Ok, It rained alot here the last day; and when I got into my '84 today and drove around I heard some water sloshing. No big deal, the cover for the rear wiper leaks all the time; its probably just full of water again. yep, thats is. I empty it out and start again.
but the sound doesnt' go away. come to find the recessed area where the spare tire sits is almost full of water!
This has me worried because I've never had a leak like THIS before.
Could all that water overflowing from the drains; or leaking through the wiper? Anyone know how to stop my hatch from leaking?

 

Most important thing is to figure out where the water is coming from I know thats not a lot of help, but if you look behind the trim panel at the rear of the car there are 2 -- 5/8" hose thats connect the 2 drains at either side of the hatch. This house route from the drain spouts at the top of the tray down through the bottom of the car and just behind the bumper. Make sure one of both of these arent off and allowing water to just pour inside.

Also check to see if they are stopped up, a good way to clean them out if the hoses and drains are stopped up is to shove a 2 - 3 ft piece of 8-10AWG wire through the drain that will break up any debris that maybe inside.

 

Also check the rear window for leaks slowly poor some water on top of the car and check that it flows around the window and out through the drain holes previously mentioned otherwise the black rubber might need replaceing as well.

 

My GSL had that problem with the wiper. The bushings and seals around the wiper shaft were deteriorated. They're supposed to be rubber, but they were all crumbly.

I have not, as of found a suitable replacement, but I have tried some things that may work with a littel cajoling. I got them from a local hardwre shop. (Fischer's... I dunno if they're national or not.)

Just go through the plumbing section. Bring the old bushings, as complete as you can get them after they've fallen apart. See what you can come up with. Single random bushings are cheap, buy a handful, play with em. see what you can come up with.

It's all creativity, try cutting up some of the bushings form the hardware store.

 

Ressurecting an old one here...

I looked all over the place and can't find where the passenger side hose goes out. I know it's by the bumper somewhere, but could anyone please be specific. I just wet/dry vac'd my spare tire well out and don't need anymore rust than I already have.

Brian

 

Just a note:
If you have that much water in yer spare tire compartment, then you had better take out the storage bins and check there. It's "#1 Prime Rust Spot", and it's hard to fix.

 

Thanks for the tip Sterling!

Did I ever mention I love this place? Where else could you post one problem, and have responses leading you to 100 more?

Brian

 

Well if you see where the hose on the driver side exits behind the bumper, look exactly symetrically on the other side and you will see where it exits Good luck...

and stop digging up bones LOL Just joking...

 

Mike - That would have been my first thoght as well, but it isn't in the same place. At least I couldn't find it. The drivers side one, I just reached in the hole and there it was, but not so on the passenger side... I'm serious.

Brian

 

the seals that hold my hatch struts to the window were all crumbley so i cut up an old bicycle innertube and made some gaskets/seals from that... hasnt leaked yet

 

did you pull back the carpeting to expose it? i'm thinking if you can't find it, maybe it simply isn't there any more.

just a thought ... did you get hit or have to get the car painted? i had body work done to one of my cars in the past and the body guy took it off and never put it back on ... i had to make something to replace it.

 

resurrecting this issue...

I checked my drainage tubes and found them not to be leaking. Since it was cold here in NH, the water that made its way into the spare tire well is now frozen. Any other idea's on where the water could be coming in? Are the brake light seals prone to leaking? I know in my Miata they were very prone to leaks. Are there aftermarket gaskets/seals for the rear brake lights? Anyone? Anyone?

Thanks,
Kevin
10 AE Miata
85 RX-7 GS

 

ha ha ha i must have good questions because my threads always get resurrected (pats self on back)

 

not sure what you mean here ...
the flooding would be caused by them being blocked not leaking. the only other things i could think of would be if the tube was broken, disconnected or if the end of it was pulled up through the drain hole at the bottom and was allowed to drain into the car instead of out under it.

 

personally i would replace the seals around the window & doors. im gonna change mine out soon as i can find them

 

i have the same problem my hatch seal is rotted so that is probly the problem huh?

 

probaly i have like severe cold condition from it fogging then again i have to replace my front windshield

 

You can buy those seals from Victoria British.

 

thanks man i ordered my catalog today