Leaky boot.

robbrooks · 6th June 2021, 09:13

Hi
It's sometime since I visited here, but that's not because I have sold the Rover of 19 years. She is still trucking on and has covered 137000 miles from new. (One owner me). I thought I had cured all the leaks on the notoriously leaky Rover75, but I am having extreme difficulty in sourcing the boot leak. There is no water in the tyre well and I know it's not the rear light cluster, the trim holes along the rear wings, or the rectangular vents. The water drips from above onto a large plastic tray that I have strategically positioned in the boot. Initially it was coming from the left hand side, but lately I've had drips from the right hand side.
From my description above I believe that there are only 2 other options and that's the back window seal, or the sunroof drains, but my money is on the back window seal , that is showing it's age. What are my options to repair this? Has anyone fixed a back window seal leak?

Mark190 · 6th June 2021, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbrooks

Hi
It's sometime since I visited here, but that's not because I have sold the Rover of 19 years. She is still trucking on and has covered 137000 miles from new. (One owner me). I thought I had cured all the leaks on the notoriously leaky Rover75, but I am having extreme difficulty in sourcing the boot leak. There is no water in the tyre well and I know it's not the rear light cluster, the trim holes along the rear wings, or the rectangular vents. The water drips from above onto a large plastic tray that I have strategically positioned in the boot. Initially it was coming from the left hand side, but lately I've had drips from the right hand side.
From my description above I believe that there are only 2 other options and that's the back window seal, or the sunroof drains, but my money is on the back window seal , that is showing it's age. What are my options to repair this? Has anyone fixed a back window seal leak?

i feel your pain mate, my ZT is currently stripped almost completely inside and is off the road for a while yet to come. I have had nothing but problems with water getting in for some time and i cant see it ever ending. Trouble is you put the carpet back and put everything back together and then some time later a leak will start from somewhere else. Its never ending, only solution seems to me to be move to a warmer climate where it doesnt rain!

rab60bit · 6th June 2021, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbrooks

Hi
It's sometime since I visited here, but that's not because I have sold the Rover of 19 years. She is still trucking on and has covered 137000 miles from new. (One owner me). I thought I had cured all the leaks on the notoriously leaky Rover75, but I am having extreme difficulty in sourcing the boot leak. There is no water in the tyre well and I know it's not the rear light cluster, the trim holes along the rear wings, or the rectangular vents. The water drips from above onto a large plastic tray that I have strategically positioned in the boot. Initially it was coming from the left hand side, but lately I've had drips from the right hand side.
From my description above I believe that there are only 2 other options and that's the back window seal, or the sunroof drains, but my money is on the back window seal , that is showing it's age. What are my options to repair this? Has anyone fixed a back window seal leak?

The rear window is bonded to the body aperture so if you mean that 'seal' then it's really a specialist job to remove your existing (heated) screen safely, clean/prime and re-install.
If you mean the bright (or on MG's I think it's usually black) rear screen trim then this doesn't seal anything - it's a cosmetic trim only. The clips along the lower edge of the trim are however a well documented source for developing leaks because they are located in square holes that pierce the outer shell and over time the foam washers/seals behind the clips fail; the water that does eventuially get through can run/leech to all sorts of difficult to see/reach places around the boot area. If this is the proven source of your water and you are careful, the 7-8 clips can be replaced with the rear screen in situ (new clips are still available circa £2.20 each). I dispensed with the foam washers and simply bonded the new clips in place using a polyurethane sealant (Sikaflex 521UV) - the new washers that came along with the clips would have probably lasted the remaining lifetime of the car but I decided not to chance it - and I'm still looking for leaks into the boot!!
Best of luck, share if you get it sorted...

Heddy · 6th June 2021, 14:55

As well as the rear light seals, becoming common now is the rear window. I'll always recommend Captain Tolleys, run around the rear window seal from half way up. It's cheap and easy to do, and who knows? may even cure a leak. Dribbled on the seams around the top of the boot area is also a cheap and easy fix.

Mark190 · 6th June 2021, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by rab60bit

The rear window is bonded to the body aperture so if you mean that 'seal' then it's really a specialist job to remove your existing (heated) screen safely, clean/prime and re-install.
If you mean the bright (or on MG's I think it's usually black) rear screen trim then this doesn't seal anything - it's a cosmetic trim only. The clips along the lower edge of the trim are however a well documented source for developing leaks because they are located in square holes that pierce the outer shell and over time the foam washers/seals behind the clips fail; the water that does eventuially get through can run/leech to all sorts of difficult to see/reach places around the boot area. If this is the proven source of your water and you are careful, the 7-8 clips can be replaced with the rear screen in situ (new clips are still available circa £2.20 each). I dispensed with the foam washers and simply bonded the new clips in place using a polyurethane sealant (Sikaflex 521UV) - the new washers that came along with the clips would have probably lasted the remaining lifetime of the car but I decided not to chance it - and I'm still looking for leaks into the boot!!
Best of luck, share if you get it sorted...

