Evening all, I have a mk3 octavia estate. I've had an issue over the last week or so with water getting into the boot, I've noticed that the water collects on top of the rubber seal (only when it is raining) on both the near side and off side then it finds it's way into the spare wheel well.  I have changed the rubber seal for a genuine brand new seal thinking it was faulty/damaged.  This has made no difference.  So was wondering if anyone had any ideas of where to start looking to carry out repairs or if anyone has had this problem how did you sort it out.  Thanks in advance.

Make sure it's not screen wash, mine was leaking into the wheels well from the rear washer, that would be my advice. If it is rain then I can't help you I'm afraid.

8 minutes ago, vRSWitter said:

Make sure it's not screen wash, mine was leaking into the wheels well from the rear washer, that would be my advice. If it is rain then I can't help you I'm afraid.

Thanks for the reply, its definitely not screen wash as the car hadn't been used after I changed the seal.

Do the boot lid stops need adjusting?  I had this on a laguna estate once and it there was a bump stop on either side of the boot that you could adjust to get the position right.  Has the car ever had a bump from the rear.  Even a small knock from a wall or parking car can break the seal.

Thanks for the reply not sure if the boot stops need adjusting or how I would do that.  Not sure if the car has had a bump or not only had it a few months I've checked all the boot floor and seems original to the vehicle would you happen to know if the lock keep is adjustable to help pull the boot a bit tighter to the rubber seal?

The boot lock on my laguna and mk11 Octavia has an amount of spring tension that allowed a small amount of adjustment.  Any more than a couple of mm would require lock adjustment too.  There was enough in the tension for my purpose though.  Might be the same for you?

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago.  Ended up with an inch of water in the wheel well.  Having drained it, and dried it I covered the whole area in talc powder and waited for the rain to come back.  This very effectively shows me the track of the water ingress.  Turned out to be coming in under the black plastic trim next to the rear lights after running down the side of the car where the boot shuts onto it.  It then went half way across the car inside the plastic cover and ran down a rivet to drain into the wheel well.  A simple piece of gaffer tape across it stopped it permanently.  Can't get to the car at the mo, but I'll post up a pic if that doesn't sound clear

Thanks for the reply 

50 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

The boot lock on my laguna and mk11 Octavia has an amount of spring tension that allowed a small amount of adjustment.  Any more than a couple of mm would require lock adjustment too.  There was enough in the tension for my purpose though.  Might be the same for you?

I will strip out the plastic when I get a chance and see if theres any adjustment 

Do you have a pano/sun roof? 

41 minutes ago, Burchy said:

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago.  Ended up with an inch of water in the wheel well.  Having drained it, and dried it I covered the whole area in talc powder and waited for the rain to come back.  This very effectively shows me the track of the water ingress.  Turned out to be coming in under the black plastic trim next to the rear lights after running down the side of the car where the boot shuts onto it.  It then went half way across the car inside the plastic cover and ran down a rivet to drain into the wheel well.  A simple piece of gaffer tape across it stopped it permanently.  Can't get to the car at the mo, but I'll post up a pic if that doesn't sound clear

Thanks for the reply I may well give this ago sounds like a very good idea.  Please can you you post a pic it would be very much appreciated.  The water in mine seems to sit on top of the rubber seal then finds it way in. 

Just now, penguin17 said:

Do you have a pano/sun roof? 

Hi no don't have either

1 minute ago, Raj35hp said:

Thanks for the reply I may well give this ago sounds like a very good idea.  Please can you you post a pic it would be very much appreciated.  The water in mine seems to sit on top of the rubber seal then finds it way in. 

Hi no don't have either

Cool, blocked drain holes are something to rule out then 😊

Here you go.  

 

Water would run down the side and underneath the plastic.  The gaffer tape redirects it down to the bottom and then on to the bumper and away.  Worked for me!

 

Edited 16 December, 20196 yr by Burchy

2 hours ago, Burchy said:

Here you go.  

 

Water would run down the side and underneath the plastic.  The gaffer tape redirects it down to the bottom and then on to the bumper and away.  Worked for me!

 

Thanks for the pic I'll take a look tomorrow in daylight.

Hi all quick update I stripped the boot lid from all the plastic trim panels and poured water onto the back of the car.  I found that the water was getting into the car behind the third brake light - the foam seal had perished.  I took the brake light out cleaned everything up and removed the perished seal.  I have now put a thin bead of CT1 clear sealant onto the aperture then refitted the brake light unit back and waited for it to cure.  So will see if this cures the leak

On 26/01/2020 at 10:03, Raj35hp said:

Hi all quick update I stripped the boot lid from all the plastic trim panels and poured water onto the back of the car.  I found that the water was getting into the car behind the third brake light - the foam seal had perished.  I took the brake light out cleaned everything up and removed the perished seal.  I have now put a thin bead of CT1 clear sealant onto the aperture then refitted the brake light unit back and waited for it to cure.  So will see if this cures the leak

Hi, how did your remedial work? Was this the issue & did your solution work. I have exactly the same issue on a used MK3 scout I acquired recently. Opened the boot this morning after vehicle was parked for 2 days in heavy rain & wind, to find clean water sitting in the gasket, fortunately does not seem to have overflowed inside the boot, though there are minor rust patches in the spare wheel well. 

Keen to resolve this ASAP. 

Your reply would be much appreciated, thanks.