How to remove boot trim from sides and back ?

[v8chimp]

Hi All

Still in my quest to solve my leaky boot issue, having used some seriously strong Sikaflex 221 my problem hasn't been solved

So I want to take off all the interior boot trim and do a water test, because it is definitely coming somewhere from the top left. (Based on water trails and having removed some of the upper poppers and putting my hand there.

Any help with how I can pull out the boot trim, would be much appreciated. I have removed the upper poppers from the middle trim but I can see the side panels e.t.c are quite fragile and apparently prone to breaking. Would like to get the trim out in one piece

Thanks

 

[v8chimp]

Impatience got the better of me....

I found the best way was to remove the lower liner first because the side panels tuck under the boot liner.

So removed liner from boot edge (right) and pulled gently until it came out (very wet at the bottom!)

Then the battery cover to right came out easily, then I gently pulled on the middle piece which brought part of the left panel out, the left panel was the hardest in my car as it is the most stuck of all.

Pulled out the lower plastic liner to reveal the hole, lots of water in here when you pushed on the various bits of rubber (currently upside down in garden draining/drying)

Then I did a water test, laid down some kitchen towel in boot and let the hose spray water on all the exterior seals/nooks crannies and low and behold I get a water drip in the upper left hand corner and I can see a pin hole!

This has now been sealed with sikaflex 221 whilst I use the carpet cleaner hand tool to clean down all the interior panels to make sure they are like new.

Some pictures below...

The next three images didnt resize for some reason, so I have just created a link to those interested.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/792/imag0589o.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3806/imag0581a.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8517/imag0582l.jpg

 

[hodroyd]

Was the leak at the top of the boot lid, or at the top of the wheel recess..?? Good pictures mate..!!

OK sorry, now I see it on the later pictures, interesting..!!

 

[v8chimp]

Was the leak at the top of the boot lid, or at the top of the wheel recess..?? Good pictures mate..!!

OK sorry, now I see it on the later pictures, interesting..!!

It was inside that I applied the mastic, seemingly they can't make a watertight weld, so they slather the inside with sealant/glue, unfortunately for me they missed a tiny bit!

 

[Moz1000]

Excellent post Mr Chimp! I was about to get inside my boot today if it wasn't for the drizzle. Now i can concentrate on those seals first. Many thanks, Moz.

 

[hodroyd]

Did anything show up on the carpets in the boot, or does it drip down the back??

I wonder if this is a standard issue on all years..??

 

[Geofflyn]

Great info. Looks like you havetge old F1 relay there (grey) and if so a good time to replace if you haven't put it all back together.

 

[v8chimp]

Did anything show up on the carpets in the boot, or does it drip down the back??

I wonder if this is a standard issue on all years..??

Mine dripped down the back and into the bootwell. You could feel it was damp where the water ran.

 

[v8chimp]

Great info. Looks like you havetge old F1 relay there (grey) and if so a good time to replace if you haven't put it all back together.

Good call, I have been reading up on the relays including the new BMW one but still a little concerned that I could make something worse rather than better.

Also read somewhere that mismatched relays on these can cause more problems than hood, if not the case can pop into BMW tomorrow to pick one up

 

[CatmanV2]

Although I don't have a great amount of Maserati based experience, there really does seem to be an incredible amount of mystique around these things. As far as I can tell, it's just a relay. Not magic. It's a switch. It operates on an intermittent basis. I can hear my F1 pump kick on when I unlock the car, and I can simply wait until it turns off before I start the engine. If ever it doesn't turn off, I'll start worrying.

Relays can get arcing across the terminals, and weld closed. That means your F1 pump is going to be running all the time, and eventually burn out. I reckon a tiny amount of mechanical sympathy will allow you to tell if this failure mode is happening well in advance of any damage of the pump. I suppose it's theoretically possible that over an extended period your pump may operate correctly on each and every start up, and then somehow weld closed for the rest of the driving time, increasing the strain on the pump motor, then unlatch when you shut down. I think this would be 'un-likeley' but I guess I could be wrong.

The other failure mode would be for the relay to not close, the pump not to energise and you have no pressure in the box, and you're not going anywhere. No damage though.

I can't really see how a 'mis-matched' relay can make either of these situations worse. More *likely* perhaps, but either seem to be readily observable (un-avoidably so in one case), before any major damage is done.

I'm still tempted to make an electronic one, or simply replace it with a solid state one which won't have the same issues, with, or without some kind of alerting system.

C

 

[hodroyd]

I tend to agree C, so long as the part has the correct parameters and will handle the load, theoretically it should work just fine. As I often say, Maserati only actually make a few items on every car they sell, the rest are ordered out from different manufacturers to a specification. The mystique is encouraged by the car manufacturer and they all do it, to try and make the massive profits they do from after sales spare parts..!!

 

[v8chimp]

Another update - Still not water tight, it seems the water was coming from a higher place. So I traced it back with my finger inside the panel, did another water test and it seems to be coming from the rubber gromit that links the tube to the boot. This has now been sealed (the best I could do in this weather) and I will check again when dry tomorrow!

 

[hodroyd]

Good work V8C, Is this the flexi tube to the boot lid..??

 

[v8chimp]

Good work V8C, Is this the flexi tube to the boot lid..??

That's the one (and a far better description than mine!). Mine appeared to be flush from the outside but having pulled it out I could see the inside rubber had only been partially pushed on and had mildly distorted the rubber.

So I have since re-seated it with Sikaflex 221 to make sure it is watertight. Having used both the Granville black sealant and the 221, the 221 sets like concrete and I think is a far more durable sealant.

Did another test this morning and all appears watertight, so trim has gone back in, and surprisingly quite smoothly (easier than taking it out!)

I wouldn't be surprised if another leak springs up somewhere but I am as a confident as I can be that I have found the problem.

 

[RSM Masser]

Try CT1 silicone - it works in wet conditions also called roofers mate - available from Travis Perkins or any good builders merchant.
Sorted the water ingress on the old classic mini - which had more holes in the seams than a colinder!

Incidently the block paving in your spare tyre well - very cool!

 

[v8chimp]

Try CT1 silicone - it works in wet conditions also called roofers mate - available from Travis Perkins or any good builders merchant.
Sorted the water ingress on the old classic mini - which had more holes in the seams than a colinder!

Incidently the block paving in your spare tyre well - very cool!

Happy with the 221, all the motorhome manufacturers use it to seal their boxes but always good to know if the 221 doesn't become as freely available, although I found it cheaper and delivered on ebay (buy it now) of all places.

Also just a note, if you have the leak and are just thinking about resticking the flexi hose, it is probably a false economy as :-

1) This may not be your source
2) Water sits at the bottom of the plastic tub regardless of how clear the carpet looks, with the foam pads on the plastic tub, there is probably about 1-2 inches of space where water can sit in the tub without you being able to touch it with the trim still in place.

 

[RSM Masser]

Thanks V8C
I better go and have a look now! I sometimes get a bit of condensation on the rear window

 

[hodroyd]

I do too now and again, I think I will check mine over when I get a minute. Cheers V8C for a great post on the problem.

 

[CatmanV2]

Thanks V8C
I better go and have a look now! I sometimes get a bit of condensation on the rear window

Given the issues I have with water ingress up front, I think I may have to do the same this weekend.

I should be out on Sunday morning fixing the lights, anyway

C

 

[v8chimp]

I do too now and again, I think I will check mine over when I get a minute. Cheers V8C for a great post on the problem.

No problem, it has been bugging me for a while and I have never found a guide with a reasonable level of depth. So glad to hear the above is a reasonable starter for ten.