Volvo 480-leaks

[matt_tily]

Hi I have water collecting in spare wheel well and rear footwell drivers side.Is this likely to be the boot seal leaking or rear driver's window.I think it varies depending on what angle and how much of a slope I park on.

Thanks in advance,

Matt./

[Baffler]

Hi Matt,

You should have two drain plugs that will push out and allow the water to drain away. Unfortunately all 480's at some stage suffer from this problem. It's probably your rear lenses have started to curve/buckle in the centre, allowing water to seep in through the seals. It can also be the rubber hinge seals, which will leave evidence on the parcel shelf.

Happy draining :-)

Baffler...

[bobcat]

had the same on my 480, i siliconed up the rear lights (along the top) and took of the plastic strip\panel above the rear side windows and put some silicone in there. the leaks stopped after that.

[Mark480]

The rubber foam round the rear lights could be letting the water in, I would get new foam strips instead of using silicon as if you ever need to remove the lights you WILL break them getting them out if they are siliconed. The boot seal could also be leaking, replace it (one on eBay), the rear windws could be leaking, the rear washer could be leaking! If your rear lights have cracks in them anywhere then you need to replace the units!

[Paul240480]

Also if you remove all the panneling on the rear off-side in the boot, you will find a 'grill' which, from the outside is hidden by the wrap around bumper. I found that by pouring water onto the bumper it simply gushed in around the edges of the grill. Sealed mine with auto/marine mastic. Not sure why the vent is there & not sure if the nearside has one either. I did'nt search the nearside cos of the ABS (I think) electrics are there & cos that side is dry.
Good luck.

[ahal]

Hello there,

I've been to hell and back with my 480s. I took out both of the back ( side ) windows and re-fitted them, using the very good but messy 'Tiger seal' trade mastic. Strangely, there's a water duct designed into the outer lip of the window frame rubber, which strikes me as odd. A bit like building a greyhound track around a rabbit's pen.

Anyway, having tried re -fitting the rear lights, tightening the rear tailgate glass, etc. etc., I finally cured it. How? I did what some people had been telling me, but which I had dismissed: I bought a new bootseal. The seal on the car looked perfect, but this cured it.

I'm not necessarily recommending this, but I also re-routed the flattish gromit thing that runs ACCROSS the bootseal when the tailgate glass is closed. As per the aforementioned water - duct, a complete no brainer in my opinion. It seems to me, as pointed out by a previous reply, there are many different causes for these leaks. Just got to work through the process of elimination.

I did find it useful to stick a camcorder in the car while hosing it ( with the plastic trim stripped away to reaveal leaks ). A person will do either. I've found a big problem with seals is more what comes in UNDER seals rather than THROUGH them. A seal that's not properly bonded is useless.

Best of luck and Happy new year.

Regards,

Anthony.