So we had our new (to us) Fabia TSI 1.2 Elegance estate delivered today from a dealer about an hour from us. Unfortunately when going I through the boot I noticed this little lake under the spare (wasn’t apparent when looking at dealers):

 

https://vimeo.com/658105237
 

So I rang the dealer who said if I could find the source of the leak they will pay whatever is needed to have it fixed locally. So I shut my wife in the boot (who hasn’t wanted to do that!) and started hosing the outside. I soon became aware the rear driver’s side light cluster doesn’t fit flush to the body like it does on the other side. See video:

 

https://vimeo.com/658105237

 

Now I’m 80% certain this is the only cause of the leak, but I don’t yet know these cars….and maybe there’s another we’ll known ingress point. Do keep in mind my Fabia is the estate version, so any well known ingress points may be different on mine, since I assume the rear panels and joints will be slightly different.

 

Also, what is likely to cause this light cluster to not fit flush like this? I assume it’s an easy fix and maybe I could do it myself. That said, since the dealer will pay, can any local garage (of reasonable repute) fix this or will a Skoda dealership be needed?

There should be two vent type things at the back of the wheel well (hatch opening side) that are surrounded by a rubber seal. They may be leaking as this was the cause of leaks on my Mk1 Fabia, and I don't imagine it's that different.

On the MK2 the vents are located underneath the rear lights but behind the bumper, they are clipped into the bodywork of the car and have rubber flaps on the outside but are sealed by a rubber type seal, normally they do not throw out a problem but usually after the car has had a rear shunt and been repaired by a garage that does not take care to put things back tidy, to get it sorted the lights have to bee both removed and also the rear bumper you can then see the rubber flaps both sides and check which one or both that are not fitted properly or are damaged or broken, good luck with this trying to get dealers to sort it out my mate gave up with the garage in the end as they had the car 6 times we told them what was wrong but they insisted it wasn't that and we did the job ourselves no parts needed just refitted +everything correctly with a little help of some clear sealer non solvent,  some said it was the rear light seal but this was dry underneath the lights it was coming in further down the side which is where these flaps/seals are, some also said just drill a hole in the bottom of the wheel well !!

I wasn't quite sure where they were on the Mk2. Thanks! 

 

I sorted my leaking one out with a bit of conventional bathroom sealant, hasn't leaked since March.

Thanks gentlemen, that’s really useful to know and I will pass that info on to whichever garage ends up doing the work as that may indeed be the root of the problem.

 

But can I just check you were able to see my second video in my original post above? After hosing the car at the back it did look like the ingress was coming through that loose light cluster shown at the start of the video where you can see movement as I press it. In fact you can see (just about) in the video where the water trail leads back to that corner with the loose light cluster.

 

Are these rear light clusters easy to reposition and seal? Or is it likely this is a red herring and the vents are the true culprit?

both your videos are the same.............you patting the water in the boot

5 hours ago, UrbanPanzer said:

both your videos are the same.............you patting the water in the boot

Thanks UrbanPanzer. Seems I didn’t post the the correct video for the second one and I can’t find a way to edit my original post.

 

But this is what I meant to post previously:

 

https://vimeo.com/658186920/85708b6021

I think your problem maybe the light seal on the light unit.

My problem was both the light seal and the vent seal. If you take the light out then run the water again below the level of the whole where the light is screwed in (just above the vents) then you will know if it's the light or vent. 2 minutes to test this

    Here is a video link of me taking off the air flaps under the rear bumper to seal them if anyone is interested it may help 🤷🏿‍♂️

 
https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/497042-water-leak-in-trunk-fix

Edited 19 December, 20214 yr by Cocain

Noddydog, to me your RHS (offside)  (viewed from behind the rear of the car) light cluster didn't seem as well secured or at least more bounce to it so perhaps it's an aftermarket replacement that might not fit as well as original or  it might not have been fitted fully.

 

If it was me I'd remove the RHS light cluster and see if it's stamped as Skoda or aftermarket and check none of the fittings are missing or broken.

 

Also holding the phone horizontally (landscape) will get more into the video than vertical (portrait).

 

The rear lights are held in place with one large plastic bolt from the inside of the boot. Try to tighten the bolt on the right.

1 hour ago, 26DIPP said:

The rear lights are held in place with one large plastic bolt from the inside of the boot. Try to tighten the bolt on the right.

 

It is retained by the plastic nut, but don't forget there is also 2 "poppers" (ball and sockets), one of which is located exactly where the light is proud.......thats possibly broken off / worn out.

 

 

On 18/12/2021 at 22:59, Murdockman said:

On the MK2 the vents are located underneath the rear lights but behind the bumper, they are clipped into the bodywork of the car and have rubber flaps on the outside but are sealed by a rubber type seal, normally they do not throw out a problem but usually after the car has had a rear shunt and been repaired by a garage that does not take care to put things back tidy, to get it sorted the lights have to bee both removed and also the rear bumper you can then see the rubber flaps both sides and check which one or both that are not fitted properly or are damaged or broken, good luck with this trying to get dealers to sort it out my mate gave up with the garage in the end as they had the car 6 times we told them what was wrong but they insisted it wasn't that and we did the job ourselves no parts needed just refitted +everything correctly with a little help of some clear sealer non solvent,  some said it was the rear light seal but this was dry underneath the lights it was coming in further down the side which is where these flaps/seals are, some also said just drill a hole in the bottom of the wheel well !!

My daughter's Hatchback had the same problem which, when I couldn't find the leak, I drilled a hole in the lowest part of the spare wheel well. It solved the problem as any incoming water drains away.. Not ideal I know but no longer get any lakes in the boot!