Wet bottomed Tuscan

[darrel]

Any 'known' causes for a wet boot. My Tuscan was used (and abused) last weekend, and the floor of the boot became very wet....There is no apparant leaks on boot seals and only the bottom carpet is wet.
The rest of the car, especially the cabin, is bone dry. Is this water coming from underneath???
Any hints much appreciated....

[TSS]

My Tuscan has the same problem. It doesn’t seem to leak anywhere so I presume it’s coming inform underneath. I have heard of TVR’s having a similar problem with dampness mysteriously appearing in the footwells. Apparently this is caused by micro cracks in the fibreglass which gradually let in a small amount of water. I know this sounds unlikely as I always thought fibreglass was pretty watertight. But I read somewhere (I think on PH) about a dealer spraying the underside of a car’s footwells with water containing a fluorescent dye, then finding the dye in the footwells, thus proving water was seeping through the fibreglass.

[jedi]

Mine did it. It was somethin to do with the light clusters I think...not sure. Phone Brian at Fernhurst (www.fernhurst-tvr.co.uk - if he is still there) as early tuscans suffered from this.

[Graham]

My money would be on the light clusters, cos as we all know TVR sealant doesnt work anywhere else so why should it work to seal the rear lights, and looking a pics of bare shells the light openings go straight into the boot.

[damian Milson]

If you have checked the seals then it is defintiely the light clusters. It is a known problem where if something heavy has been put in the boot, and rested on the light clusters, then the seals can go.

Due to the positioning of the lights the vacuum effect 'pulls' the water into the boot.

I think it is a matter of removal and resealing, assuming that the fibreglass is not damaged.

[JonGwynne]

damian Milson said: If you have checked the seals then it is defintiely the light clusters. It is a known problem where if something heavy has been put in the boot, and rested on the light clusters, then the seals can go.

Due to the positioning of the lights the vacuum effect 'pulls' the water into the boot.

I think it is a matter of removal and resealing, assuming that the fibreglass is not damaged.

I've always been a bit surprised at the exposed nature of the rear lights in the boot. They are basically begging to be broken. Have any dealers or third-party folks ever made any sort of protective shelf or something that could be installed on the floor of the boot and completely cover the lights so as to let people drop bags and boxes into the boot without worrying about damaging the lights?

Just curious...

[TSS]

Have just spent some time examining my light clusters and boot. My light clusters are bone dry. The dampness in the boot is only at the bottom towards the rear seats, no where else

The only conclusion I can come to is that it is leaking from somewhere underneath the floor on the floor of the boot. Seems to be drying out pretty well though so I'm not too worried at the moment.

[darrel]

Only at the bottom here too! I have not yet checked out the number plate lamp seals tho.???

[tvradict]

Re a protective cover/shelf for the rear lights, why not make one?

Get a piece of 9 or 12 Mil MDF from B&Q or somewhere, make a box, place over rear light et voila

A few panel pins here and there or even <30mm Gyproc screws, Sorry, erm, double threaded drywall screws. I think B&Q do those as well.

If someone sends me a rough sketch of the boot, eg, lie of the floor to the back of boot, and the sizes that would be needed to protect the lights/wires etc I'll have a tinker in the workshop next weekend and see what I can come up with

[MB.]

Boots can get wet from water coming in through the rear lights (any of them) or from around the petrol filler or even from porous fibre glass! The fact only the bottom of the boot is wet may just be due to the water settling there rather than coming in from there.

Have also heard of boot seals not filling the complete gap (boot needed re-aligning) but you say you have checked that.

One final thing, it is water is it? Not petrol?? Am thinking that the fuel tank breather may have become disconnected at the filler neck

Graham

[salty-nlv]

Has anyone made a shelf to protect the lights?

[andyvdg]

I've just had my boot leaks (only happened when I washed the car mind) fixed - petrol cap was sealed and the left rear lights were letting in water (appeared on the floor of the boot). At the 6000 mile service last year, my dealer also added a boot rubber seal to the lid. I think the newer cars come with this as standard.

Cheers,

Andy.