Please Help - Water in Spare Tire Area

[benk777]

So it rained all day, but for some reason I just had to drive the Supra to work. Just now I ran out to the garage to grab something from the car, and notice the garage floor is still really wet. Seems to be coming from the rear of the car. I pop the hatch and lift the carpet, and it's wet. I remove the spare tire, and to my surprise there is over 1" of standing water in the spare well. I soaked it with a towel (many trips) and dried the area.

Question is, is the water coming from a bad seal from the hatch, or from the hole in the tub of my rear driver side fender? I guess I could find out by spraying the car with a hose and seeing if water ends up there again, but I thought that surely someone else has suffered this as well.

Thanks for any advice and/or insight.

Ben

CN: Car sat in rain all day, drove in rain as well. Found 1" of water in spare tire well. Is water coming from seal or hole in fender tub?

 

[simpsons7s]

Usually it is from leaky taillight seals

 

[benk777]

Usually it is from leaky taillight seals

Funny, because while driving home in the rain my "Taillight Error" dash warning light was coming on and going off. Do I just order taillight seals from Toyota?

Thanks.

Ben

 

[KMinAF]

Just pull the plug and leave it out.

 

[MK-111]

main culprits for the swimming pool in the trunk are:-
tailgate seal, or the lip it clips onto.
rear light seals.
bolt holes for spoiler.
bolt holes for bottom trim on tailgate glass.
and when you remove the bottom trim, you will see 3 glass supports, water can also get past these.

 

[simpsons7s]

Funny, because while driving home in the rain my "Taillight Error" dash warning light was coming on and going off. Do I just order taillight seals from Toyota?

Thanks.

Ben

You can get new ones from toyota, or the cheap fix is to get a tube of clear silicone and go to town.

 

[ForcedTorque]

main culprits for the swimming pool in the trunk are:-
tailgate seal, or the lip it clips onto.
rear light seals.
bolt holes for spoiler.
bolt holes for bottom trim on tailgate glass.
and when you remove the bottom trim, you will see 3 glass supports, water can also get past these.

You left out rust around the wiper blade. That can hide under the little cover.

But it sounds like your leak is tail light seals. Mine to. There is a drain plug at the bottom of your pool.

 

[omfgitsdonovan]

mine leaks from th etailights and the spoiler.

 

[Mischief7m]

mine leaks through the hatch seals.

 

[DeSloth]

I've been through this and it sucks. It took me several months of frustration to finially sort it out. I now own a 100% water-tight '88 supra and it was worth the effort

Unfortunately, EVERYTHING in the back of a 20 year old supra leaks. Pull everything out (carpet trims, remove spoiler and wiper) and seal EVERYTHING. I used a lot of sealant and self adhesive rubber. Don't forget all those bolts holding your trim and bumper on - they can leak too. I also replaced the tail-light seals, and sealed the bolt holes on the inside using washers and the above mentioned self-adhesive foam.

Check your work with a garden hose, but leave the traim and carpet out until the next time it rains. There's a 90% chance you will miss something which causes a slow leak. Find this leak, seal and repeat...

Good luck!

 

[tbcmorris]

Good advise. Do it once....right seal everything. And it does suck I have done the process to both my supras.

 

[benk777]

Thanks for the advice. I pulled both plugs for now, and will start with ordering new taillight seals.

Ben

 

[88mkIIIproject]

Thanks for the advice. I pulled both plugs for now, and will start with ordering new taillight seals.

Ben

Order them from Jeff Watson at Champion Toyota. Bets prices we can get for OEM stuff. I think both gaskets were $30 when I got them? Not too sure.

Yea, pulling the plugs is a good temporary fix if you need to drive it. I pulled my spare tire too, to let any leaking water flow right out instead of sitting between the rubber and well to eventually start rotting..