Hey Everyone, first poste on the forum,
hoping you guys can help me out with my problem...

i have a 2000 Protege LX,

I live in British Columbia, always rainy, but beautiful; everytime it rains, i notice that there are large amounts of water build-up in my trunk, specifically, where the jack is in place on the right, as well as on the left side. Even worse, there is water build-up in the middle where the spare tire is! every time , i have to use my wet/dry vac to get the water out, very frustrating... i'm not sure where the water is leaking in from, i've tried the old fashion way to lay newspaper inside and spray the trunk til i find a leak, but it doesnt look like any water is coming in from the rubber seals. I've checked the rubber seals around the trunk and they look fine, doesnt look like there are any holes or cracks in them...

i have a feeling that water is seaping in from the rear taillights, but i'm not sure, has anyone ever had the same problem before?

the amount of water in there is just ridiculous, i've had to take my sub out because of the moisture buildup, damaging the box...

KC
2000 Protege LX

 

I drilled a small hole so the water drains. you're not alone. not sure if it's on this board or other protege boards where people posted the same situation.

 

Its on every board, its just a problem.

I replaced the gasket around the trunk, then used silicon calk on the screws for the spoiler, (I bolted mine on). It worked for a good year. Its come back now I think becuase water froze into ice and weaked the seal.

 

well i bought some silicone, but havent used it yet, cuz its gonna take a long time to dry in the winter, so i think i'll try calking it up around those areas when the weather is better! if worse comes to worse, i gues i'm just gonna have to drill those damn holes, even though i really dont want to...
zerocover, did u use a lot of silicone to cover up the screws, and did u use it anywhere else besides the spoiler?

KC

 

I only used it around the spoiler becuase its the only holes that come from outside the car. I have determined that the water is probubly comming from the rear glass. So the only option is to get it reinstalled. Ill just live with the leak.

 

I remember reading a TSb about this. Have any of your cars been hit in the back, even slightly? The TSB says something about how even a small hit - leaving no visible mark - can cause the sealant between the body panels to separate and cause a leak.

 

Well I've suffered from some bad water leaking as well. I had always attributed tot he fact that the car had been in a rear-end accident that saw the whole rear end replaced. I, as well as my folks, assumed that it was due to shotty re-construction. Anyone think that it could be a flaw in the materials or design?

 

HMm, i had a minor accident couple years back, had to repaint the back bumper...
that may have been the reason why it's leakin.. grrr

 

mine leaks as well, and i havent been in any acidents, i just dunno man.

 

Check for subtle leaks around the tail light assemblies. I learned this from a helpful body-shop man when chasing down a leak in my 626. Sure enough, I found a bad spot on the gasket. In his experience, the trunk lid gasket almost never leaks. Taillights are what drive people crazy.

 

you are so right!, i just called my buddy who used to work for Mazda, and he says that many proteges were brought in for service because of water coming in from the TAILLIGHT! His job was to fill the gaps with silicone, so i'm hoping he will show me exactly what to do to fix this leak up!

if you guys have the same trunk problem and dont know what's causing it, check out the taillight

KC

 

the first time i had a leak in my pro it was the vent on the right side , between the driver side of the back bumper and the body of the car. the vent is there so your ears dont pop when you close the doors. i got that fixed by the dealer (was still under warrenty) now i have another leak which i was told it might be the taillight gasket...hope this helps guys

 

yeah and if all else fails do it the redneck way wrap the inside with duct tape(handymans secret weapon)

 

Check the seals around your tail light assemblies.

 

I never had water in the trunk until I got hit in the rear bumper recently. Now the well with the jack fills and i drilled two holes.