Greetings all,
Did a search for this but didn't find anything...
My '89 Formula spoiler is slowly filling with water (I live in the Seattle area w/o a garage / not the smartest choice I've ever made :-P
Has anyone run into this problem before (I can't possibly be the first...) and how did you deal with it?
I've considered drilling very small drain holes at the lowest points on each side that I can but hate to add holes where there were none... Any other ideas???

 

First time I've ever heard of this problem. Do you have an aftermarket fiberglass replica spoiler?

 

Don't think so, whole car is painfully original (i.e. tired - in process of replacing original radiator and hoses today...) and no signs of rear pieces/parts being removed or replaced and no signs of any accident damage repair...

 

I know how you feel about drilling holes . but thats what I would probably do after hem and haw for 3 hrs .

 

You are probably going to end up replacing it with a fiberglass reproduction. Those rubber spoilers have metal inserts that rust causing the spoiler to crack. Once that happens you might as well replace it.

 

Thanks but that's not the issue I'm having right now.

 

How do you know there is water in it?

 

Yeah this is a good question. My TA spoler is split and nasty, but does not hold water, well I don't get the car wet, but when I did it did not hold water is it's in bad shape.

 

When I raise the hatch I hear water running downhill into the sides - don't see where it gets in and nothing comes out in either up or down position.

 

Sounds like the front or back seam has split open. I didn't have water in mine but had to reglue both the front and back seams. Keep the car covered or inside most times there is rain/snow out, so not much chance for water. Tap on the spoiler, see if you get a rattling sound - may mean you have a loose seam.

Just checked the style of spoiler, your wrap-around may not have the same seams as the one on my '84. Can't hurt to check though.

 

Worth checking out, thanks for the suggestion - hoping the sub-freezing temps these last few and next several nights don't cause any harm before I can get the water out ... looks like a car cover is in my future!

 

Drill some small holes underneath to get the water out and keep it from freezing. When you fix the seams, fix the holes.

 

The factory formula spoiler is a rubber sponge like material, water won't "run" thru it.
You may have a base firebird spoiler or fiberglass formula repro on it? Or, you may have water in your decklid?

 

As stated in a previous post, these spoilers have a steel skeleton. Water gets pulled up into them from capillary action from where they bolt to the back lid. The steel skelletons rust and delaminate, and the rust expansion of the steel cracks and distorts the urethane of the spoilers, also causing voids or channels for more water to gather in. If you have external "lumps" in your spoiler, your skeleton is rusting, and it is only a matter of time before it splits the urethane body, after which deterioration accellerates.

Repair is problematic. I sectioned the spoiler and cut out the badly rusted skeleton where it had expanded the spoiler, then glued it all back together and sealed it up. Many, MANY hours of work. The best bet is if yours is still dimensionally intact, pull it off the car, dump a bunch of rust inhibitor (Naval jelly or similar) down the studs into the steel skeleton, then seal it up with marine grade silicone, and hope for the best.

Or just step up and get an aftermarket fiberglass spoiler and be done with it.
Good luck
TA

 

Only steel I knew about in the spoilers was the little metal circle clips where it clips 2 window. I guessed it had something around the decklid mount also. I never have taken one apart to see the steel frame work.
I'd like to see it! Do you have pix of it??
I still dont think you'd "hear" water running thru a closed cell sponge like material.
Its a urethane like the early pontiac bumpers, to repair it properly, you need to use 3M's flexible parts repair material.

OP post a pic of the spoiler your working with.