My wife's Range Rover spare tire (tyre) well - keeps collecting water. I've looked for obvious leaks - spraying the under side with high pressure water - not a drop inside. Sprayed the roof, trim molding, tailgate - not a drop inside.
All I can determine is about every 4 weeks - I can remove the spare tire - and extract about 8 oz of water using a sponge from the bottom of the well.
Could this be condensate? I've never had this problem with any other car or SUV in Houston.
There is a LR TSB for this. If you have the RAVE CD-ROM, check the TSBs. It has pix associated with it.
Range Rover CDS. ref: L8403bu Issue: 1 Date: 18.03.98 AFFECTED RANGE: All vehicles PROBLEM: WATER INGRESS AT TAILGATE - APERTURE SEAL Water collecting in spare wheel stowage area. CAUSE: Either of the following: · Tailgate aperture flange irregularities · Tailgate aperture seal irregularities · Lower tailgate hinge bolt leakage · Upper tailgate alignment ACTION:
Remove tailgate aperture seal and check flange for irregularities. Carefully straighten any flange area causing concern and evenly bend entire length of flange outwards towards tailgate by approximately 5 mm.
Obtain new tailgate seal ALR8547. Referring to the illustration on page 2, measure 520 mm outwards from the lower seal section centre line and mark seal at these points, measure another 5 mm on from these points and mark seal again. With a sharp knife carefully cut through the bubble section of seal at marked points so that a 'C' shaped section is removed to form drain slots, (see inset on illustration). NOTE: If modification is carried out correctly the drain slots will be hidden under the tread plate.
Fit seal to vehicle confirming that the seal is the correct way up with seal joint and drain slots at bottom of aperture. NOTE: To assist seal fitment and to ensure tightness of seal to flange, the seal should first be heated to approximately 40 0 C. This can be achieved by placing in an oven or a container of warm water.
Referring to the Workshop Manual, Section - Body Repairs - Tailgate Lower, remove lower tailgate hinge bolts one at a time and apply silicon sealant around the threads before re-fitting.
Close tailgates and apply water via a hose around aperture to confirm leaks have been eliminated. Take care not to direct hose into extraction vents during this test.
In the unlikely event that leaks are still apparent proceed with the following:
Check upper tailgate profile to 'E' posts. If gaps are uneven, re-align tailgate with lower tailgate in open position. To correct the gaps, hinge adjustment may be required, refer to Workshop Manual, Body - Repairs - Tailgate Upper.
Re-test with water hose to confirm cure. PARTS INFORMATION: ALR 8547 - Tailgate aperture seal WARRANTY CLAIMS: Use Complaint Code: 9J4N Use one or more of the following SROs:
76.31.89/34 Dress aperture flange, modify and fit new seal and apply sealant to hinge bolts Time allowance: 0.50 Hrs
76.28.31 Upper tailgate adjust Time allowance: 1.30 Hrs
I have a similar problem, although with me it's moisture rather than actual liquid (IYSWIM), and I assumed it was condensation - it always seems colder than ambient in there for some reason. Mind you, I keep a lot of stuff in there (first aid kit, 2 towropes, spare oil, petzl headtorch, hi-viz tabard, spare bulbs, wheel nut socket and breaker bar, cotton rags, air compressor) in the wheel well and around the edge of the tyre. Perhaps I should just take it all out and let the air circulate. Doesn't seem to be doing much harm at the moment.
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