Water leak in boot - Side extractor air vents?

[Baggy2]

Hi Sea Ranch
Yes, the water comes in the holes the that the cables for the rear number plate lights go through - in fact it runs down the wires. I remember when I put the bumper on years ago I took trouble to make sure water wouldnt come through the main bumper bolt holes. I think the water is getting under the very ancient foam rubber gasket under the lights and then through the wire holes. If I get a chance over the weekend I'll investigate a bit more.
Hope this helps
Baggy

[stugilmour]

Thanks for that Baggy. My lamp housings are replacements and did not come with gaskets, so I will look this area over closely. Can you refresh my memory. Do the lamp housings attach with nuts to the bumper prior to installing the bumper? I wouldn't want to remove the lamp housing screws and find out I could not back up the mounting nuts. Parts book does not seem to show enough detail.

thx

Stu

[Jason1]

Hi

A few gaskets for you; they are the same as the E Type S2/S3 but probably cheaper than buying Lotus ones.

Rear lens gasket http://www.sngbarratt.com/catalogue/par ... k=y&next=y

Rear lamp gasket http://www.sngbarratt.com/catalogue/par ... k=y&next=y

Jason

[Jason1]

Hi

A few gaskets for you; they are the same as the E Type S2/S3 but probably cheaper than buying Lotus ones.

Rear lens gasket http://www.sngbarratt.com/catalogue/par ... k=y&next=y

Rear lamp gasket http://www.sngbarratt.com/catalogue/par ... k=y&next=y

Jason

[Baggy2]

Hi ,
Please see below a picture showing the lights I was refering to. The green arrow shows where water could get in but in my case I dont think it was. The red arrow shows where the water was (is) getting in - ie between the base of the light and the bumper. The yellow arrow shows where a screw was missing for some reason - now replaced.
I'm pretty sure that to remove the light base from the bumper in order to fix the leak means removing the bumper from the car and that a job for another day. In the meantime the drain hole already in the boot floor will have to continue doing its job!
All the best
Baggy

[stugilmour]

Thanks for that Baggy. Bumper removal for me is 'another day' deal as well, maybe next winter. Your's look same as mine with no rubber gasket at the lamp housing base. I vaguely recall a bit of wrinkled foam inside the housing base, but can't be sure. How it would actually keep water out is beyond me! Think I will try to put some goop around the wires and see if it helps. Pouring here again today, so perfect for a test!

[7PPO]

Just joined this forum but have owned my 1972 model +2S/130 for 34 years (since 1977). I had leaks for some time and found that water was entering through bumper bolt holes. I cured this by drilling the holes larger and fitting a rubber grommet with a centre hole large enough to take the bumper bolt. I then fitted a washer, large enough to cover the grommet in the boot, and used brass nuts (so as not to rust) to tighten the bumper back on. This compresses the grommet and seals the hole. Problem solved.

I know this is probably a little late but perhaps others can learn from it.

All the best

Dave

[stugilmour]

:) Just joined this forum but have owned my 1972 model +2S/130 for 34 years (since 1977). I had leaks for some time and found that water was entering through bumper bolt holes. I cured this by drilling the holes larger and fitting a rubber grommet with a centre hole large enough to take the bumper bolt. I then fitted a washer, large enough to cover the grommet in the boot, and used brass nuts (so as not to rust) to tighten the bumper back on. This compresses the grommet and seals the hole. Problem solved.

I know this is probably a little late but perhaps others can learn from it.

All the best

Dave

Thanks for the tip Dave and welcome to the forum. Always great to welcome a long term owner. Post some pics of your car when you get a chance; it is a bit quirky the first time as pics may need resizing and you may have to have posted a few times for the list to accept attachments.

I will take a look over the winter at how I sealed the bumper bolts. I got after market bolts and think I used thin rubber washers and caulking during assembly, but the grommet solution sounds a lot better.

[steve.thomas]

Stu
This reply may be too late to help you, but it may help someone in future who is searching the archives.

Anyway, yesterday i removed the rear license plate and found two things that could be contributing to a damp boot - firstly there were several screw holes in the bodywork where previous license plates had been attached and which had not been sealed. Secondly there is large (approx 3inch) hole which looks original and I can only assume it is there to allow you to open the boot if the cable has snapped - it's just below the catch. I would have expected a grommet to be fitted, but there was none on my car - I think this may be only applicable to later Plus2's as I seem to remember the earlier models having a standard boot lock / handle. Mine is a 72 model.
Regards
Steve

[stugilmour]

Thanks Steve. I will take a look. The car is presently in the garage getting a bit of winter attention. I have not removed the bumper and plate yet, so still a timely tip.