2004 IMPALA Trunk LEAKING! Need help!

Hey all. I have been noticing that my trunk seems wet after a hard rain, and when I opened up my spare wheel well, it was SLOSHING with water! I was able to pull one of the rubber rings so the water drained, but my main concern is HOW the water is getting in.

I am posting some photos so that you guys can see where the trunk is always wet, and then hopefully we can extrapolate as to where the water is coming in...

Someone suggested that the rear lights may be the problem as the water drains from around the top of the trunk and empties over the lights, so I took out the rear drivers side light, and siliconed the bolts and holes around it.

I don't believe that is it though... don't know why, just a gut feeling.

I took a picture of the trunk with the carpeting pulled away, and I dont know what I am looking at, but it appears that work has been done on this trunk before!

This water leaking is a HUGE issue, because I am a computer repair guy, and I have electronics in the trunk on a regular basis and they can NOT get wet!

Photos:
http://www.aaa-computerrepair.com/pictures/trunk1.jpg
http://www.aaa-computerrepair.com/pictures/trunk2.jpg
http://www.aaa-computerrepair.com/pictures/trunk3.jpg

Hey all. I have been noticing that my trunk seems wet after a hard rain, and when I opened up my spare wheel well, it was SLOSHING with water! I was able to pull one of the rubber rings so the water drained, but my main concern is HOW the water is getting in.

I am posting some photos so that you guys can see where the trunk is always wet, and then hopefully we can extrapolate as to where the water is coming in...

Someone suggested that the rear lights may be the problem as the water drains from around the top of the trunk and empties over the lights, so I took out the rear drivers side light, and siliconed the bolts and holes around it.

I don't believe that is it though... don't know why, just a gut feeling.

I took a picture of the trunk with the carpeting pulled away, and I dont know what I am looking at, but it appears that work has been done on this trunk before!

This water leaking is a HUGE issue, because I am a computer repair guy, and I have electronics in the trunk on a regular basis and they can NOT get wet!

Photos:
http://www.aaa-computerrepair.com/pictures/trunk1.jpg
http://www.aaa-computerrepair.com/pictures/trunk2.jpg
http://www.aaa-computerrepair.com/pictures/trunk3.jpg


most all times the leaks are from the window seals .left/right side . then runs down the wheel well hump..

with the removal of all the interior coverings place some paper over the trunk metal..then give the roof/trunk are a good hosing..

it is possible just a latch adjustment or carbody distorted from getting hit ..

place some silicone grease on the rubber gasket clean the metal mating surface close and open trunk see where the grease did not touch..

I had the same problem, same location. It was a plastic/rubber oval plug missing from a hole in the body in behind the liner of the trunk just left of the trunk latch. Worth a look. I think I had to look up under the bumper to find it if I recall correctly.

I had the same problem - but my solution was completely different. My problem was a bad seal where the trunk and quarter-panel sheet metal meets. Right above the tail lights the two panels are seamed together and sealed (or not sealed) with what looks like putty. Mine was brittle and cracked. All of the water that runs down the back window comes around the trunk channel and right over these seams (and as it turns out, into these seams and into my trunk.
Mine was so bad it filled the spare tire well and then, when brakes were applied, sloshed forward, under the back seat and into the rear floorboard and under the driver seat. The rear seat cushion was absolutely waterlogged on the bottom. The seat felt dry on top
but was soaked from the bottom and weighed about 30 pounds when I took it out. I applied new putty to these seams and have not had a leak since.

I have battled trunk leaks in numerous cars over the years. Take everything out of the trunk. Vacuum/catlitter to dry it all out. Buy some really cheap baby/talc powder. Spread it on all vertical surfaces.(thank an old time mechanic who taught me this) You can close the trunk and use a slow water hose or wait for it to rain. The leak will leave a trail where the water is coming from. I have seen numerous leaks where there is a factory weld and factory sealant that has dried and gotten hard. The powder trail also works for oil leaks on the engine.

I have a 2004 Impala LS and the trunk has never leaked. I've owned it since brand new and it has about 130,000 miles on it now. The one weird thing about the truck though is ever since brand new, I have to slam my trunk to get it to close. Just lightly to medium close force doesn't close it. I thought that was weird when I first bought it and went back to the dealer and asked them to fix it. They said if they made it any easier to close, it will leak. So, I've just learned to live with it. If I ever have anyone else in my car and they have to get in the trunk to put something in it and have to close the trunk, I usually have to get out and close the trunk because no one else can close it right.

So, I'm guessing you have to do whatever my trunk came from the factory does and make it so it closes hard... so you have to slam it to close it, but when it's closed, it is closed tight and doesn't leak.

I have a 2004 Impala LS and the trunk has never leaked. I've owned it since brand new and it has about 130,000 miles on it now. The one weird thing about the truck though is ever since brand new, I have to slam my trunk to get it to close. Just lightly to medium close force doesn't close it. I thought that was weird when I first bought it and went back to the dealer and asked them to fix it. They said if they made it any easier to close, it will leak. So, I've just learned to live with it. If I ever have anyone else in my car and they have to get in the trunk to put something in it and have to close the trunk, I usually have to get out and close the trunk because no one else can close it right.

So, I'm guessing you have to do whatever my trunk came from the factory does and make it so it closes hard... so you have to slam it to close it, but when it's closed, it is closed tight and doesn't leak.

the trunk should not have to be slamed same for the doors and hood. with adjusting these can be set to work as designed and not leak.

rubber gaskets need silicone applied once a year.

on the GM PUTTY yes this product does crack and fail. using a sealer like dow 795 you can seal any metal and it will bond and flex with the metal.

having used the silicone on the rubber gaskets over 30 years this works. after 10 years these rubber parts are still soft and seal correctly.

might not work after the damage is done but it should not get worse.