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Just recently, my 97 TL 3.2 has developed a leak in the trunk. It's most noticeable after a heavy rain, yet I can't determine its origin. The water lays at both the left & right sides of the trunk where the padded carpet area above the spare stops at the vertical sides. I've looked at the gaskets around the trunk but nothing stands out. ANY IDEAS?
Alright. So you are gettin noticable water in the trunk, on the floor to the left and right of the spare tire? Not in the "pit" with it, but in the main part of the trunk?
Is there any water in with the spare tire also?
Does it happen when you wash the car?
Is the bottom of the fake floor above the spare tire wet?
Water does get down into the spare tire pit. After Rita rolled thru here earlier this week was the last time I noticed the leak. I have just noticed that the left rear tail light has considerable condensation / water inside it also. Still no clue where the leak is coming from!
I don't have much experience w/ TL's yet, but on Accords, the foam seal around the tail lights will get too crushed and allow water to bypass the seal. New seal will fix the leak. I tried RTV over the seal line w/o any luck.
Also the top side of the taillight may develop a leak allowing water to enter the taillight. When you open the trunk water pours out of the tipped tailight. Since you didn't know when/how the water entered the trunk, I doubt this is your problem.
My trunk has been collecting moisture for a few months and water has drained into the spare tire area. The left rear light fixture has visible condensation. I wonder if the source is the rear window? Just recently I felt moisture under the trunk gutter but no visible leaks in the gutter. Any ideas?
Alright. So you are gettin noticable water in the trunk, on the floor to the left and right of the spare tire? Not in the "pit" with it, but in the main part of the trunk?
Is there any water in with the spare tire also?
Does it happen when you wash the car?
Is the bottom of the fake floor above the spare tire wet?
Do you think this has anything to do with sunroof drains? I read somewhere that there are two drain lines each terminating near the rear wheel wells somewhere.
When I added sound deadener to my trunk, I had to remove the tails. After I installed them, I noticed that there was some water getting into my trunk around the tails. So I took them back out and coated the seals with some clear silicon and then re-installed the tails. Since then I havn't had any leaking, and this was done over 12 months ago.
Thanks for the reference post but my leak is coming from above somewhere, not from the tail lights. After rain or even heavy dew the carpet is wet and your hands will get wet by touching underneath the side gutters (not under rear window portion of the gutter). Maybe rear window leak or sunroof drains loose???
If you look at the gutter design for the trunk, the only way water gets in from the gutter is when the gutter can fill and bypass the gasket. If gutters are clean everywhere, only a very hard rain should raise level enough to cause overflow into trunk. Look for holes in the trunk gasket that allow water to enter at a lower level.
You can inspect from inside w/ flashlight while someone you trust sprays water over the trunk. Make sure you understand how inside trunk release could be done.
I have a similar issue and it's only on the passenger side in the trunk, but I ALSO found a round rubber plug about 1.5" in diameter... I can see where there are two, one on each side, but not sure where this lost one goes. Any ideas?
I developed the same problem too, or have had it and just didn't know. Since I just got the car recently, this is the first rainy season I've gone through with it. Mines was also on the left and right sides and seemed like a leak from above. However, after locking a friend in the trunk and running a hose on the car, I found out it was indeed the taillight seals. the water just seeps in and pools at the bottom slowly during heavy rain. A trip to Home Depot and a pack of $4 weather stripping later, no more leak.
My 98 Acura TL 2.5 developed a leak from both tail lights. The foam gasket between the body and the plastic tail light assembly had hardened and was no longer sealing properly. I cleaned the gasket and the body where the tail lights attach then used clear bathroom caulk on both sides of the gasket. I put it all back together and haven't had a leak since.
I've been having the same issue. Drainage tubes are good. Seals look good. Spoiler nuts are tight. But the carpet on my trunk lid seem to be the dampest. I took the cover off and it had alot of condensation. I snapped a couple pics. Can someone tell me what that box is in the middle of my trunk lid that seems to be rusted and quite wet.
09-22-2005, 11:53 AM
Just recently, my 97 TL 3.2 has developed a leak in the trunk. It's most noticeable after a heavy rain, yet I can't determine its origin. The water lays at both the left & right sides of the trunk where the padded carpet area above the spare stops at the vertical sides. I've looked at the gaskets around the trunk but nothing stands out. ANY IDEAS? 
Water does get down into the spare tire pit. After Rita rolled thru here earlier this week was the last time I noticed the leak. I have just noticed that the left rear tail light has considerable condensation / water inside it also. Still no clue where the leak is coming from! 
