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Drying out the trunk

Discussion in 'Problems, Fixes, Tips...' started by baobab68, Apr 23, 2015.

  1. baobab68

    baobab68 Copenworld Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2014
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Car(s):
    Toyota Echo, Copen 0.7L
    We've had a very very wet few days here in Sydney and I've found some water has made its way into the boot of the car.

    I've read here that the brake light is usually the culprit. I was going to leave to boot lid open to allow the space to dry out, but I remembered reading here that the car will monitor the boot lid the entire time it's open and I might come back to a flat battery.

    Is this true? How do all you UK folks (with probably more wet weather) manage to get your little Copens dried out after rain?
     
  2. Number6

    Number6 Inactive User

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2013
    Location:
    Dublin
    Car(s):
    2005 0.7L Copen
  3. dsb

    dsb Copenworld Regular

    Joined:
    May 15, 2013
    Location:
    abingdon oxfordshire
    Car(s):
    copen vivid
    also check behind the seats - there's a good chance it will creep from the trunk into there.
     
  4. Your Majesty

    Your Majesty Copenworld Regular

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2013
    Location:
    West Midlands
    Car(s):
    Copen, no other car.
    If you can park on a slope, face downhill. Mine has been dry since doing this but filled with water regularly when I parked facing uphill. It doesn't get in around my brake light (after much testing with a watering can and tissue paper) but I think at the corners that meet the bottom of the window. I carry a sponge cloth in the car to mop up the water but this year because it is parked facing downhill, there's not been any water ingress.
    I've also put in loads of those silica gel packs that you get in the packaging of many electronic goods and such.
     
  5. baobab68

    baobab68 Copenworld Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2014
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Car(s):
    Toyota Echo, Copen 0.7L
    This is the first time it's ever happened but we have had exceptionally bad weather here in Sydney and I've been unlucky enough to be out in most of it!

    It seems to have dried out now, there wasn't enough water to even have pooled in the area under the matting in the trunk.

    I will keep an eye on the issue - my main concern is that I transport customer equipment in my trunk and I didn't want any water on the PC's that I transport.

    I should probably read less of these forums - because I'm so used to reading of window / roof / trunk problems I panicked the other day when the windows wouldn't operate, then realised I had turned the window child lock on when I meant to turn on the read window demister!
     
    Tassie Devil likes this.
  6. threepot

    threepot Copenworld Regular

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2014
    Car(s):
    Copen, Hijet, Celica, and Yaris!
    Nose down isn't a good way to park a copen, as here in the uk pools form near the boot lid hinges, which creep past the rubber seals.

    But if you park them rear down, then you are increasing the ability to make a pool where the ECU sits in the boot.

    You can't win!!

    Keeping all the seals properly clean and clear of mud, and removing the bung from the bottom of the boot is as good as a plan I have come up with yet.
     
    Mitzi likes this.
  7. Your Majesty

    Your Majesty Copenworld Regular

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2013
    Location:
    West Midlands
    Car(s):
    Copen, no other car.
    Well I can only give my experience Threepot - If I park nose up water gets in and as you say it pools at the back of the boot near the ecu.
    But if I park nose down, no water gets in. (I'm in the UK and it rains all day quite often)
     
  8. threepot

    threepot Copenworld Regular

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2014
    Car(s):
    Copen, Hijet, Celica, and Yaris!
    It depends how long you leave them parked without driving, and it depends how good the front rubber ears are on the boot seals.

    I think thteyt should be kept in a warm dry garage of love :)
     
  9. baobab68

    baobab68 Copenworld Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2014
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Car(s):
    Toyota Echo, Copen 0.7L
    I also note that when I open the trunk when it has water on the outside surface, a lot of water runs down the sides and some goes into the trunk. It could well have been that, and I try to minimise how long I leave the trunk open when it's already wet on the outside.
     
  10. MultiplexMan

    MultiplexMan Copenworld Regular

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2011
    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    Car(s):
    KIA Carnival YP, Copen
    In Sydney and I have same experience. Nose up and my boot fills with water. What is worse is that the bung in the bottom of the boot well is not the lowest point!
     
