Trunk water leaks

[mauro12]

Hello guys , I’ve noticed that every time I wash my car,  I see some water entering inside  the trunk . This happen only in the left part of the trunk . I attach some pictures.
I’ve replaced the trunk seal and even if it’s an aftermarket, it seems to be in good condition and in the right orientation. Probably I have a bigger gap in the left top corner of the trunk compared to the left but this is only an assumption. Also I see some drops coming from from the wheel arch . I cannot trace from where it enters .
Any help is appreciated.
Thank you

[Jack the Knife]

The same has happened to me, in the same spot. Look at your boot lid carefully. It may be when someone was pushing the car at some point, that the lid became bent. That is what happened with my car.

[mauro12]

I wanted to attach some pictures but I believe they are too high in resolution. I will post as soon as I can .

[Jonny B]

Another culprit can be the taillight seal.

[mauro12]

i don't think is the tailight seal but something related to the correct orientation of the trunk seal or the soft top compartment seal . I try to post some pictures if i can .

[mauro12]

If you see the last picture , i was seeing water dripping from there . i don't know where that panel is connected . Can you also clarify if my trunk seal is orientated properly ? it is not an oem but an aftermaket.

[zak]

I had the same leak issue in that same back left corner of the trunk.
I was told that it is a common issue for many 113s.

I solved my issue by never driving in the rain and always parking the car in the garage.

jz

[Peter]

I have the same leak issue in that same back left corner of the trunk.
I am interested in a possible solution as I cannot control the weather when I go on a long trip.

[707dieseldean]

Back in the day at the bodyshop.....We would remove the spare tire and put someone with a flashlight in the trunk.    Close the lid and have some use a waterhose with a spray nozzle spray water in the air over the rear area.Do not spray the trunk directly, spray water in the air so it will come down like rain. Should be able to find the point of entry. Good Luck 

[Mike Hughes]

I have the same leak issue in that same back left corner of the trunk.
I am interested in a possible solution as I cannot control the weather when I go on a long trip.

Do you have an indentation or crease on your spare tire cover or the tire itself somewhere near the trunk hinge?  Try letting some air out of the spare tire.  Some sidewalls bulge out more than others and come in contact with the underside of the hinge when the trunk is locked.  This forces that corner of the trunk to lift, and it can lift clear of the trunk seal, letting in water.

If deflating the spare turns out to be the solution, make a point of carrying a tire pump.  One day you may find a need for a fully inflated spare!

[LindesayOne]

From my experience in identifying leaks in buildings, I would suggest isolating the leak by taping the entire gap at the perimeter of the lid, then removing the tape in small sections sequentially after spraying the entire lid. Each time a section of tape is removed, check the trunk for water.
Start removing sections of tape at a location least suspected to be the source of the leak.

[franjo_66]

From my experience in identifying leaks in buildings, I would suggest isolating the leak by taping the entire gap at the perimeter of the lid, then removing the tape in small sections sequentially after spraying the entire lid. Each time a section of tape is removed, check the trunk for water.
Start removing sections of tape at a location least suspected to be the source of the leak.

great tip !!

[Paul & Dolly]

Water can also leak into the soft top storage compartment, and subsequently drip into the boot or trunk via the hinge openings on the left and right sides.

Good luck

Paul

[stickandrudderman]

Your boot seal doesn't appear to be installed correctly. The lip should not be vertical, rather it should be beyond the vertical such that when the lid is closed against it the seal is folded over. Many a door or trunk lid has been difficult to close because of the excessive resistance offered by an incorrectly install rubber seal.

[BobH]

Some tips on here about fitting the seal correctly

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14415

and on here, as Paul says, water can leak into the trunk/boot from the soft top compartment if the drainage routes are blocked

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=375.msg56932#msg56932

[mauro12]

The best solution is to put someone inside the trunk , that's really nice solution ! Do you have some pictures about the correct orientation of the seal ? i've seen all posts but there are different opinions . Have yu seen my last picture? i saw small drops of water coming from that panel . Is that connected to the soft top compartment ?

[LindesayOne]

Someone inside the trunk.   Yes, that's what little kids were made for!

John

[Jack the Knife]

Your boot seal doesn't appear to be installed correctly. The lip should not be vertical, rather it should be beyond the vertical such that when the lid is closed against it the seal is folded over. Many a door or trunk lid has been difficult to close because of the excessive resistance offered by an incorrectly install rubber seal.

Not to hijack the thread, but since I have a similar issue, I went out and took some pictures... I am having the leaking from the left side, as well. I have also noticed a slightly-off trunk alignment, which I can only guess happened either when someone was pushing the car incorrectly or when it was resprayed in its prior life. But Colin, does the seal look correctly-installed? It came this way, but I have an extra.

[Pawel66]

Perhaps an idea for both of you. If your emblems (230SL and could also be automatic) are not sealed properly, and they are on the left side, water gets to trunk lid frame and when you raise lid, it comes out through the opening I marked on Mauro's picture.

[BobH]

If you look at reply 5 on here, a diagram of the rubber profile, and the other pictures, you'll see a correctly fitted seal, Mauro and Jack, it's hard to tell from your pictures, but neither of your seals look to be correct, i may be wrong and it may just be the pictures

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14415

[hbrand]

Not using any seal might be better.
Then water runs along the sides just like a gutter.
Where the gasket is glued in had a rust hole so water entered the trunk there.
Greetings, Harold

[Peter]

This should be the correct positioning.

[Jack the Knife]

This should be the correct positioning.

If you look at reply 5 on here, a diagram of the rubber profile, and the other pictures, you'll see a correctly fitted seal, Mauro and Jack, it's hard to tell from your pictures, but neither of your seals look to be correct, i may be wrong and it may just be the pictures

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14415

Thanks to the both of you, I just took the old seal out and put in the new one. It was much deflated. However, now my trunk lid is sitting a bit high, noticeably so. I believe someone did bend it out of shape at some time, for sure. Should be easy to rectify at a body shop, I guess.