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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Cars / January 2007

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Wet Trunk - 05 Thunderbird

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Al - 28 Jan 2007 15:38 GMT
Friends 05 Tbird trunk is getting wet.  Dealer replaced the rubber
gasket/seal that runs around the entire opening on the body side and
that has not resolved it.  I have noticed that even the material on the
underside of the trunk lid is wet, making me wonder if condensation is
the problem.  The car is kept outside and makes 4 mile trips 5 times a
night, just enough to warm up pretty good and then cool off.  Has anyone
ever come across a situation where there has been enough condensation
formed in a trunk to saturate a blanket in a week?  Any solutions?

tia
42n8_1 - 28 Jan 2007 16:41 GMT
i don't know if you have a trunk rack on your car or not but i resealed the
trunk rack on my car and it solved my moisture problem.

> Friends 05 Tbird trunk is getting wet.  Dealer replaced the rubber
> gasket/seal that runs around the entire opening on the body side and that
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> tia
Mike Hunter - 28 Jan 2007 19:31 GMT
I would check the rear windows as well as the joint sealers, tail lamps, and
any other parts that go through the metal of the trunk . The rubber seal is
rarely the source of a leak, since it is sets about the surrounding metal
surfaces.

mike

> Friends 05 Tbird trunk is getting wet.  Dealer replaced the rubber
> gasket/seal that runs around the entire opening on the body side and that
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> tia
Jeff - 28 Jan 2007 23:07 GMT
>I would check the rear windows as well as the joint sealers, tail lamps,
>and any other parts that go through the metal of the trunk . The rubber
>seal is rarely the source of a leak, since it is sets about the surrounding
>metal surfaces.
>
> mike

I had moisture getting inside my trunk (97 Countour). I had the area around
the license plate resealed. I haven't had moisture since.

Jeff
Ford Tech - 28 Jan 2007 23:53 GMT
> Friends 05 Tbird trunk is getting wet.  Dealer replaced the rubber
> gasket/seal that runs around the entire opening on the body side and that
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> tia

I would check to make sure the drain hole under the spare tire is open and
not holding water in there. I have see this happen several times before, and
the people just ended up drilling a new hole to make the water drain out if
any got in there.
C. E. White - 29 Jan 2007 12:48 GMT
> Friends 05 Tbird trunk is getting wet.  Dealer replaced the rubber
> gasket/seal that runs around the entire opening on the body side and
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> has been enough condensation formed in a trunk to saturate a blanket
> in a week?  Any solutions?

Is the hard top on or off?

When you say the trunk is getting wet,  is there standing water, or
just dampness?

Is it getting wet in the rain or just sitting there on cool nights?

If it has to be raining to get wet, does it get wet just sitting still
or do you have to drive it?

Has anybody added any holes to the trunk lid for antennas?

An '05 Thunderbord has a composite trunk lid. There is a deep channel
all around the trunk opening which should allow any water to drain
around the trunk seal. The panel between the trunk lid and converible
top is also a composite material. It has to be removed to replace the
third brake light. I am wondering it this panel is not properly
attached. This panel is attached to the body with four studs and nuts.
Two of the studs are accessed from inside the trunk (you remove the
little package shelf box at the front of the trunk) and two are
accessed through the wheel well. I suppose if one of these studs or
nuts was missing or inproperly sealed, water might get into the trunk
via this path. It still seems unlikely that it would wet the
understide of the trunk lid.

Ed
Al - 30 Jan 2007 03:27 GMT
>> Friends 05 Tbird trunk is getting wet.  Dealer replaced the rubber
>> gasket/seal that runs around the entire opening on the body side and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Is the hard top on or off?

Hard top was not on - it is on now but have not had enough time to see
if that makes a difference.

> When you say the trunk is getting wet,  is there standing water, or
> just dampness?

A blanket and some books were in the trunk, they were all pretty well
saturated.  The tray over the spare is wet, the area down under the
spare tire is dry.  The material that covers the underside of the trunk
lid is wet - if you press your hand against it you feel the water.  Also
you can detect some drops by running your finger around the underside of
the outer edge of the lid.  What is unknown is could the underside of
the lid sweat so much as to wet everything below it - or is the water
below it evaporating and condensing above.

> Is it getting wet in the rain or just sitting there on cool nights?

Not entirely sure.  It's been found to be wet several days after a rain,
but no one remembered to carefully check before and after the rain.

> If it has to be raining to get wet, does it get wet just sitting still
> or do you have to drive it?

It does not often get driven far in the rain.  But it is often sat in
during breaks from work during the night shift - engine running - heater
on - maybe 4 times a night.  That's one reason I'm wondering if
condensation could be the problem.

> Has anybody added any holes to the trunk lid for antennas?

No - totally stock - it has the standard Tbird emblem on the edge of the
lid, not sure if that is glued or has holes.

> An '05 Thunderbird has a composite trunk lid. There is a deep channel
> all around the trunk opening which should allow any water to drain
> around the trunk seal.

I did not suspect that seal - but that's what her dealer chose to replace.

The panel between the trunk lid and converible
> top is also a composite material. It has to be removed to replace the
> third brake light. I am wondering it this panel is not properly
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> via this path. It still seems unlikely that it would wet the
> understide of the trunk lid.

That's good info - I'm going to carefully inspect that area for her.

Do you know if there are any ventilation related aspects to this?  Like
any duct work terminating back there?

> Ed
C. E. White - 30 Jan 2007 04:33 GMT
> Do you know if there are any ventilation related aspects to this?  Like
> any duct work terminating back there?

There is not a solid seal between the convertible top mechanism area and the
trunk. Air can circulate freely from the interior of the car to the trunk in
the area of the convertible top mechanism. . This make me think it is
unlikely that the problem is condensation.  It is just sounds like you have
a lot more water in the trunk than could have come in through any opening
without also showing up in the passenger compartment. Has this problem only
happened once? Is it possible that someone inadvertently popped the trunk
with the key fob? I could picture water being blown past the seal if the
trunk wasn't completely closed.

I wouldn't count on the dealer fixing this without some pushing. If this is
a reoccurring problem, I'd suggest getting out the garden hose and spraying
water around the car until you generate a leak.

Ed
Tom Adkins - 30 Jan 2007 05:21 GMT
. If this is
> a reoccurring problem, I'd suggest getting out the garden hose and spraying
> water around the car until you generate a leak.
>
> Ed

 I would add: With a friend in the trunk with a flashlight. If there is water
intrusion, it will show and he will see it. If not with the garden hose, repeat the
scenario at the local quarter car wash with the sprayer on rinse all around the
trunk/rear window/ tail light area.
 
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