  11. Bruce

    Bruce Copenworld Newbie

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2012
    Location:
    Durban
    Car(s):
    Copen.
    Mercedes C280
    Mercedes w123 200
    Toyota Conquest 16v Automatic
    Series 3 Land Rover
    Nissan 1400
    Simple solution park it in a garage
     
  12. baobab68

    baobab68 Copenworld Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2014
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Car(s):
    Toyota Echo, Copen 0.7L
    So when I'm out working (2-5 different locations every day), I should find somewhere to park under cover at every stop? Doesn't sound simple to me.
     
  13. Number6

    Number6 Inactive User

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2013
    Location:
    Dublin
    Car(s):
    2005 0.7L Copen
    I've never had this issue, but I'll point out that my Copen never had the drain plug in the boot (under the jack, which was also missing)... maybe try leaving the drain plug out.

    I had a similar issue with my Pajero, I used blue shop towels (we have a lot of them in work for the cleaners) and taped them all around the inside of the roof. that showed me where the leak was coming in and narrowed down what the issue was. In my case, it was a split rubber seal.
     
    Debz likes this.
  14. baobab68

    baobab68 Copenworld Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2014
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Car(s):
    Toyota Echo, Copen 0.7L
    I wanted to update this thread...it's been quite a day of worry here...we have had an entire month's worth of rain in three days in Sydney (so they say) and my trunk filled up with water a little too quickly and too much for me to attend to it in time. Suddenly...beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep when I'm driving along. Couldn't open the trunk at all, roof light turned on solid...panic stations ensued.

    I went to see my mechanic and with my knowledge from these forums about the hidden boot release cable and the blue ring pulls behind the parcel shelf, we managed to get in, remove *two* rubber stoppers and a flood of water came out. Dried the underfloor manually and drove around the rest of the day in yet *more* rain and nary a trace of water in the trunk after that. Roof light back to normal, roof and trunk lid operation back to normal.

    Moral of the story - don't let it happen in the first place.

    EDIT: oh yeah, forgot to mention that after we'd collectively managed to get in and dry it up, there was further panic on my part when the roof still wouldn't operate, until I realised I'd forgotten to pull the window shade thingy in the boot forward into it's little holders.
     
  15. Number6

    Number6 Inactive User

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2013
    Location:
    Dublin
    Car(s):
    2005 0.7L Copen
    I'll gladly take the two rubber stoppers off you ;-)

    Nearly failed my Rego / MOT / NCT because I don't have them... Duct tape saved the day.
     
  16. baobab68

    baobab68 Copenworld Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2014
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Car(s):
    Toyota Echo, Copen 0.7L
    Wow that sounds strict man! I wonder what dangerous situation "not having them" creates?
     
  17. Bronaldo

    Bronaldo Copenworld Regular

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2014
    Car(s):
    Daihatsu Copen Vivid 0.7
    Amazing.

    They first one is quite BMW esque.

    Would love one!
     
  18. baobab68

    baobab68 Copenworld Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2014
    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Car(s):
    Toyota Echo, Copen 0.7L
    Not sure what you mean bronaldo...
     
  19. ClareL

    ClareL Copenworld Veteran

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2013
    Location:
    Essex
    Car(s):
    1.3 2008 Copen
    I do know what you mean Bronaldo but wrong thread :blush::blush::blush::blush:
     
  20. Daisy

    Daisy Copenworld Newbie

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Location:
    Norfolk
    Car(s):
    Copen
    So happy to see this thread, I actually shut my husband in the boot today with a torch to see where the leak was! I ran a hose over but he couldn't see any water coming in. After I'd had a cup of tea, just to make sure he was looking properly!, I let him out. We were completely flummoxed, water in the boot and behind the seats, it's not the brake light so now I'm hoping it was the boot ears, we have just had snow. Have treated all the seals and put her in the garage. Only problem is how to dry her out, I have been using a hairdrier behind the seats but can hear a puddle of water beneath the carpet. Also thanks for the heads up about the battery as we left the boot open.
     

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