My 2005 Sportback has recently started getting water in the boot after heavy rain. Used hosepipe to check for leaks and one could see water somehow going over the rubber seal. Tried softening the rubber with silicone grease and that may have helped a little but still getting water. It seems to get over the seal and drops mainly onto the side pieces on which the parcel shelf rests From there it goes onto floor of boot. The seal is not perished but perhaps has been too squashed over time? Any ideas how to solve? Is a new seal required, if so any good places to try to get one? Did online search and google search but no luck. I am reasonably competent at diy so is seal replacement fairly straightforward? Pic is after recent rain and just shows drops on and around seal.

Edited February 10, 20242 yr by AlanFR
misspelling

Alan.

Are you sure it isn't a leak from the rear wash pipe, which is a common problem? The pipe can split or the seal in the wiper motor can fail, both of which can lead to water in the boot.

If you are sure the lid seal has been permanently over crushed then nothing can be done to restore the rubber's elasticity. From what I remember the rubber does not need to make an absolutely water tight seal as long as it is close enough to guide water into the drainage channels formed by the shape of the steel lid and body. However I don't have my A3 any more to check this point so I can not be certain.

One other thing occurs to me. Is the boot lid closing enough to make a seal? Has the lid been twisted recently or the latch moved?

3 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

Alan.

Are you sure it isn't a leak from the rear wash pipe, which is a common problem? The pipe can split or the seal in the wiper motor can fail, both of which can lead to water in the boot.

If you are sure the lid seal has been permanently over crushed then nothing can be done to restore the rubber's elasticity. From what I remember the rubber does not need to make an absolutely water tight seal as long as it is close enough to guide water into the drainage channels formed by the shape of the steel lid and body. However I don't have my A3 any more to check this point so I can not be certain.

One other thing occurs to me. Is the boot lid closing enough to make a seal? Has the lid been twisted recently or the latch moved?

I do not think it can be the washer pipe though it is possible - curiously the rear washer has stopped working but I think more recently. The water is on the sides rather than below centre and it is a problem even when car parked. Latch is worth checking though I am not aware of it being moved - not sure how one adjusts it though... Sorry to be a bit vague but this is actually my wife's car...

Thanks for ideas.

Do you find the issue?

Something similar has recently happened to my A3, water accumulates in the boot lid and the rear washer has stopped working.

I'm presuming the Rubber Seal for Rear Wiper Arm is defect, which has let water into the boot lid and caused the rear washer to stop working.

It would be great to hear from you before I buy a new motor and seal

Leigh you won't get a reply from Alan because he has not returned to the forum since the day he joined 18 months ago.

I have no doubt your problem is the same as his, namely the failure the seal in the wiper motor. You need a new wiper unit.

Leigh, we did solve the issue on mine. We changed both the boot seal and then the middle brake light unit. I think it was mainly (or possibly only) the brake light unit. But that did not stop the wiper motor, we just had water in boot after rain.

Back in 2015 I did have an issue when the alarm started to intermittently sound and also, I think, the rear wiper motor had stopped. That turned out to be caused by water from the wiper motor unit. On my A3 the washer fluid goes through this unit and had started to leak, dropping down I guess to an alarm sensor. The answer was a replacement wiper unit (I also bought a wiper arm puller).

Hope that helps.

PS Was away Friday/Saturday and did not check email, otherwise would reply earlier. Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback!

I used some links of Youtube to remove the boot trim and wiper motor. You can see how rusted the motor is, which was leaking down on the inside of the bottom boot trim. I'm pretty sure the water is getting in around the wiper arm/seal. 

I will order a new motor unit, but not 100% on the seal. I could order a new seal or use some silicon sealant to make a better seal on the old one. Any suggestions appreciated.

Best!

  

Hi Leigh, does look like a motor leak. Order new motor unit and see I guess. As I noted I also bought a wiper arm removal tool to help in removal of old unit. I did try using silicon spray to 'soften up' the seal but mine was pretty squashed in places so ended up replacing to be on the safe side. Bear in mind that my car was 19 years old when seal replaced (only 10 when wiper motor needed replacing). Good luck.