The other day I opened my trunk after a rain storm and felt the carpet and it was damp. So I cut out the carpet to keep it from rusting out. A few days later it rained again so I went out in my car to see where the leak was coming from and it turned out it was leaking in both bottom corners of the trunk. The next day I went back there and checked the weather stripping but it looks fine. I really cant afford to have the weather stripping replaced (I dont think its the problem but you never know)and I have tried making the studs go into the trunk more so it would close more. Do you have any ideas on how I could fix this without replacing the stripping? If it makes a difference the trunk is pretty close to the quarter panel on one side and there is a pretty good gap on the other side.

 

Soooo...any ideas?

 

It's more than likely the seal. Is the current seal flattened out or dry rotted?

 

what do you mean by the seal? That little dark black rectangle on the side?

 

Ahh it's a hatch. I meant the weatherstrip (aka seal) on the body of the car.

 

the weather stripping looks new cuz its not cracked or compressed which is why I thought you were asking if something is wrong with the hatch which is where I think the problem lies

 

bump

 

u need new trunk seal. i have exact same problem. the rectangle piece has flattened out the seal. mine just started leaking form both sides right on that rectangle piece.

 

agreeing with M G; I had the exact same problem in the exact same area. those little square plastic pieces flatten out the seal in that spot and cause the leak. new seal will solve your problem. if you want to be 100% of where the leak is coming from, put a light coat of baby powder on the interior plastics and use a garden hose. you should see a trail quickly appear.

 

Could I remove the black rectangle pieces and would that stop the problem along with replacing the weather stripping so I wont need to replace it again or would it leak because of the lack of the rectangles?

 

In both 3rd gen's I've owned I've had them leak between the glass and the lid. Pull the plastic from the underside of the deck lid and see if there is any rust or water marks. I just used clear silicone on mine and fixed it without having to take it apart.