I notice water getting in my trunk, and it appears to come from an area where the top meets the body. What is the best way to isolate the leak area? What is the proper repair procedure? What can I use to seal the gap when I find it? Thanks in advance :TU:
Marco, The rear of the convertible top canvas is attached to "tack strips" with staples or tacks. There are 3 tack strips. Two are curved for the rear of the top and one is straight under the rear window. These tack strips bolt to the body in the rear convertible well. There is also a plastic "rain gutter" that runs all around the rear of the convertible top well along the edge of the top. This is also bolted to the body. Both of these are under the convertible well liner. The purpose of the rain gutter is to catch any water that may run in the trunk and direct it to the bottom of the quarter panel in front of the wheel wells where is can drain out to the road. Many times the drains will become clogged. Open either door, remove the black plastic vents in the door jamb and look to the bottom of the quarter panel/rocker. You will see where the water drains. Check to make sure your drains are clear. Why is leaking in trunk? Rain gutter could be cracked. Top pulled loose from the tack strip, any number of things. Best and easiest solution: Do not drive car in the rain! Have a great day!
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :beer Thanks Mike! Sometimes, unfortunately, the rain cannot be avoided (or a car wash with water). I'll take out the side vent this weekend and see what I can find - it's only coming in the trunk from the driver's side 'curve' :TU: PS - are there diagrams in the Fisher Body manual for this? ou:
I have this problem with my Skylark... The fisher body manual is poor in this regard.... I don't remember seeing a reference to the gutter, much less a drawing. Gotta get my nerve up to have someone spray water on the back window area with me in the trunk.... :eek2: It certainly won't be my wife or several of my friends...... :sleep:
The gutter tends to clog up with debris and leaves. You can see it with trunk open. It's black and runs accross the back of the top. You can reach up around the front side of it to check for junk in there.
Thanks again everyone! I got my GS back from Rob at Stage1automotive today, and I was set on a mission to cure my problem. I don't know why, but the when I poured water on the passenger side, I could see dripping into the gutter and it emptied in front of the wheel wells - just like Buick intended (OK, I guess it was intended due to the fact they engineered a rain gutter around the top) :TU: :bglasses: When I poured water on the driver's side, it didn't drip into the gutter, a 'stream' actually came 'spurting' from the spot with enough force to overshoot the gutter and the water went in my trunk. Trouble spot isolated. After lowering/raising my top many times to study the surrounding area and contact/sealing points, it almost seems like the tack strap is not sealing to the body line in this particular location. I took out my duct tap (never leave home without it :Brow: ) and created a 'wall' (about 8''-10'' in length) from the inside of the tack strap to the outside of the rain gutter. This wall prohibits the stream of water from coming in the trunk and it redirects the water into the gutter where the water now exits the car normally in front of the wheel wells. Problem Solved - thanks for the replies :beer
Yea Jim-- I trust you guys........its pretty dry where I live so I'm taking Mike's approach and keepin' 'er in the garage when necessary.... ....Glad you found the spot, Marco....
Hi Guys, I just judged the muscle car show here in Minnesota and did a 70 GS convert, the car was nice but the entire inside was mildew on the top and back window by leaking. Just ruined the top and stunk up the inside so bad I don't know how the guy drove it. The gutters are too shallow and the tack strips do leak. One other problem is the water going down the gutter and out the bottom of the car. One thing I did with my car is put a rubber tube from the end of the gutter down through the bottom of the car. You won't believe how they can rust out with the water just flowing down without a tube. Anyone can fabricate a tube to go down and through the hole through the bottom of the car. Just a suggestion. I like to keep them leak... and rust free. Best Regards, Ed Gunyo
