I bought a 1990 Honda Accord in September and now I'm experiencing problems.
Anyone else have problems with a leaking trunk? The seal looks like it is good but my trunk is wet and molding. I also have water in my tail light lense cover. How do I figure out where the water is coming in?

I recently left my b/f of 8 years. So, I'm kinda stressed about this. I've never had to pay for a mechanic before. I'd like to work on it myself if possible.

any advice would be appreciated.

Lisa Resser
Washington State

 

There should be adjusters for your trunk. Open your trunk and on the outside rear corners there are little black round stoppers. They adjust by turning them you should be able to see them going up or down try putting them all the way down and see if that helps. Could also be leaking from rear window seal, if thats the case and you dont care if it looks a little "janky" you can go to auto parts store and get window sealant and reseal it once its dry. Water in taillights, they could be craked or the sealant that seals the lens to the housing could be separated. If thats the case take out the tail light and place on a cookie sheet put in oven @ 200 F for about 20 min the sealant will soften up and you can pull the lens from the housing clean off oll the old sealant and re-seal with hondabond let dry then re-install on your car and it shouldnt leak for the next 20 yrs...

 

Okay, so I turned the stoppers. Only the right side would turn all the way down. I could turn the left side but only a little. I am going to have to get a wrench to turn it any more. hahaha Hopefully I get some tools for Christmas.

It rains alot here. So, I'll let you know if that helps.

HUGE THANKS!

 

Got any rust on that beast? If your rear fenders are rusted out, you could have a leak from the under side of the car. Pull back teh carpet in your trunk and check for rusty holes in the floor, particularly near the front corners of the trunk.
Even if you do bake your tails (which is a bitch by the way) and re-seal them, chances are you won't be able to get out all of teh moisture, especially with how rainy and wet it is in your neck of teh woods. I'd suggest buying a completely different taillight to replace the leaky one. Try eBay for that.

 

i have a 90 accord and i had the same problem. the water was coming in at the taillights the seal around them was bad and was leaking

 

Thats correct, replace the taillight seals, drain the taillights and use a blow drier to dry them out or water will continue to condensate in there.

 

I would STRONGLY suspect leaky taillight gaskets.

Just had that in my '92 and crawled into the trunk from the backseat with a flashlight during a storm and they were leaking pretty significantly.

 

The water in the tail lamp issue is the hint to all this. The body/lamp felt gasket has dried out from age and has allowed water to intrude, not only into the lamp, but the trunk as well.
I'd suggest replacing all four lamp gaskets while you're at it. They're really cheap and should take no more than 1/2 an hour per lamp to do.
I'd also take the water-logged lamp indoors with you and let it dry out.
While you're at it, you might want to clean out the bulb sockets and put some white grease (or like product) in them to protect the contacts inside.

P

 

Is this what I need? Will it come with new gaskets or do I buy that separately

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TAIL-...Q5fAccessories

 

I don't think those will come with gaskets. You are looking for (4) and (17) from the picture/listing here (I guessed 4dr LX ... double check): http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...LLIGHT+%281%29

Yours do look cheap. Mine were closer to $15 each at Majestic and my local dealer wanted $30.

 

Hi,
The site suggested item 4 and 17 and the require quantity is 2 each part. Does not that means for both left and right or is it just the right side? There's no option for left or right.
Thanks.

 

correct, you will need two #4 and two #17 total, that will work for both sides.

 

Ms Resser:

Your new (new to you) ride gave you a hint as to what's going on....

Replace the gaskets which seal the tail lamp assemblies to the body.
This is a common problem with an easy fix.

The outboard lamps are the most common offenders but considering you just purchased the vehicle, do the ones on the trunk lid as well; that way you don't have to think about it again.

The lamps are held on by a series of nuts (10mm I believe) which are accessable thru access doors along the rear trunk inner trim panel. Disconnect the bulb sockets (1/8th turn counter-clockwise) and move them out of the way. Remove the nuts and the lamps pull straight off the body. You'll find a ratty foam gasket between the lamp and body......
The gaskets are available only thru Honda. All your local dealer will need is the year and if it is a coupe or a sedan. Expect only a few days wait, dealers don't normally stock these but Honda's good about filling special orders.

P