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How to find the source of a boot leak |
There are several ways, unfortunately, that water can enter the boot space on the MGF, and these are delt with in turn:
- Water ingress past the rear lamp cluster gaskets
- Water seapage through panel seams
- Water leaking in through the bootlid itself
- Water entry via the engine bay bulkhead (car parked nose-down on slope)
To determine which of the above is the cause of water entry into your car's boot will take some detective work. There are two ways to achieve this:
1. Remove the boot carpet. |
| Fortunately, it is a pretty easy task to remove the boot carpet, with
three push fit fasteners against the fire wall of the boot. Then all is needed is a firm
hand to pull some of the carpet away from the bonnet release handle. Once the whole
moulded carpet section and soundproofing is removed it can be taken into a warm, dry area
for the dampness to evaporate away. Wipe dry the painted metal in the boot, shut the lid and then sit back and wait for it to rain. (Another option before waiting for rain is to sprinkle a fine layer of talc over the metal work so that when water enters, it is clear to see where the water entered, and where it runs to.) Or, if you can't wait for the rain, point a hose pipe over the boot lid to simulate a typical British "summer's day." The boot lid can then be opened and a thorough investigation for water ingress made.
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2. Leave the carpet in place, but leave some blotting paper, or similar in place. |
| The idea here is to have some way of 'reporting' where the water is entering the boot first (as all water tends towards the lowest point in the boot - which is that central, rectangular depression). Just cover the boot floor with the paper, and wait for the worst the British weather can through at it. Then look at where the paper has become damp. |
Knowing where the water is entering the boot should give you a very good clue as to where the water is entering the boot. If in the rear most corners, then this suggests failure of the rear light cluster gaskets. If further forward, towards the edges of the boot, then this suggests water ingress through the panel seams. If more central, then water may be entering through the bootlid itself. If from the front firewall, then the water is likely to be entering via the bulkhead.