Rusted leaking trunk... just wondering

[mike561]

Hey everyone, i used to own an '88 caprice, but im considering getting one again in the future. this is kinda hard to describe, but that long metal strip (NOT the window trim) that sits and is screwed in right behind the trunk lid i removed and under that was completely rusted out and you could see inside the trunk, discovered that the hard way after a rain storm. i was just wondering if thats really common on the box chevys. if not i geuss the car must have just spent alot of time in the snow with the other owner or something.

[silicon212]

It's not really common, in fact I have to say that I haven't ever seen it - but then again I live in Arizona so that might have something to do with that. It is a component which can be replaced, though.

[mike561]

sorry i should have said before, the part that was all rusted was on the actual body of the car under that metal strip, the metal strip itself wasnt rusted, when i had gotten estimates for it they were saying that the back glass would have had to be removed and new metal would have to be welded in, would have been very expensive. i just know now to check that part of the car when i eventually do go looking around again for a caprice. but yea i live in florida so im sure it could have been in snow at an earlier time before i had it.

[alblogg]

Originally Posted by mike561

sorry i should have said before, the part that was all rusted was on the actual body of the car under that metal strip, the metal strip itself wasnt rusted, when i had gotten estimates for it they were saying that the back glass would have had to be removed and new metal would have to be welded in, would have been very expensive. i just know now to check that part of the car when i eventually do go looking around again for a caprice. but yea i live in florida so im sure it could have been in snow at an earlier time before i had it.

Yep Silicone living in AZ probably don't see much of that like we do. What causes it most of the time is leaves, pine needles and trash getting trapped between the trunk weather striping and the body not letting the water drain properly then if there are any leaves under there they stay wet all the time and it is just like the cab corners in the pickups a perfect place to grow rust.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by alblogg

Yep Silicone living in AZ probably don't see much of that like we do. What causes it most of the time is leaves, pine needles and trash getting trapped between the trunk weather striping and the body not letting the water drain properly then if there are any leaves under there they stay wet all the time and it is just like the cab corners in the pickups a perfect place to grow rust.

Don't think cars don't rust out here; they do. Just at a much slower pace. AZDOT salts the highways in Northern AZ during the wintertime, this started recently. Prior to that they just used crushed cinders to provide traction on the ice (less than half of AZ is stereotypically 'hotter than hell').

BTW it's not siliconE it's silicon (no E). Think semiconductors and not rubber.

[alblogg]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Don't think cars don't rust out here; they do. Just at a much slower pace. AZDOT salts the highways in Northern AZ during the wintertime, this started recently. Prior to that they just used crushed cinders to provide traction on the ice (less than half of AZ is stereotypically 'hotter than hell').

BTW it's not siliconE it's silicon (no E). Think semiconductors and not rubber.

Sorry about the mispell, Silicon, yep I think just about every state has gone back to using salt. I'm from NC and we used sand for years but about three four years back they started using salt and spraying that can't think of the name of it but it is a salt and water mixture on the roads. Talk about messing your wash job up.

[PeteA216]

My trunk is leaking from that area during rainstorms too.... now that you said something, tomorrow after work I'm gonna take the piece off and check it out. How hard is it to remove? Just the three screws and thats it?

[alblogg]

Originally Posted by PeteA216

My trunk is leaking from that area during rainstorms too.... now that you said something, tomorrow after work I'm gonna take the piece off and check it out. How hard is it to remove? Just the three screws and thats it?

Yep open trunk get to it from inside. Also check between your weather stripping and body for rust holes. The best way to fix it and cheapest and for the DIY if there is some metal left to patch to and this way you don't have to worry about burning your car down is to get some Fiberglas resin and a sheet of the Fiberglas or if you are lucky and around a boat supplies get the Fiberglas cloth. When that stuff sets up it is harder than metal and will repel water like a duck. If you find little holes around your weather stripping you can fill them with the resin or black silicone.

[mike561]

yeah i belive i remember there are a few screws under the bottom trip strip that covers the glass, i had to remove it, there were three more screws under that trim piece.

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Don't think cars don't rust out here; they do. Just at a much slower pace. AZDOT salts the highways in Northern AZ during the wintertime, this started recently. Prior to that they just used crushed cinders to provide traction on the ice (less than half of AZ is stereotypically 'hotter than hell').

BTW it's not siliconE it's silicon (no E). Think semiconductors and not rubber.

your lucky silicon the bottom of all my doors are rotted through, and there is a rot hole in my left front wheel well.

cars definetly rust up here in michigan

[alblogg]

Originally Posted by capriceowns

your lucky silicon the bottom of all my doors are rotted through, and there is a rot hole in my left front wheel well.

cars definetly rust up here in michigan

I think they salt the roads in MI during the summer too lol. Yeah this one car dealer use to buy cars from up north bring them here to NC to sell and want me to patch up the holes, some did not have enough metal to patch to.

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by alblogg

I think they salt the roads in MI during the summer too lol. Yeah this one car dealer use to buy cars from up north bring them here to NC to sell and want me to patch up the holes, some did not have enough metal to patch to.

I thknk they do salt during the summer, I know they salt before a big storm is coming, then after to.

my car thanks them, lol.

[robin_amber]

thats a pain in the ASS. mine leaks on both sides, last winter i took that metal strip off and put all this goop shit whatever its called lol silicone on, let it dry, and put the metel back on, it kept water out for about 3 days. Now it leaks again, so ijust put some towels on the inside of my trunk lol. Come winter again i'll have to take my amp/sub out because last year they started to oxodize from the moisture getting in. If anyone knows of a REAL cure for this, lemme know.

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by robin_amber

thats a pain in the ASS. mine leaks on both sides, last winter i took that metal strip off and put all this goop shit whatever its called lol silicone on, let it dry, and put the metel back on, it kept water out for about 3 days. Now it leaks again, so ijust put some towels on the inside of my trunk lol. Come winter again i'll have to take my amp/sub out because last year they started to oxodize from the moisture getting in. If anyone knows of a REAL cure for this, lemme know.

only real cure is to replace the rotting metal piece. unless its saveable and your good with bondo you might be able to patch it up.

[alblogg]

Originally Posted by robin_amber

thats a pain in the ASS. mine leaks on both sides, last winter i took that metal strip off and put all this goop shit whatever its called lol silicone on, let it dry, and put the metel back on, it kept water out for about 3 days. Now it leaks again, so ijust put some towels on the inside of my trunk lol. Come winter again i'll have to take my amp/sub out because last year they started to oxodize from the moisture getting in. If anyone knows of a REAL cure for this, lemme know.

Look at my thread above about how to fix it with fiberglas works real good on the larger holes.