Water leaks into the trunk, tiny cracks do great damage

trunk

Collecting water in the trunk of older cars may not have been that much of a problem, but the trunk of modern models is often packed with electronics. Even a small crack, such as in the light, can be the cause of difficult to explain failures and, in the end, a high cost of repair

In order for the car to have the best possible driving properties, it is of great importance that the weight is distributed correctly, ie the same load on the axles, so the battery is increasingly being installed in the boot. The battery is very heavy - at least ten, and usually about 15 kilograms! It is therefore important that such a heavy element in the vehicle is placed as close as possible to the axle and as low as possible, affects driving performance, however, both of these requirements in a cramped engine compartment are very difficult to fulfill. Especially if you want the battery to be easily accessible for replacement or inspection.

In addition, with rear-wheel drive cars, the extra weight on the rear axle can improve the grip of the rear wheels, and the position of the battery can easily balance the weight of the differential and exhaust system… Another reason to move the battery in the trunk is that it is in the engine compartment exposed to very high temperatures developed by the engine itself, which damages it and reduces its capacity. So today, more and more manufacturers, especially with rear-drive cars such as BMW, Mazda in the MX-5 or Alfe Romeo in the new Giulia, it builds batteries into the boot. And then with them, that's where a lot of electronics end up.

trunk

Which brings us to the problem of water or moisture in the trunk. Namely, the humidity in the trunk is not something unusual - experienced craftsmen have always advised to lift the carpet when inspecting a used vehicle and check whether the bottom of the trunk is wet and whether there is corrosion. The trunk is, in fact, a closed container like a tub, and water can get into it from several sides - through bad sealing of the trunk lid, taillight seal, the lights themselves, and even badly sealed rear window. The problem is that it gathers there, like in a swimming pool.

trunk

"Water always finds a way," says Robert Kurpes of Zagi's auto repair shop, while on one BMW he shows us a crack in the tail light through which water leaked into the trunk and adds:

- Especially if a car, like this one, was often washed, because when the car is flushed with a high-pressure jet, water enters it and through the smallest cracks. The problem is that when it enters the trunk, it has no place out of it, so even with the minimum leakage it will collect more and more over time. And it collects naturally, where it's hardest to notice, at the bottom of the trunk. So you can drive the car for months without being aware that there is more water in your trunk.

And even if you do open the boot from time to time, you will hardly notice the water. And underneath the upholstery it attacks cables, wires and, worst of all, very sensitive and precise electronics, which can lead to malfunctioning, wrong readings, poor conductivity and corrosion, even short circuits. The car can end up that way with expensive failure of electronicsto whom the real problem that caused it is actually tinsmithing! To avoid this during tinsmith repairs, the most important thing is to find out where the water is leaking from and how it penetrates into the trunk, and to thoroughly repair the damage. And the car owner should never ignore even the slightest, seemingly insignificant damage to the rear of the car…

electronics

 

Briefly

Water can find its way into the interior even through a seemingly harmless crack in the tail light, especially if the car is frequently washed with high pressure water.

In order to determine where the water comes from, it is often necessary to remove the entire luggage compartment.

 

Marin Tomas

Retrieved from: www.boardXNUMXall.cz


One Comment

  • vuk says:

    good day. I have a Renault Megane 2 station wagon, I have a problem with the water where the spare wheel is .. and the upholstery is dry, so please if you can help me solve the problem, thank you in advance…

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