Water ingress - B9 Avant Tailgate.

[Jonfun]

Water ingress - B9 Avant Tailgate.

Hi All - really hoping at least 1 person has experienced this also with their B9 Avant and can offer some insight.

Had my B9 Avant for around 5 years now, in the last 6 months it has developed an issue after heavy rain whereby the tailgate (Not boot interior) fills with water and when opening, the water pours out through any exit it can find (interior trim edges, rear light covers, boot hinges).

We had the boot completely apart this weekend and the trim and lights out to try and identify where the water may be getting in - back of the lights? car reg plate? .. I even sat in the boot and father in law hosed the car down! But we're struggling to identify anything.

As I say the water isnt getting into the actual boot interior, so water is getting past the boot seal - just into the actual metal work of the tailgate.

.. Sorry, ramble over. If anyone has had any experience with this or a similar issue, I'd really appreciate your input

Thanks all
Jon

 

[Jonfun]

Edit:

As I say the water isnt getting into the actual boot interior, so water isn't getting past the boot seal - just into the actual metal work of the tailgate.

 

[DJAlix]

check the wear wiper motor. Willing to bet its the washer

 

[Jonfun]

Funnily enough we did swap out the motor this weekend as the washer was blocked,

We found no evidence that the motor had been leaking or been causing any issues.

not so say there isnt an issue with the hose somewhere further up the pipe ...

but the sheer volume of water that collects in the tailgate is shocking and always after heavy rain storm.

plot thickens.

 

[DJAlix]

remove tailgate trims, sit in the boot with hatch closed and have someone use the rear wiper / washer in order to test. Only other way in for water would be via the high level brake light, rear light clusters, a gap in the aperture runner seal or via the rubber wiring pipes / grommets.

 

[Jonfun]

Thanks @DJAlix .. appreciate the input, will add these suggestions to the list for the weekend.

Thanks
Jon

 

[spartacus68]

Motors are made by Valeo. The copper pipe that runs to the washer jet eventually breaks and applying the washer just pours screen-wash into the tailgate. Warning signs apart from a wet tailgate is erratic electrical behaviour. There will be a part number on the old motor if you're swapping out.

I accept the jet can block. You can use a needle with pliers to unblock and use a little mineral oil to lube.

 

[Jonfun]

Thanks @spartacus 68 appreciate the input

 

[Senno]

I believe what Spartacus68 says is also the root cause of the boot shutting on your head issue that others have had. The pipe that goes through the motor carrying the washer fluid blocks quite easily, causing back pressure on the plastic connector onto the motor. Inside this is a seal that then fails, shooting fluid into the boot space. I am in the process of swapping out the boot switch, tailgate switch and the tailgate latch which I believe all have electrical failures due to this issue.

 

[Spidercush]

Hi Jon fun, I have a 2021 B9 Avant with this exact issue that I'm currently trying to solve. Water getting into the boot liner only after heavy rain, definitely not the rear washer. I have the trim off but can't find the issue. Did you get to the bottom of it? Thanks

 

[Jonfun]

Hi Jon fun, I have a 2021 B9 Avant with this exact issue that I'm currently trying to solve. Water getting into the boot liner only after heavy rain, definitely not the rear washer. I have the trim off but can't find the issue. Did you get to the bottom of it? Thanks

HI @Spidercush

I do suspect the issue is now resolved, but frustratingly I'm none the wiser as to what was causing the issue.

We removed the entire tailgate trim, wiper arm, wiper motor, rear lights, number plate .. and put it all back together.

Since that point the issue doesn't seem to have re-occurred, I could never get to the source of the issue - although it did always seem consistent after heavy rain had fallen, so a leaky washer pipe was never my suspicion.

Whether something was loose and we'd tightening everything back up when putting back together who knows?

...


In short I know thats not much help, but maybe just removing the tailgate trim as a starter for 10 would be a good first step ... I even sat in the boot whsilt someone sprayed a hose at the back ...

Anyhow, good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[Spidercush]

Thanks! I have the trim removed and I also adjusted the rubber stops to have the boot sit tighter against the seals. After one bad day of rain things seem to be OK but need a few more heavy showers before I'll put the trim back on!

 

[zorvak]

Hello there! We're having the same issue on our 2020 A4 Avant - very noticeable after heavy rainfall. @Spidercush did you ever work out what it was? Thanks

 

[Spidercush]

Hi zorvak, I thought I had it sorted by screwing in the stoppers further to give a better seal compression around the boot, but after some heavy rain last night I'm back to square one, loads of water in boot today. I did take off one of the rubber bungs on the bottom lip of the boot which helps drain the water when it is there, but I still have the issue and cannot find the source of the leak. If anyone has any ideas be great, it's defo not the rear screen spray, plus I've taken off trim and rear lights and number place and can't find any issues there...

 

[km58]

Hello, today after self car wash opened tailgate and noticed the same issue…as it is winter outside, put car in garage, removed taillights and removed tailgate trim so it can dry in warm place, but havent found the reason yet. Right one of taillights is also foggy and it seems that water is only in right side of tailgate, really no one has found the real reason yet?… i will put some pics of how it looks for me

 

[Spidercush]

Ya seems similar to what I seeing. Small bit of fog in taillight I don't think is related. The lights are sealed as a unit, separate to the tailgate. I'm thinking it's coming from higher up at 3rd brake light as I've checked lights, reg plate area a lot and can't find. The top trim comes off easily if you pull the arms of it inward it unclips. I'll remove my trim again and focus on that area.