Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

Like many others, I've found some water pooled up in the bottom of the carpet in the trunk today. I pulled the right side panel off and the center panel (that covers the pull down motor). I've got the carpet somewhat pulled up. I can see there is a tan coloured square piece (drain?) in the center of the body down there. But it seems like it's covered in insulation fuzz and no easy way to pop it open.

Are these drains supposed to be easy to open? Do they pry up and off? If they're opened up, are they re-useable? I can shop vac most of the water out of there. But I'd like to let it be able to fully drain itself over the next couple days before I put the carpet and panels back in their normal spots.

SouthSide2

Are these drains supposed to be easy to open? Do they pry up and off? If they're opened up, are they re-useable? [/QUOTE]

Easy, no. It's sealed with some super sticky stuff. There are ways to remove it [sealer] none are easy. Once all the sealer is remove it will pry out and can be reused as long as it's not rusted badly. You'll have reseal it with seam sealer.

I would not remove it. Too much work! Just remove the water and find and fix the leak. I'd like know where you find your leak.

Good luck.

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

I think I'll be heading over to the car wash to use the shop vac today. Sounds like removing the drain is more annoyance than it's worth. I noticed that the screw that you see when the hatch is up (looking at the raised hatch) in the center is rusted. And there was dampness on the inside of the center panel that covers the hatch motor.

So I'm guessing it came in through where the top exterior of the glass meets the top panel just in front of the rear wing. I guess I'll be buying some silicone sealer or weather sealing goo of sorts.

Why couldn't GM have put in a simple rubber bathtub drain plug with a tiny bit of caulk to go around it? Would have been so much easier.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

The drain plugs are there to let air out during the body primer dip stage. GM uses some super sticky stuff to help hold the carpet and seal that hole from fumes, dirt and random stuff from getting in and out.
If they didn't dip the cars, they wouldn't need the holes

E Rod

I noticed there's a hole underneath my spare tire is this the hole you guys are talking about if so there's no plug. If not maybe you should check yours

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Should have a metal plug in it with sealant.

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

The spare tire area has a hole and it's dry as can be. It's the part of the carpet in the center of the deep area that I found the water in.

E Rod

I got to ask what causes the water to get inside the car.I can't find where the water comes from. Can anyone help. I don't want my trunk rusting up nor my carpet getting ruined

paulo57509

If you have pooled water, as it evaporates it will re-condense on everything which makes finding the source of the leak by looking for moisture futile at best. Ever seen trunk lids rot from the inside out? They're rusting from condensation building up from pooled water in the trunk.

If you have t-tops, I would put that at the top of the suspect list. I'd also look at the hatch hinge bolts.

You might be able to find the leak by removing the interior panels in the hatch area and crawling into the cargo space. Have a helper run water from a garden hose around the hatch area while you look for the leaks. Since water runs downhill, start at the lower portion of the hatch and hose your way towards the roof.

E Rod

I don't have a T-top car.
I ran the car through a car wash yesterday and to my surprise no additional water was found in the trunk and even last night it rained and still no water was found. The only thing I have in the trunk is a container of motor oil and that's not leaking. So at this point in still stumped.
I thought the source of the leak was a small gap between the interior trunk panel and the rear glass but after the above mentioned events that part remained dry.
I'm hoping it was a random freak event