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MG MGF Technical - Water in the boot?

I have just had a look in the boot and there is a substancial amount of water in the bottom??? Is this normal/how can you stop water penetration?? Can anyone help. Thanks. New MGF owner.
Jim Kenny

You need to find out where it is coming in from. Suggest removing the carpet (4 push studs along the engine bay wall at the top and then it just tucks in around the boot and slots over two bolts under the light clusters).

With the carpet out a light dusting of talc, close the lid and then run a hose over it.

You should now see where it is entering and can then formulate a plan of attack.

Possible suspects:

1 ) Rear light clusters - water can seep into the boot past the foam gaskets that are sandwiched between the light cluster and the metalwork. There is a thicker gasket available from MGR (6mm thick if i recall correctly).

2 ) Missing rubber grommets in the boot lid - there should be 4 round rubber grommets in the underside of the boot lid, 2 of them are directly over the boot compartment.

3 ) Cambered boot lid - this is the 'worst case' and is usually caused by someone overtightening a luggage rack. The boot lid is cambered and thus the rubber seal around the top of the boot compartment no longer seals adequately. You can replace the seal and this normally works, but some people have had to replace the boot lid (opportunity for a TF one?)

Other than this, check the welds around the floor pan, if it has been in a prang they may have been broken and thus water from underneath (road spray for instance) can get in and soak the carpet.

Hope this helps.

SF
Scarlet Fever

I find that the boot-lid brake-light holds a lot of water that can seep through over the lock (via the mounting holes and the cable run) - most noticable when opening the boot after rain when I get a splash on my hands. Probably a case for sealant around the plastic surround.

I found this when trying to repair the boot wires that had all been worn through. (B&G spliced in a proper cable after I couldn't get the brake light to work)

Graham.
Graham Berridge

On mine the water entered through a weld, where there was a small hole in the welding paste. It was hard to find as it was under a rubber seal.

The talcum powder did the trick for me.

Johan
Johan Slagter

Expanding on what folks have already listed as potential causes for water ingress into boot, check out http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/water_leaks/leaks_index.htm
Rob Bell

replace the gaskets on the light clusters,it cured mine
paul w

This thread was discussed between 13/05/2004 and 14/05/2004

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