water in the rear hatch area

peanut · Dec 22, 2007

I had to replace some bulbs and clean out the rear hatch locks today so I thought I would take a picture showing two of the most common areas where rain water can enter the rear hatch area other than the sunroof.

The drain tube is attached to the rear hatch lock receptacles and quite often falls off or is pulled off un-noticed and a surprising amount of water can find its way into the boot through this fitting but by far the most common entry point is around the rear lamps.

Its impossible to see from the exterior as the lamps fit tightly into the rear valence. However if you pull back the carpet inside and look around the rear lamp assemblies after a jet wash or heavy rain the area should be completly dry.

After a pressure wash this afternoon I found quite a bit of water on and around the light clusters so another job to do is to remove the clusters thoroughly dry the lamps and mating surfaces of the valence and re-bed the lamps in in silicon mastic

cococola · Dec 22, 2007

The two leaks that I experienced were from the surround seal and from one of the rear lamps of which I removed both and siloconed.
I have had no trouble since.

peanut · Dec 23, 2007

do you still get condensation building up on the inside of the rear screen overnight ?

took ages to dry my car out.

cococola · Dec 25, 2007

I do get some when the car stands outside but with no problems in my garage.I put it down to being an old car??[8|]although there is never any trace of damp on carpets or inner trim.

Peter Empson · Dec 28, 2007

When I was stripping off the felt like sound proofing that goes over the rear wings the other day I was amazed at how damp it all was, the carpet above was bone dry and as far as I'm aware there'd been no leaks for a few years, which is all rather puzzling... My guess is that it may just be condensation forming there.

It's an area definately worth checking, you just need to pull the side pieces of carpet towards the front of the car to get to them.

Guest · Dec 28, 2007

peanut. I've used a black non-setting mastic for this. Dum-dum is the trade name.

Silicone sealer can be too adhesive and silicone grease is a bit messy. The Dum-dum is also excellent for sealing around the edge of the plastic air-grille intake for the heater should you have to disturb it to fix the resistor or heater motor.

Your photo interests me. I am sorting out an '82 924 NA for Classic Trials (the muddy sort) and will be putting the battery in the rear as per your S2 to improve traction.
I've not seen one in the flesh yet - does the battery sit on a bolt-in or welded fitment and does it have a full plastic cover so that in the event of inverting the car, battery acid is contained ?

Hilux · Dec 29, 2007

I've not seen one in the flesh yet - does the battery sit on a bolt-in or welded fitment and does it have a full plastic cover so that in the event of inverting the car, battery acid is contained ?

Get an Odyssey or Red Top battery you can lay them on their sides etc etc Dont use a lead acid that can leak if you are rallying and roll it.

peanut · Dec 29, 2007

ORIGINAL: muddy

does the battery sit on a bolt-in or welded fitment and does it have a full plastic cover so that in the event of inverting the car, battery acid is contained ?

As far as I am aware all 944 after 1985 have the battery in the rear wing compartment. Its a built-in platform installed at construction although I'm sure with a little ingenuity it must be possible to mod an early 44 and fit a later salvaged battery platform from a scrapper.
You'll need to install a battery breather tube of course . As for racing I have no idea what the requirements would be

George Elliott · Dec 29, 2007

At risk of going off thread, thats an interesting application for a 924, what are the reg's? engine size, wheel/tyre restrictions etc.
Hope the rear hatch seal hold up [8|]
George

944t
964
Crossle 7T sporting trials car (half share)

Guest · Dec 30, 2007

George. Off thread and off road .....................
As a past owner of 2 Cannons, 3 Dellows (still got one) and the current Allard monster you will know why I was interested to see your Crossle footnote.
Fantastic bits of kit. I was planning to do my annual spectate on the Gloucester (as it is run just a mile or two from where I lived for many years) but things got in the way this year.
I decided on a 924 for Classic Trials for several reasons. Firstly suitability - followed very rapidly by their insanely low prices! The initial weight distribution at 48/52 f/r is in the right direction and with mods to remove and re-position weight it should be possible to get to a more ideal ratio of 40/60. The photo is of another 924 going up Nailsworth Ladder in Gloucestershire, a trials hill used since the 1930's. At the steepest part it is close to 1:3
I need to take as much weight off as possible so will be removing all the headlight ironmongery and installing GTS style fixed lights using some square Hella units. Perspex windows are OK as the factory did them on the Carrera GT.

Basically as long as another 924 variant had an option - then you are allowed to use it. The car will be raised by about 3" and I am fabricating an alloy sumpguard. Also skidplating the petrol and brake pipes. The felt trim/no rear seat option on the Carrera should mean that I can lighten the interior quite a bit and it will free up a perfect black carpet set for my 924S!

I have a pair of very light bucket seat to go in as well. Sunroof to be replaced with a thin sheet of clear perspex as fibreglass original can only be replaced by a similar material - i.e. metal with metal, plastic with plastic.

I will initially run on either 185 or 195 14's but could eventually use 15" or even 16" as they were 924/924S options. Problem there is I need first to find an Audi gearbox with a lower diff ratio so that 1st gear ratio is not raised. Ideally I need a diff ratio of around 4.4:1 as opposed to the standard 3.9:1.
As you will know, re-starts are often sited on steep sections of the hills.
There are a couple of other 924's appearing on trials from time to time and on the November 07 Allen Trophy Trial in the Bristol area, only 3 cars went 'clear' on the day and one was a well-prepared and well-driven 924. So the potential is there.

Paul - I will look into these sealed batteries. Thanks. (I have a friend who trials a superbly prepared fuel injected Hillman Imp and he uses a small lightweight snowmobile or jetski battery!)
Cheers.