How can I identify where a boot seal is leaking?
On collecting my wife's Skoda Fabia from a long-stay airport car park recently, we found that the spare wheel well was full of rainwater. As the car is nearly always garaged but this time had been left out in days of heavy rain, the water had obviously found its way in from around the rear hatch. We have now bailed out the water (there were no apparent drainage holes), and dried the carpet and hardboard cover, but what can we do to prevent further problems of this sort? Will this have set up a rust trap anywhere that we cannot see?
Asked on 28 July 2012 by PB, via email

When everything is dry, get a solid lump of lard or butter and run it all the way round the facing steel surface of the boot lid. Then shut the boot and open it again. Your leak will be coming in where the fat has not transferred to the rubber sealing strip.
Tags:
water ingress
leaks
Similar questions

My 2017 Ford C-Max appears to have a leak somewhere in the boot area, which results in water collecting in the bottom of the spare wheel holding area. It's still under Ford warranty (I bought it as a Ford...

My 2012 Audi A1 has developed a leak or leaks at the top of the windscreen. When it rains there is evidence of wetness on the roof lining above the driver seat and I have noticed the driver seat cover...

Why does my Toyota Yaris hybrid cross get a lot of moisture on the inside windows on cold but not freezing nights? This happens every time we have a cold night.
Related models
.jpg?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
Decently built and good value. Cheap to run. Greenline models are very economical with low CO2 emissions.