Before I get started, currently the leak is still at large.

As we know, the hatch leak is pretty common with our cars and is a PITA to track down. My '87 Hardtop has water in the bottom of the well and I've done quite a bit to stop it.

I removed the decklid, cleaned and re-applied silicone to seal around the glass aswell as the top portion where the glass meets it from the outside. I then sealed the two plastic rectangles on both sides of the hatch aswell as replaced the weather stripping. I made sure all the black fasteners for the tail lights were tight and checked to see if the hatch was closing all the way. Everything is as it should be but I am still getting water.

But the b*itch of it is is that I lined the well with paper and drenched it with the hose and came up empty handed. Even on the "jet" setting, does regular rain provide more pressure than the hose?

What have you done to stop the leak and what do you recommend for me to do?

 

check the gas door and the brackets that hold the hatch to the roof thats all i can think of. and when you sprayed with water did you do the whole car because leaks like to slide along panels.

 

Wanna bet water is coming in from below, not the top. I would remove the ground effect sections, where they mount on the bottom, dirt tends to collect and rust the floor pan out from the outside. Also dried our seals behind the spoiler sections can cause water to come in

 

I looked for my leak for a long time until one day I was inside the back of my car when it was pouring down rain and saw a line of water coming from the bolts that hold the hatch to the hinges. They are bolts with plastic gaskets under them and all 4 of mine were cracked and split. I found some good ones at my local U-Pull-It yard and put silicone on them so I had squeeze out a full 360 degrees when I put the new bolts in. This completely stopped my hatch leak, dry as a bone back there now. After I got the used ones I found them new for a pretty good price. Can't remember where, I beleive it was one of the advertisers on here.

I just wish I could fix my t-top leaks so easily.

 

any updates?

 

Yes, it turns out the leak was coming from the top bolt on the drivers side spoiler and where the factory put a paste type sealant over where the panels meet. Didn't suspect it to be the problem but thats life. Now I'm leak free.

 

You can also probably use some silicone adhesive on small bolts like spoiler bolts that are starting to get leaky too.