I just had to clean out the sinks on my car, they were clogged on both sides. I took a shop vac, and connected a few feet of 5/8" vinyl tubing onto the end of the hose using copious amounts of masking tape. I then used that to clear the debris (7 years of leaves/dirt accumulation). You can do it pretty easily with the top lowered, you just have to snake it between the brushes and the body panel. The vinyl tubing is great because it's somewhat flexible, and has a little bend to it allowing you to snake it down there.

Thanks for the suggestion on checking for clogged drains here, I wasn't even sure where to start until I saw your pictures.

 

The saga continues, even after cleaning the sinks I'm still getting water in. I'm thinking the drains are still partially blocked even though the sink is clean. Going to give it another shot, really hope I don't need to rip this stuff out to clear it.

 

The drain tubes go out the bottom somewhere. It may be worth a try to blow compressed air up into them from the bottom provided you can get to them. Maybe with some water in the sinks and blowing up from the bottom it will help?

 

nice write up man.
where did you get this "sound deading spray" you speak of and what is the brand/model?

also the same question applies for the upholstery cleaner!!?!??!

 

Just did this fix and have one additional comment: Don't squeeze the f'n tube of black silicon from the middle. That stuff is so thick that the back of the tube will explode!

I spent an hour in the tub scrubbing my hands THEN had to spend 20 minutes cleaning the black residue from the tub FTMFL!!!

 

Okay, I finally got to the bottom of my leak....after cleaning the sinks, I would still get water in the trunk, but only after a heavy rain (which we've had a lot of in recent months). In mild rain, everything stayed dry. I surmised the drains were draining slowly, so a quick downpour filled the sink and it would run over into the trunk area.

Rather than use Draino, I figured a snake would be a better bet, and I decided to go spelunking under the car for the drain exits. With the back end raised on jack stands, I poured water on the top to see where it exited. Nothing at first, then a drip...drip...drip just in front of the rear tire. I removed the tires, and traced the drips up to the drain exit along the front of the fender. The "snake tool" I used was just a claw pick-up tool that has a flexible shaft.

Remember, this is the right rear...


Looking across the suspension towards the front of the wheel well


A little closer, you can see the little rubber tube - that's the drain exit.


And here it is with my "snake" tool in place.


What I found easiest was to put the snake in the tube, pour a few cups of water on the top, then move the snake in and out to dislodge the debris as the water poured through. I got several clumps of black dirt out of each side (no doubt decomposed leaves and debris).

Now that the drains are clear, I can pour a bucket of water on the top, and have it all exit out the bottom in a matter of seconds.

No water in the trunk!

 

this is such a helpful thread! i thought the vent was the source of water, but i STILL get water in the trunk, and it must be these drain tubes...

i was going crazy because I'd like to have my liner back in , but it's been out for years because of all the rain...

pouring water on the top doesn't really help because i guess the tubes are working but just slowly.

i will try the snaking method, it looks like a good fix.

thanks everybody!

 

Just to add to this. If you seal up the boot vent with draught excluder or something you may not stop the leak. Mine was leaking through one of the white fixings. A while after I sprayed water over the car it trickles along the metal at the bottom of the boot/trunk lid where the rear bumper attaches. The left edge of this is directly above the left fixing of the vent. It runs down the outside and through the white fixing.

So seal that up too!

 

Here are some annotated photos of the sink and drain that may help understand the parts involved. Keep in mind there is a drain on each side of the car behind each door.

 

Good post.... thanks