leaky trunk!

so i just got this 4 dr dart sedan. it had a leaky trunk. I replaced the trunk seal and its a pretty good solid fit all around from what I can tell. it did manage to fix most of the water infiltration but i've still got a leaky trunk!!!

I've narrowed it down to the drivers side, but I can't quite figure out where it is coming in. there's no water drips or marks on the bottom of trunk lid.
the only thing i can think of is its running down and behind where the chrome meets the body here? is there a gasket I can stick behind there or should I just tape it off and toss some caulking on it?

any usual suspect leak spots on these things I just don't know about?
short of getting into the trunk and having someone pour water on it while its closed and looking with a flashlight is there any other way to figure out where its leaking?

mtldart said:

so i just got this 4 dr dart sedan. it had a leaky trunk. I replaced the trunk seal and its a pretty good solid fit all around from what I can tell. it did manage to fix most of the water infiltration but i've still got a leaky trunk!!!

I've narrowed it down to the drivers side, but I can't quite figure out where it is coming in. there's no water drips or marks on the bottom of trunk lid.
the only thing i can think of is its running down and behind where the chrome meets the body here? is there a gasket I can stick behind there or should I just tape it off and toss some caulking on it?

any usual suspect leak spots on these things I just don't know about?
short of getting into the trunk and having someone pour water on it while its closed and looking with a flashlight is there any other way to figure out where its leaking?

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Common places are the seal of course, the rear window lip under the trim and around any vinyl top trim mounting screws.
Actually the in the trunk with a flashlight trick is used quite a bit for finding leaks.

That spot you pictured looks like a great candidate for a leak.
Henry's makes black sealer in a calking tube, that might be just the ticket for that area.
Best to take that piece off and seal around it's mounting holes so it is hidden.

yikes! take that whole piece off?
that means lights and everything have to come out doesn't it?
I guess i will go in the trunk with the flashlight and see.

really hoping i can reach the inside of that joint from inside the trunk and apply caulking to the backside because taking off all of that sounds like a recipe for broken clips and replacing things!

The process= one man in the trunk with a flashlight, close the trunk, second man (or woman) hoses down the back of the car. Tail lights are another source. Sometimes the trunk seal can be "adjusted" by hitting sheetmetal with rubber mallet or adjusting the lid itself.

Murray said:

The process= one man in the trunk with a flashlight, close the trunk, second man (or woman) hoses down the back of the car. Tail lights are another source. Sometimes the trunk seal can be "adjusted" by hitting sheetmetal with rubber mallet or adjusting the lid itself.

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Well, the obvious is that the seal is torn and worn so I would replace the seal and go on form there

i have already replaced the seal.
so now i gotta figure out whats going on.

though just now when looking for something else i lifted up the vinyl cover and it looks like there's still leaking coming in on both sides so it looks like im gonna be hanging out in the trunk with a flashlight this weekend.