I have just this afternoon discovered my rear window clips are allowing water to drip into the boot so this is next on my list to be done if possible.

bl52krz · 6th June 2021, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark190

I have just this afternoon discovered my rear window clips are allowing water to drip into the boot so this is next on my list to be done if possible.

Hi Rob. Long time no see. I had my son’s KV6 off him two years ago. I found that the seams that are on each side of the boot near the hinges ( with the boot open) were leaking. They are the horizontal joins between the wing and the edges of the boot. I forced some Waxoyle down into the seams on each side, and have had no further trouble. Hope this helps Rob.

MacRob · 6th June 2021, 23:45

Simple answer is this.

rab60bit · 7th June 2021, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl52krz

Hi Rob. Long time no see. I had my son’s KV6 off him two years ago. I found that the seams that are on each side of the boot near the hinges ( with the boot open) were leaking. They are the horizontal joins between the wing and the edges of the boot. I forced some Waxoyle down into the seams on each side, and have had no further trouble. Hope this helps Rob.

That's my next zone of interest. Never used it before but on MacRob's recommendation I've a nice big bottle of Capt. Tolley's ready to go just awaiting a bit of a dry summer spell; add a bit of enthusiasm and then it's fingers crossed.
It may be easier to apply than other gloops but does anyone know if Capt. Tolley's is a permanent fix on metal to metal (the OEM sealant was supposed to be permanent for a spot welded joint but.....!) because the boot/wing joint is a bu...r to get at properly.

MacRob · 7th June 2021, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by rab60bit

That's my next zone of interest. Never used it before but on MacRob's recommendation I've a nice big bottle of Capt. Tolley's ready to go just awaiting a bit of a dry summer spell; add a bit of enthusiasm and then it's fingers crossed.
It may be easier to apply than other gloops but does anyone know if Capt. Tolley's is a permanent fix on metal to metal (the OEM sealant was supposed to be permanent for a spot welded joint but.....!) because the boot/wing joint is a bu...r to get at properly.

Don't know about it been a permanent fix for metal to metal but even if its just 12 months its that quick and easy to use it personally wouldn't bother me applying it every 12 months

Richard1973 · 18th June 2021, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl52krz

Hi Rob. Long time no see. I had my son’s KV6 off him two years ago. I found that the seams that are on each side of the boot near the hinges ( with the boot open) were leaking. They are the horizontal joins between the wing and the edges of the boot. I forced some Waxoyle down into the seams on each side, and have had no further trouble. Hope this helps Rob.

I too have been chasing a boot leak for the last year or so.

Re sealed the boot vents, checked the light seals, sealed the two short seams at the top of the boot opening and used Captain Tolly on the rear window and yet still the leak persisted.

Further investigation revealed the seam you have mentioned was leaking on the drivers side. I could see where the sealant had split near the rear window.

Ran some Captain Tolly's down both sides and just been to check in the rain and fingers crossed the boot is currently dry.

I definately recommend the two long seam that run the length of the rear wing in the boot gutter are also sealed in the quest for dryness.

6th June 2021, 09:13	#1
robbrooks Gets stuck in Rover 75 CDT,160 remap: owner since new in December 2002: Mileage: June22 143,000 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Leeds Posts: 633 Thanks: 324 Thanked 102 Times in 67 Posts	Leaky boot. Hi It's sometime since I visited here, but that's not because I have sold the Rover of 19 years. She is still trucking on and has covered 137000 miles from new. (One owner me). I thought I had cured all the leaks on the notoriously leaky Rover75, but I am having extreme difficulty in sourcing the boot leak. There is no water in the tyre well and I know it's not the rear light cluster, the trim holes along the rear wings, or the rectangular vents. The water drips from above onto a large plastic tray that I have strategically positioned in the boot. Initially it was coming from the left hand side, but lately I've had drips from the right hand side. From my description above I believe that there are only 2 other options and that's the back window seal, or the sunroof drains, but my money is on the back window seal , that is showing it's age. What are my options to repair this? Has anyone fixed a back window seal leak?

6th June 2021, 23:45	#7
MacRob Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Deal, Kent Posts: 264 Thanks: 44 Thanked 81 Times in 58 Posts	Simple answer is this. __________________ MG Rover South East admin

6th June 2021, 14:55	#4
Heddy This is my second home None Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: None Posts: 5,556 Thanks: 465 Thanked 1,161 Times in 924 Posts	As well as the rear light seals, becoming common now is the rear window. I'll always recommend Captain Tolleys, run around the rear window seal from half way up. It's cheap and easy to do, and who knows? may even cure a leak. Dribbled on the seams around the top of the boot area is also a cheap and easy fix.