Fiesta - water leak past spoiler into tailgate. Help please!

[thegreatdogwood]

So about 6 weeks ago, my daughters 2012 fiesta suddenly started letting water into the rear tailgate. Lift the tailgate after rain and you could hear it sloshing around and there is a rubber foot for the tailgate which also allows you to drain water out of the bottom.

The only possible explanation is water getting by between the various fixings to the spoiler and the tailgate frame.

Now the bit that baffles me is Ford have 4 types of fixing. There are some spring clips which can't let water into the frame. Two bolt holes which are quite robust. Some push clips that click in place and have a rubber skirt around them as a seal and look like they would hold up

Then there are 3 push studs that are round and actually part of the spoiler moulding. They have no means to click into place, no form of gasket or washer and fit into oval holes in the tailgate. I can't see how they wouldn't leak when it rains and wondering what I am missing, as it seems ford do not make any kind of seal for this and I'm at a total loss how to stop the problem,

Any help gratefully received!

[Novexx]

Don't have a Fester close to check, but it's not uncommon for tailgates to have drain holes "outside" the main tailgate seal so that water accumulated in the tailgate can drain out freely (much like most doors)?

[thegreatdogwood]

Thanks Novexx

It does have drainage holes and one of them was actually blocked so I have cleared that.

There has been a lot more water entering the tailgate than the drainage hole is geared to anyway as I'm guessing that is there more for condensation as the tailgate would soon rust if it allowed several inches of rain into the frame with each downpour.

I've just had one more go at it using silicon grease on the press fittings, around the grommets and on the surfaces that are screwed or bolted in place. I've then tried silicon sealant on the 3 round studs which push into oval holes to see if that will make a difference. Hope so as local ford dealer wants £100 just to look at it and unless a dealer has encountered the problem, I'm really not sure what they can do above and beyond what I've already tried.

[twing]

Have you had a look at Tiger Seal products? I had a leaky Vivaro the other day, water leaking through the roof rack holes, Tiger seal filled the holes and with a bit more smeared over the top it did a great job. Cost about £12 a tube

[thegreatdogwood]

twing said:

Have you had a look at Tiger Seal products? I had a leaky Vivaro the other day, water leaking through the roof rack holes, Tiger seal filled the holes and with a bit more smeared over the top it did a great job. Cost about £12 a tube

I did thanks. The problem with Tiger Seal is that it is both a sealant and adhesive. The spoiler seems rock solid stable when I fit it but has still been leaking. Given I need to keep taking it off to try something else if it leaks, I figured that silicone sealant would be better to try as it would be just effective at sealing but would be easier to work with if I had to take the spoiler off again.

Just parked it back out in the rain to see if my latest effort has made a difference. At least by opening the further two drain holes the worst case should be it still leaks but will drain fully so the tailgate doesn't start to fill up!