sense as where the leak was and where the path the water is taking would lead right to it as shown in the above photos. The colour of the water also makes me think it might have been there a decent while.

The position and original signs of the leak were identical to the ones Gareth found and photographed below.

Not stopped raining today so only a quick look. Here’s the puddle!

 

[68MBC]

Yes, you found them, these two plastic holes were responsible for my leak:


They are supposed to seal on the metal bodywork, but they were not, and water was pooling in the plastic trim underneath the metal boot lid and when full will leak into the boot. So I have drilled an extra hole there to make sure it doesn´t pool again and it will drain to outside. I´ve removed those two plastic pieces from below and applied a bit of silicone where they are supposed to seal on the metal sheet, and since then the humidity in the trunk has vanished.

 

[68MBC]

From your description of finding water again when not raining but after a trip, it looks like you have water pooled into the plastic under-trim of the boot lid, it acts like a bucket and holds water, when you open the boot lid it might drip on your head from above. As I said, I just drilled a hole in the lowest position to drain it outside.

 

[68MBC]

My situation was way worse then yours, I had my fuse box totally submerged and I had to dismantle everything, battery, cables, fuse box, clean and dry, replace rusted bolts and fuses etc. Luckily nothing needed replacement.