Water in spare tire well,

[mainman]

I just bought a 2000 Outback Sport. Water is repeatedly collecting in the
spare tire well. Interestingly I had test drove a 2000 RS at a dealer that
had water in the spare tire well also but just put it down as a anomaly.
Anybody know about solutions?

 

[hippo]

I just bought a 2000 Outback Sport. Water is repeatedly collecting in the
spare tire well. Interestingly I had test drove a 2000 RS at a dealer that
had water in the spare tire well also but just put it down as a anomaly.
Anybody know about solutions?

Depends what's causing it: heavy rain? washing with a hose? automatic car
wash? immersion in a river? (Avoid the last one at all costs!) Likeliest
is either an ill fitting hatch seal or latch, or maybe a leaky light
housing or body part - partiuclarly if it's been repaired. First off
-check that the hatch seal is fitted properly, then check that the
tailgate is latching securely. If it's still leaking, fold the back seat
down, climb into the load area with the spare and carpet removed, make
yourself as comfortable as possible and get someone to spray all round the
back of the car with a hose or a pressure washer. When you see water
inside, track it back to its entry point.
As a last resort if it defies resolution, get a Saab drain plug (like a
normal grommet, but with a drain hole in the middle, put the right sized
hole at the lowest point of the boot floor and insert it. You'll still
have a water leak but it won't rust out your boot! Really though, the only
real problem is likely to be if it's the result of a rear ender and it's
entering from somewhere in the roof or above the tailgate. Otherwise, just
time & patience. Cheers

 

[ZZ]

I just bought a 2000 Outback Sport. Water is repeatedly collecting in the
spare tire well. Interestingly I had test drove a 2000 RS at a dealer that
had water in the spare tire well also but just put it down as a anomaly.
Anybody know about solutions?

The older Plymouth/Dodge Neons had that same problem. After suspecting
and searching around the trunk seal, turns out it was the tail-light
seals that were dried out and letting water enter and collect in the
spare tire well. Replacing the gaskets corrected the problem.

 

[Danny Russell]

I just bought a 2000 Outback Sport. Water is repeatedly collecting in the
spare tire well. Interestingly I had test drove a 2000 RS at a dealer that
had water in the spare tire well also but just put it down as a anomaly.
Anybody know about solutions?

I had this problem develop in an '89 Colt hatchback. In my case, small hidden rivulets of water
were entering via the UNDERSIDE of the vertical sections of rubber seal around the hatchback, and
gravitating into the well. I didn't notice until at least 5 gallons had accumulated back there over
a period of about six months, and a whole lotta rust had developed. I thought the sloshing noise
was the fuel tank. I fixed the problen by removing the stripping, filling the underside with
silicone RTV, then re-installing the stripping. -Danny

 

[mainman]

Water in well happens when raining. So a bad seal seems likely. Thanks for
the suggestions.

 

[mainman]

I thought it was fuel in the tank also but found about 2 gallons sloshing
around in there. I think hippo is on the right track.

 

[Edward Hayes]

My Forester spare tire well has several rubber plugs in the bottom. Maybe
one is missing???????