Boot seal advice

[taylormj4]

Hi,
Been unhappy with the seal on the boot for sometime but had put it down to bad design. However, during a Eureka moment on the weekend, I realised that the seal appears to be on the wrong way around. There are some small drainage holes in the seal above the number plate area and these were facing into the boot. I removed the seal and turned it so the holes now face outwards. The small ridge in the seal is now higher up and the boot lid actually feels like it is closing tighter against the seal (harder to shut).
I would be grateful if someone could look at their car and confirm that the seal is supposed to be fitted with the holes pointing outwards.
I also noticed that the gas strut had rubbed against the seal and holed it. I turned the bracket around at the boot lid end, which moved the strut further inwards and now the strut doesn't rub against the seal.
Amazing what effect a few extra hours of sleep can have on the brain !

Cheers.

[Goaty Bill]

I couldn't see any holes in the seal on my boot.
I have to say, I've never had any problems with mine sealing, that I am aware of.

[taylormj4]

I have three each side of the central join in the seal at the boot lock. Small drain holes in the sidewall of the rubber. Perhaps I have a 'special' seal. i.e. not the right one.
It's not always obvious that the seal is leaking as the carpet soaks it up but if I look at the seal when the boot is opened, you can see that the inner wall of the seal is wet in some places, which suggests a leak.
I am trying to trace the source of the condensation that keeps occuring in the car but am struggling to find anything wet that is causing it.

[Goaty Bill]

My seal is joined on the top edge of the boot, not the lower (lock) side.
I have noticed when washing the car that an amount of water will gather in that area (along the lower edge).
Also, mine is quite firmly glued in place.
Of course as we all know, these things can vary quite a bit from year to year and car to car.
Mine is a 97/98 for reference.

[taylormj4]

Goaty Bill said:

My seal is joined on the top edge of the boot, not the lower (lock) side.
I have noticed when washing the car that an amount of water will gather in that area (along the lower edge).
Also, mine is quite firmly glued in place.
Of course as we all know, these things can vary quite a bit from year to year and car to car.
Mine is a 97/98 for reference.

Thanks Goaty. That's different again then and my car is a 1997 so you would hope they'd be the same. Join at the top would seem a bad idea due to the pooling that you mentioned. Has your seal got drainage holes too. Those must be at the upper end too then ?

[Goaty Bill]

taylormj4 said:

Thanks Goaty. That's different again then and my car is a 1997 so you would hope they'd be the same. Join at the top would seem a bad idea due to the pooling that you mentioned. Has your seal got drainage holes too. Those must be at the upper end too then ?

Might be a bad idea, but mine isn't the one leaking.
Sincerely sorry, but I couldn't resist

Mine was ordered late 97, delivered early 98, but is a full facelift model.

The pooling I mention is on the lower edge, not up at the top near the join in the seal.
Also, there is a substantial lip of fibreglass that my seal is fixed over, plus the fact that the seal is glued in place.
As above; no holes in the seal that I can see on either side or anywhere along the length of the seal.
I wonder if you are getting something like a capillary action taking place?
To be honest, I can't see how that would happen, but maybe using some sealant when fixing the seal in place is the answer.

We need pictures, but I'm not in a position to take any just now, sorry.

[taylormj4]

Goaty Bill said:

Might be a bad idea, but mine isn't the one leaking.
Sincerely sorry, but I couldn't resist

Mine was ordered late 97, delivered early 98, but is a full facelift model.

The pooling I mention is on the lower edge, not up at the top near the join in the seal.
Also, there is a substantial lip of fibreglass that my seal is fixed over, plus the fact that the seal is glued in place.
As above; no holes in the seal that I can see on either side or anywhere along the length of the seal.
I wonder if you are getting something like a capillary action taking place?
To be honest, I can't see how that would happen, but maybe using some sealant when fixing the seal in place is the answer.

We need pictures, but I'm not in a position to take any just now, sorry.

Ha ha, yeah fair comment ! Mine is a partial facelift, rear lights and rear number plate are non-facelifted.
Pooling near the boot catch, sorry misunderstood that. On closer inspection, I have found further drainage holes at the top too although not so many. Maybe I don't even have the correct seal.
I think the leak is occuring as water is tracking over the seal on the underside of the boot lid in a few places where the seal has some small creases. Maybe time for a new one but still begs the question, which way up is it supposed to be ?

Anyone else help here ? Would be good to have a few observations Chimaera owners to help decide which way up it should go.
Thanks.

[JimChim500]

On my car, a year 2000, the join in the seal it at the top of the boot.

The seal has a small lip/flap of rubber and this faces inwards to the boot.

Can't see any drain holes.

[rickprice]

JimChim500 said:

On my car, a year 2000, the join in the seal it at the top of the boot.

The seal has a small lip/flap of rubber and this faces inwards to the boot.

Can't see any drain holes.

Ditto, 2000 model.

Dry.

[taylormj4]

Great, thanks guys. Looks like it's upside down then !
Cheers.