Lexus ES water leak into trunk

[MaximaGuy]

I recently observed a water leak in the trunk when kid said he smelt something moldy.
The spare wheel area had significant water and the right side scissor jack area also had water.
There is a drain tube behind the upholstry right about where the jack goes and its connected to the outside but collapsed (meaning its pinched).

I understand that could possibly get water into the comparment that houses the jack but cannot find the source of the water in the space tire wheel well.

Any thoughts, there are some threads on reddit but they have over time become stale and many don't have pictures on possible causes.

Attached is the picture where I found water

 

[Boomer]

I would say it is either coming through a break in the rubber weather stripping around the trunk lid area or splash from the wheel is entering the area from blow. Check out both areas and look for problems .

 

[andrew_j]

Taillights can be a culprit in my experience.

 

[Trav]

If the only place wet was in that jack area it is possibly a bad water drain in the picture, they get hard over time.

 

[Variant_S]

Possibly the seal around the rear window? I had that once.

 

[LazyDog]

The drains for the back portion of the sunroof drain around that are, you'll see a tube

 

[MaximaGuy]

The carpets are all bone dry - only water in the cavities.

 

[racer12306]

Taillights can be a culprit in my experience.

^^ was my comment.

Used to have a Neon, if the trunk got wet, it was time to break out the RTV and reseal the tail lights.

 

[zzyzzx]

I was thinking that it might be a bad flapper thing that lets air out when you close the door.

 

[Nick1994]

I was thinking that it might be a bad flapper thing that lets air out when you close the door.

This, there’s vents in the corners that are probably leaking. Pull up the carpet further.

 

[f355spider]

Taillights can be a culprit in my experience.

Has been the case with three different cars I have owned.

 

[f355spider]

^^ was my comment.

Used to have a Neon, if the trunk got wet, it was time to break out the RTV and reseal the tail lights.

Most tail lights are sealed with a foam gasket and they are cheap online or the dealer. But often times they don't even need replacement, just remove the tail light, clean the mating surfaces really well, and bolt them back up snuggly...being careful not to overtighten and break anything. But I usually just order new gaskets too, then "one and done."

 

[f355spider]

The carpets are all bone dry - only water in the cavities.

That can be the case, even with a tail light leak. The carpet dries over time, but the pooling in the cavities remains.

 

[MaximaGuy]

This, there’s vents in the corners that are probably leaking. Pull up the carpet further.

View attachment 271360

May I ask what these flappers do, they are behind the bumpers ...how can water travel up and get into the cavities.
IMO water gets into the trunk is from the top, broken seals, disconnected drain lines and possibly breaks in the metal mating surface,
I am going to strip the trunk down to the metal and run a garden hose and hopefully find the source.

 

[Nick1994]

May I ask what these flappers do, they are behind the bumpers ...how can water travel up and get into the cavities.
IMO water gets into the trunk is from the top, broken seals, disconnected drain lines and possibly breaks in the metal mating surface,
I am going to strip the trunk down to the metal and run a garden hose and hopefully find the source.

These flaps let the air out of the car when you close the door. Without them, you’d be slamming the door.

Water flows all sorts of places you don’t know about when it rains or when going through a car wash.

 

[MaximaGuy]

The problem is resolved - as somone said earlier I traced the wires the lights behind the carpets and found the rubber bushing into which the wires are housed had dislodged exposing the trunk to the exterior resulting in penetration. Pulled the wires inward and the round rubber housing lodged itself into the circular hole grove. No more water in the right side of the trunk - while I was there disconnected the drain lines and cut 1/2" off and put it back.