2002 Water in Trunk

[JJF]

Good morning. I have a 2002 that I bought a few months ago. When I was checking it out I noticed there was water in the spare tire well and very bad corrosion on the battery. I replaced the battery but still get water collecting in the spare tire well. It seems to come from above the floor insert (spare tire cover) of the trunk because that is often wet as well as anything sitting in the trunk, and then maybe drips down into the tire well? I have tried to find the leak by spraying the trunk and rear lights with a hose but that hasn't worked. Anyone have an idea about how to troubleshoot this annoying problem?

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[PCR59]

Good morning. I have a 2002 that I bought a few months ago. When I was checking it out I noticed there was water in the spare tire well and very bad corrosion on the battery. I replaced the battery but still g

We had bad gaskets on the third brake light panel outside bolts. Access through the wheel wells and two from inside the trunk.

 

[biddle]

Also see- https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum...-trunk-where-struts-are-fill-with-water.9695/

 

[highwayghost]

Hard top on or convertible? There should be a tray under the rear section of the soft top that catches the water that runs off the rear window area. This will have channels the direct water down and out under the car. This may be clogged with leaves, dirt, pine needles etc. Is the car parked on level or facing down hill? A down hill grade may stack water up in the channel around the trunk lid, allowing it to get past the trunk gasket.

 

[JJF]

Well, I took an hour yesterday and sprayed the car down panel by panel and part by part to see what was leaking. Nothing. All the drains worked perfectly as well. So, after some pondering, it occurred to me that if there is a leak, and it's not on the top or sides, it must be on the bottom. And so it was! A bolt hole had rusted out leaving a half inch hole in the floor of the spare tire well, underneath the battery where you can't see it. But if you spray water from below it sprays through this hole and soaks everything just like I have been seeing. So maybe mystery solved? I am going to patch the hole with JB Weld and then put some kind of marine sealant over that. Unless someone has a better idea? Thanks for your help, gents!

 

[sundlh]

Well, I took an hour yesterday and sprayed the car down panel by panel and part by part to see what was leaking. Nothing. All the drains worked perfectly as well. So, after some pondering, it occurred to me that if there is a leak, and it's not on the top or sides, it must be on the bottom. And so it was! A bolt hole had rusted out leaving a half inch hole in the floor of the spare tire well, underneath the battery where you can't see it. But if you spray water from below it sprays through this hole and soaks everything just like I have been seeing. So maybe mystery solved? I am going to patch the hole with JB Weld and then put some kind of marine sealant over that. Unless someone has a better idea? Thanks for your help, gents!

You might confirm that the hole isn’t for the battery venting system…….