4G Rear Window Weatherstrip leaking into boot ?

xchipx · Post by **xchipx** » Mon May 25, 2015 12:11 pm

My 4g Prelude is leaking water into the boot. At first I thought it would be the boot seal, however its definately the black strip across the bottom of the rear window. Its slightly loose, however I cant work out how it comes off.
Sure if you peel back the strip slightly I see there are screws running along its length, however , how on earth do you get to them? Is this a common leak?

Has anyone else had a loose one of these?

Thanks

Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 25, 2015 12:16 pm

To get it off you remove the "plugs" from the end and slide the trim sideways off

My 4G leaked from here.

Post by **Pushki** » Mon May 25, 2015 12:34 pm

The screws need to be undone then gently tapped down to release the clips.

Make up some new neoprene washers when re-attaching, to seal the water out.

xchipx · Post by **xchipx** » Mon May 25, 2015 1:03 pm

Thanks guys, I thought there may be another way of removing the screw rather than bending the trim up, was afraid it would kink it

Post by **vanzep** » Mon May 25, 2015 4:11 pm

I would say that this is a common issue on 4th Gens.
Ive not really heard of or seen the same issue on 5th Gens...

Its an expensive part so most of us are on the look out for a good second hand one off a car that is being broken.
When i replaced my one i used some sikaflex/tiger seal around the clips but neoprene strips like Pushki mentioned is the best way.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon May 25, 2015 7:29 pm

Yep, in theory you loosen the screw, then press it down to release the clip (then you lift it all up).
However, after all this time, expect 90% of them to break and not come out.

The strip actually has no part to play in 'sealing' the rear screen from the boot, it's just a trim strip. If all the screws are tight on the clips and the clips have their original bit of grey sealing foam underneath the clip, then I very much doubt this is what is letting water in.

What makes you think this strip is the problem? Can you see water dripping from it into the boot? Is the boot floor wet? Or is it just getting into the wheel well?

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Mon May 25, 2015 8:57 pm

check the sunroof drains also the washer jet on your roof

xchipx · Post by **xchipx** » Tue May 26, 2015 12:39 am

Hey guys,

Well I think I got lucky. No clips broke, and I didnt kink the strip. One clip did go funny on reinstallation, so I had to take the strip off and put it back on twice.

Yes this was definately what was letting the water in. The gaskets under each of the clips literally crumbled on touch. The boot light was dripping with water, and so was the jack. The middle clip had no gasket at all. Oh and said weather strip was loose anyway, perhaps it had been off in the past?

Found rust where the clips/strip passes thru the rear, stripped back to metal and painted now

Problem solved by cutting up my pc mouse mat and using it as a gasket. Its 3mm thick neoprene, so win win.

xchipx · Post by **xchipx** » Tue May 26, 2015 12:43 am

[quote="xchipx"]Hey guys,

Well I think I got lucky. No clips broke, and I didnt kink the strip. One clip did go funny on reinstallation, so I had to take the strip off and put it back on twice.

Yes this was definately what was letting the water in. The gaskets under each of the clips literally crumbled on touch. The boot light was dripping with water, and so was the jack. The middle clip had no gasket at all. Oh and said weather strip was loose anyway, perhaps it had been off in the past?

Found rust where the clips/strip passes thru the rear, stripped back to metal and painted now

Problem solved by cutting up my pc mouse mat and using it as a gasket. Its 3mm thick neoprene, so win win. Cost about £1 at ASDA and was a bit old and tatty anyway.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Tue May 26, 2015 8:08 am

Well done getting them all out. I've never been successful at that!

Like you say, with one of those being loose then someone must have had it off previously, for some reason. A loose clip or one that's missing a gasket would indeed cause a leak.