I have a small pool of water in the spare tire area every time it rains. I can't spot where the water is coming in. Anybody had similar issues and have a fix?

 

Probably the weather seal. Been there before.

 

Do I need to buy a new seal or is there a way to repair the issue?

 

Replacing is obviously best. What you ca do is pull back the carpet, get inside and have a friend run water from a garden hose all around the glass. Look to see where it comes in. If it's just a small tear you may be able to use RTV silicone. I have done this before.

 

SF,

Thanks for the water hose idea. I have checked with a flashlight on several occasions when it has rained and can't find where the water is coming in. I have all the plastic panels pulled loose and all the hatch floor stipped of stuff so that I can see.

 

Yeah it really helps to remove all of the panels. Mine is a 95 so it is a little different back there but there are essentially channels on either side of the glass which run the water down behind the window to the hatch where it just spills out. The seals like to die right there and it's hard to see where the water is coming in because it runs down between the lower hatch and the body only becoming apparent when it enters the car at the bottom of the hatch. I was able to discover this by running water down the channel with the glass up and could look down the space between the hatch and the body and see the water dunning in there. Took me so long to figure this out I nearly got a new car!

 

dril a small hole in teh spare tire area so water can get out...

 

SF,

I do appreciate the feedback. I was thinking of just pulling the entire seal off on the top and sides and run a bead of caulk on the inside corner of the metal, then just press the seal back into place over the caulk?

 

I dont know about this particular car but on the srt-4's the gaslet at the tail light was VERY prone to having a leak on occasion, it's possible that is where your leak is from as well

 

Yeah, this too.

 

Tinctorus,

You may have solved the problem. After last week's rain I noticed the water pooling on the drivers side sort of beneath the tail light area, right in the corner. Mabe I need to remove the tail lights and apply a bead of caulk, then reinstall. I appreciate the feedback. This easy repair might make the leak go away and I will be able to end my problems.

 

That gasket should really just be replaced if it's bad. It covers a large surface area and it would be difficult to repair it with silicone. They are cheap. Maybe $4. Get a new one from Honda. If indeed that is the problem.

 

yeah i have to replace my tail light gasket and they are $8.99 from honda because my tail lights are leaking their butts off... i can go swimming in my trunk

 

+1 for taillight gaskets. This is the only leak Ive ever had in the 11 years Ive owned my 98 hatchback. In fact, Ive now replaced the taillight gaskets twice since then.

 

The leak ended up being (2) issues. There are (2) exaust air vents beneath the tail lights. Water was coming in around the vents. You have to remove (2) pop-connectors on each vent. If you try to remove the (2) pop-connectors from the outside they will crack. Remove from the inside. I cleaned and dried out the vents and gaskets. I liberally applied silicone and re-assembled. The gaskets seemed almost pourous so I applied a liberal bead of silicone around the outside of the gaskets.
There was water coming in around 1 of the tail lights. I did too much work here. All thats needed is to pop off the tail lights. Clean the area. Apply a bead of silicone especially toward the outside of the gasket. Re-assemble.