So its been exactly one year since my first post, and I thought I would compile a list of problems that I've had with my 2004 3g mt TL since then, the fixes that I did do....and hopefully will do. I figured that posting here would be both good motivation for me and maybe help someone else too

1. Water leaking into spare tire compartment --> bought new foam gaskets for tailights from ebay, but problem recurred after parking outdoors during rain on incline, still troubleshooting and now parking on decline = leak persists
2. Leaking power steering reserve tank fitting --> used circle hoseclamp in addition to standard fitting = leak fixed
3. HFL failed = Removed the original module and am now using usa spec BT45-Hon3 in trunk for bluetooth, but need to wire mic --> = Halfway there for full car integration
4. Current porcupine shaped hole in left front bumper and lip = Since both lip and bumper have chunks missing, cant just add on a-spec or stock base lip, have always liked the 07-08 and S front end with foglights but car is Anthracite metallic = either used base AM bumper and lip to buy off craigslist ($), buy new 04-06 bumper and paint ($$) or 07-08/s bumper kit and foglights and paint ($$$)
5. Rear passenger door has orange peel and paint craziness from past re-paint = will live with unless a cheap donor car can be found
6. Map disk out of date = continued frustation for 10% of trips --> will buy new disk
7. During tire change lost Brembo bleed caps --> need find nipple covers...for the car
8. Replaced incredibly loud/worn Goodyear Eagle GT tires --> Michelin pilot sport AS3+ are a great tire and would rank as medium-high performance but exceptional in the wet
9. Original TL rims had road rash from prior owner --> went with MSW type 14 from a local rally school that somehow were in better shape, but it was hard finding 17x8 5x114.3 used
10. Left car unlocked one night and had center console latch broken (srsly why) in addition to items stolen --> will superglue latch back on
11. Front turn signal bulb burned out --> debating LED with relay resistor upgrade or standard bulbs
12. Rear view mirror began bubbling, then leaking fluid --> removed rear view mirror but pried a little too hard and cracked windshield. No longer blinded by bro-dozers and forced reliance on side mirrors
13. Cracked windshield (partly due to my own fix of #12)
14. Removed emblems and have two holes in rear of trunklid --> currently fixed with JB weld and two pennies behind the holes, but a mild indentation draws the eye despite being a close match for Antracite when dried, will reapply, then use touch up paint or repaint trunklid or re-emblemized the center
15. Changed front brake pads from semi-metallic to ceramic now squeak at low speed --> Used Centek and have great performance and would recommend,but at very low applications a pronounced squeal lets people in cross walks or parking garages know I'm coming their way!
16. Brake Fluid Flush dripped onto calipers and paint chipped --> just silliness as I thought I had been careful not to drip... will probably leave as is
17. Clear windows with no tint have lead to leather drying excessively and possibly #10 --> got a wonderful gift of tinting for Xmas, now to decide how dark to go!
18. Curious about hard wiring a radar detector --> no progress yet as fears about becoming even more of a spirited driver persist

So thats it for now.. I'll post some pictures and clue in to fixes as they come, but overall its been a great ride over the last 18k miles, went across the country, almost maxed the speedo a couple of times, and have been overall happy, and I look forward to working on these issues and keeping the wheels rolling!

 

#1- Are you sure the water isn't coming in thruough the rubber gasket that seals the trunk with the trunk lid? The latch has adjustment. At least cars did when I use to work at a body shop. Is your trunk even with the quarter panels?

 

oh shit, i have a leak in my trunk too, and i had fucked with my tail light. Good shit OP! I hadnt put two and two together

 

@joecop67
Great call, I did a leak test with some UV reactive laundry fluid around the gasket and nothing came through the trunk seal. It seems to be angle related. What do you think about taking the seal off and greasing it for a little extra peace of mind in case its a slow leak?
I like your thinking about the trunk latch, but no water has shown up under big plastic trim piece directly. When I removed it and the carpet, it was damp only on the bare metal and caulking from the edges of the tailights on both sides down to the tire well, but not the middle, and not the overlying carpeting.
My wild and crazy thought so far is put myself or my infinitely patient and smaller wife into the trunk, take the carpet and spare out, and douse the trunk while closed with a hose jet and track down the leak with a flashlight that way. At this point nothing seems too crazy?

@justnspace
I also added a healthy dose of silicone grease to both side of the foam gaskets when I reattached the taillights, and also a little bit to the backings of the nuts that hold taillights onto body. Also checked sunroof drain duckbills and hose for clogs or rips, and those both look in great shape. The gaskets were helpful in that I can essentially cross them off the trouble-causing list.

Thanks for the replies!

 

Stick the wife in the trunk if she fits.

 

Although I would have enjoyed making my wife climb into the trunk....I have only had to do this on an SUV to confirm where the water was coming in. In our old Equinox, the water would trickle down the sides of the tailgate, wrap around the back of the seal and trickle into the spare tire well. The only way to confirm it was to strip the interior out, sit in the back and have a neighbor spray the car down. A bead of silicon behind the weather stripping solved my issues in that vehicle. Luckily it is the only vehicle I have ever had water issues in.

 

I had noticed water and had stripped the trunk. i dont use the trunk, so i left it bare metal.
this way; i could track the water. unfortunately, i couldnt find any wet spots near the tail light or drain tube. I was thinking it came in from somewhere else.

but I'm glad i stumbled upon this thread, because i, indeed, messed with my tail light and coincidentally is where the water is pooling on that side.

I'll give the tail light the silicone treatment.
thanks agaiN!

 

@Jackass
Ill give a special look to that seal when I get in the trunk, thanks for the tip!

@justnspace
happy to help! I coated both the front and back of the taillight black foam gasket with a healthy dose of clear silicone grease, but caulk would do it too, best of luck!