I just purchased a 18 RLX Sport Hybrid out of state. Lots of rain on the way home from CA to NM. Doing some clean up and noticed about a 1/2 cup of water in spare tire wheel well in the trunk. Any TSBs or issue with water in this area?

 

Update: Washed the RLX for the first time and still was getting about the same amount of water in the bottom of the spare tire wheel well. I will take it in to Acura and have them take a look.

 

perhaps from a tail light gasket?

 

I'm hoping it is just a gasket issue. I ran my hands inside of the trunk after the car wash and the felt lining was dry with the standing water at the bottom. There are two quarter size plastic plugs in the bottom of the wheel well that pop out very easily. Not sure if those plug should be removed for drainage or stay in place? The 1/2 cup of water still wouldn't drain out even if the plugs were removed because of the raised lip around the plastic plug.

 

I haven't looked in my wife's '18 RLX Sport Hybrid to see if there's water there - will have to take a look. Those plastic plugs really keep stuff from under the car from getting into the spare tire area. If you took them off, when driving, you'd get water into the area by splash-up and things would be worse. I think that testing whether water from the top is getting in (sunroof drain, gasket, rear window, etc), or whether water is getting kicked up from underneath. Hopefully the dealer will do a leak check and find the source....

 

No rain in sight; but, It is going to be in the 30s and maybe the low 40s for the highs and windy this week. My local Acura dealership can sometimes do a half A$$ job troubleshooting instead of using the whole A$$. I probably need to narrow down the leak before taking it in. Thinking iphone secured to the underside of closed trunk with a flashlight to see what side of the spare tire wheel well the water drains from as I spray the different areas.

 

good idea, i noticed mine(2006 TL) leaking to the left side...the side that I changed out a taillight on.

 

Took the RLX to see about the water leak and it was caused by a rubber seal around a wire through the trunk area wasn't in place. They pushed the rubber seal back in place around the wire, tested for leaks, and didn't charge me for the visit. Acura did uncover the reason for the rubber not being seated was the rear bumper was either removed or replace when repainted. Probably from an unreported fender/bender or the previous owner backed into something for the reason for not being on CarFax. Acura said they did and excellent job repairing and everything looks factory.