I Always Wanted A Pool...

[SmoovC]

....but not in my trunk.

Tonight, I was looking to relocate my owner's manuals to clear up some space in the glovebox. So, I figured I would poke around in the spare tire well and see if I could find a spot in there.

I found more than that; there was about an inch or so of standing water on at the bottom of the well! I took the tools and spare out, and dried out the trunk. Looked for obvious points of entry, but couldn't pinpoint anything.

Guess I will leave it apart, and keep an eye on it. Not thrilled about it, I can tell you that.

 

[OneFunGenesis]

sh!t. It's been raining for three days here...I should probably check my trunk.

How many miles on your ride?

 

[SmoovC]

4753 miles. Checked it this morning after a 16 mile commute to work in the rain, and it is wet again. Nothing above the floor is wet, like the trunk liner, side panels, rear deck cover on the underside of the rear deck, etc. It seems to be just the spare tire well itself. All the grommets are in place, and I cannot seem to see where there is any seepage. It will sit outside in the rain for most of the day, so I will check to see if more has accumulated before I leave work.

Is yours dry?

 

[xiaphin]

Been raining here for two days will check my trunk when it stops. 23k on clock here

 

[veed]

mine sits outside we've had a lot of rain, will go check after dealer pickup (nav system update).

an aside - had a 66 Chevy Impala (loved that car) that leaked around the rear glass seals. same deal as you - water in trunk low lying areas, but from where? found by pasting paper towels all over and following the trail of damp.

 

[SmoovC]

Been raining here for two days will check my trunk when it stops. 23k on clock here

Appreciate if you would, thank you.

mine sits outside we've had a lot of rain, will go check after dealer pickup (nav system update).

an aside - had a 66 Chevy Impala (loved that car) that leaked around the rear glass seals. same deal as you - water in trunk low lying areas, but from where? found by pasting paper towels all over and following the trail of damp.

I found this on Hyundai Service Website:


This TSB supersedes TSB# 95-60-002

DESCRIPTION:

This bulletin provides detection methods and repair procedures for interior water leaks.
DIAGNOSIS PROCEDURE:

First, use the customer's statements to determine the following:
Where is it wet? (near the wheel house, in the spare tire well, at the front, at the back, etc.)
When does it leak? (while parked level, while parked on a slope, while driving, only during heavy down pours)
What color is the moisture? (muddy water from the road surface, clean water from above)
How wet? (light dampness after a heavy rain, very wet while/after driving in a drizzle)

Based on the customer's statements, some determinations can be made:
Location of possible leak points near the damp area.
Dirty water usually comes from below. Check the wheel house weld seams, floor plugs, lower air vents, etc.
Clean water usually comes from upper panel surfaces. Check the trunk lid seal, around the windows, sunroof drains, door panel moisture barriers, etc.
Leaks noted only while the vehicle is parked are usually associated with water leaking in at one point and seeping to another. Damaged seals can also leak the same way but may not show visible damage.

Water leaks are very frustrating, as you well know! I think the paper towel trick is a good idea, might try that to pinpoint the issue before taking it to the Dealer, thanks for your input!

 

[OneFunGenesis]

My trunk is dry . It just rained puppies and dogs too (I don't like cats)

 

[R-SpecTom]

You also got me to check my trunk, and its dry, i have been in a caught few storms but i never leave it out overnight...

 

[zielritter]

This happened in my Elantra Touring too where the spare was stored. The problem stemmed from a couple of faulty rubber grommets at the bottom of the compartment that I assumed could be removed to drain trunk spills and so forth.

Problem was that they were somehow letting water in when it was splashed up under the vehicle during heavy rain. I ended up using a heavy duty silicone sealant around the edges of the grommets at the bottom of the trunk. The trunk then stayed dry till the day I sold the vehicle.

 

[SmoovC]

Thanks for checking your trunks, guys.

After some investigation today, I think the water that was in there this morning (after drying it out last night) was just residual that I did not get fully dry.

The trunk floor, sill trim and spare are out of the vehicle.

The water is clean, so I surmise it is not coming in from the bottom of the car from the road. I park at a slight incline to the right at work, and when I open the trunk, water from the trunk lid itself seems to work its way down to directly behind the battery. From there, it flows under the battery tray, and into the spare tire well.

I always got some water in the trunk upon opening it, but it seemed most of it would fall on the Weathertech trunkliner. More of an irritation than anything, and a poor design. I never guessed more was getting down into the well. I think what I will do is make sure it fully dries overnight, and after that, only open the trunk once it is back in the garage, and the exterior of the trunk is dry. If it stays dry, will eliminate the variable that it is getting in any way other than described above.

I will not own a brand new car with this type of problem; I find it unacceptable that a car in this price range has such an issue. However, once I identify the exact source, I am no closer to a resolution to prevent it from happening, and what steps to take next.

Any ideas or suggestions?

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[homeofstone]

check the hole where the positive battery cable goes to the front.

 

[SmoovC]

check the hole where the positive battery cable goes to the front.

If you are referring to the vent tube that goes into the trunk floor, I checked that. If you are referring to the actual battery cable goes through the bulkhead between the trunk and the back seat; that looks good too.

 

[jnc2000]

Sun roof drain tube... check the tubing from the sun roof which enters the trunk area from the C panel.

 

[SmoovC]

Checked both drain tubes also, they are good. I really think, as stated in a previous post, it is from water off of the trunk when it gets opened.

I made sure the inside of the trunk was completely dry last night, and checked it when I got to work after drying off the trunklid. It was bone dry.

So the issue seems to be how to prevent it from draining off of the trunklid when opening it. Not sure how to go about that, and why I should have to solve it rather than Hyundai.

I feel they have a better shot at remedying the situation if I can give them exact details as to the source, but I am not sure what Hyundai can do about it. Being as how I live in Washington, it will be an ongoing problem.

 

[Rudderman98]

SmoovC,

Just checked my trunk today. Dry as a bone. Had my 4.6 since August 2011 and never checked the trunk well until now.

13,560 logged so far. Picked her up at Korum in Puyallup.

Yes It has rained a lot in Washington. But then again, when has it not?

 

[xiaphin]

My trunk was also dry when I checked a few weeks back. And it rained like crazy the days before I looked.

 

[Jbo]

Obtain piece if that blue caulk for string lines. Mark with a line where ever you suspect leakage...check back telltale...move line as needed

 

[stevenleehogan]

I found 6" of water in my trunk after the recent heavy rain here in Texas. We have been smelling mold/moisture for awhile in the cabin. Luckily I found this before it reached the battery it only had 2" to go and having had that problem in our boat once it can be a disaster. I noticed the water dripping in under the trim next to the battery quite heavily and am taking it in to the dealer this week to have them locate the problem. Should be easy as all they will have to do is put it in their carwash.

 

[Seattle Genesis]