Small Amounts of Water in Trunk

[2011SHELBYGT500CONV]

Does anyone get any water in their trunk? When I hand wash it no problem. If I go to the touchless washers, small drops, about 20 in the trunk floor area. I have a convertible so I am wondering if the run off that gets between the canvas top and trunk area meet when water builds up there, and goes I am guessing out some type of drainage or weep hole, a small amount leaks in the trunk. Anyone else have this problem, whether it's a convertible or hardtop? Thanks in advance.

[Torched10]

1st be careful with car washs---the power from the water spray may lift up your stripes--i also have a vert only wash it by hand and have never gotten water in trunk--check

along the edge of the seal to see if theres debris blocking the water flow--I have had this issue with my 65GTO--the best way to find any leak hole is to crawl in at night, close the lid and see where light gets in--guess itd be hard to do with a 500 though---you could try putting a light in the trunk and see if you can see light coming out--but my guess is the high pressure from the car wash is pushing the water in

[Boidster]

1st be careful with car washs---the power from the water spray may lift up your stripes--i also have a vert only wash it by hand and have never gotten water in trunk

 

Agree with hand-wash only, but he probably doesn't have any concerns about stripes. ^_^

 

~ 2011 SHELBY GT500 Convertible SVTPP/EP (STRIPE DELETE)

 

Where is the water showing up? Towards the front of the trunk or towards the back? Only on one side?

[2011SHELBYGT500CONV]

1st be careful with car washs---the power from the water spray may lift up your stripes--i also have a vert only wash it by hand and have never gotten water in trunk--check

along the edge of the seal to see if theres debris blocking the water flow--I have had this issue with my 65GTO--the best way to find any leak hole is to crawl in at night, close the lid and see where light gets in--guess itd be hard to do with a 500 though---you could try putting a light in the trunk and see if you can see light coming out--but my guess is the high pressure from the car wash is pushing the water in

 

I thought about crawling in the trunk, im not sure if I would fit, maybe get my son to do it.....luckly there is a trunk release inside so I wont get accused of locking him in there!

[2011SHELBYGT500CONV]

Agree with hand-wash only, but he probably doesn't have any concerns about stripes. ^_^

~ 2011 SHELBY GT500 Convertible SVTPP/EP (STRIPE DELETE)

Where is the water showing up? Towards the front of the trunk or towards the back? Only on one side?

Yea I normally hand wash it, sometimes do the touchless in-between if I don't have time to do a full wash myself. I also don't leave it out when it rains, however my concern is if it does rain and I'm out, if the rain leaks in....The water seems to be more concentrated in the right rear area, I do have a rubber mat back there so it doesnt get absorbed by the carpet, however my concern is where it is coming from, either the seal around the trunk lid or an area between the canvas top and where it meets the back of the trunk area and if the water pools up there and slowly drains, where does it go from there....???

[Torched10]

you could create your own rain storm by just hosing it down, not too strong spray,just rain like.If you want to experiment, tape off all the sections but one. ie only leave one area, say the top of the trunk lid open to the spray.See if any water gets in--keep doing tha till you find out where its getting in--- the water will teand to flow around the trunk lid and come out the bottom, but at least you can tell where its getting in.In my GTO, there was water getting between my vinyl top and the car, it would go into the boot well not the trunk---havent looked at how the 500 is designed, but since i can see the top in the trunk when its fodled down, id guess itd go into the trunk.Thinking out loud here, id start my expriment by taping the joint between the top and the car with the top up and see if your taking water there..This all warrnty work, but itd be good if you can tell them where its getting in

[2010KonaBlueGT]

Does anyone get any water in their trunk? When I hand wash it no problem. If I go to the touchless washers, small drops, about 20 in the trunk floor area. I have a convertible so I am wondering if the run off that gets between the canvas top and trunk area meet when water builds up there, and goes I am guessing out some type of drainage or weep hole, a small amount leaks in the trunk. Anyone else have this problem, whether it's a convertible or hardtop? Thanks in advance.

 

 

I get the same thing when I use a touchless wash. Mine is mostly along the rear edge inside the trunk. Pretty obvious that the seal isn't great.

 

Phill

[2011SHELBYGT500CONV]

you could create your own rain storm by just hosing it down, not too strong spray,just rain like.If you want to experiment, tape off all the sections but one. ie only leave one area, say the top of the trunk lid open to the spray.See if any water gets in--keep doing tha till you find out where its getting in--- the water will teand to flow around the trunk lid and come out the bottom, but at least you can tell where its getting in.In my GTO, there was water getting between my vinyl top and the car, it would go into the boot well not the trunk---havent looked at how the 500 is designed, but since i can see the top in the trunk when its fodled down, id guess itd go into the trunk.Thinking out loud here, id start my expriment by taping the joint between the top and the car with the top up and see if your taking water there..This all warrnty work, but itd be good if you can tell them where its getting in

 

 

I was going to try my own rain effect too like you described. The top goes into the trunk, but it actually has a tray, it doesnt go in all the way like the cars of the 60's. My sister has a 69 and the top eats part of the trunk up. The new design has a metal catch or tray buit in so whether the top is up or down the trunk space is the same. When I do my tests, I'll post some pics.

[2011SHELBYGT500CONV]

I get the same thing when I use a touchless wash. Mine is mostly along the rear edge inside the trunk. Pretty obvious that the seal isn't great.

 

Phill

 

 

Yea, I am thinking it's the rubbber seal around the trunk, maybe it is compressed in some spots, it looks perfect with the trunk lid open....Will further investigate it.

Thanks.

 

On another note, no worry on your stripes being removed from the touchless water spray like other have complained about?

[2010KonaBlueGT]

 

On another note, no worry on your stripes being removed from the touchless water spray like other have complained about?

 

 

 

Nope. And that's all I use. Too freakin' hot out here in the summer to handwash because I can't get it washed and dryed before the water evaporates and leaves spots.

 

Having said that, I did find a touchless car wash that I wouldn't even think about using. The spray nozels are mounted on a 3 spoke wheel kind of deal that spins the 3 nozzles around to cover a large area. And they are STRONG. There isn't too much doubt in my mind that it *could* pull a stripe.

 

The one I use is fairly mild (pressure wise) so pick your car wash wisely. I also picked the one I use because there's no wheel guide that I have to drive over.

 

BUT...I've never heard of ANYONE that had a stripe lift in a touchless car wash. The Owners Manual advises against it but that could just be Ford covering their ass.

 

Anyone here have a stripelift from a TOUCHLESS WASH (NOT a power washer at home)?

 

 

Phill

[2011SHELBYGT500CONV]

Well,I did the simulated rain test, all areas around the trunk seal, no water entering trunk. All the areas around the top where it meets/seals against the trunk lip, no water in the trunk. It's the touchless auto car wash. On of the nozzles must be very high pressure that it musts cause part of the seal around the trunk lid to fail to seal or let it bypass and that's how the water gets in there. So no more touchless auto car washes for me unless I can find one that has less pressure. And since I don't take it to the touchless detailers to do it since they drive your car a bit in the wash area and then around to the detail section, I will just being doing it myself which I end up doing a better job then they or the auto washers do anyway.

[2sharpie]

I can tell you the "seal" around the tailights isn't the greatest. I took the out when I tinted my tail lights, but don't remember if there is access from behind the taillights to the trunk. You might want to try removing one set of the lights to see if that's where your leak is coming from.

 

 

I got a better idea.....put the wife in the trunk!!!!!!

[Boidster]

I will just being doing it myself which I end up doing a better job then they or the auto washers do anyway.

 

Yes you will. Allow me to recommend the Optimum No-Rinse two-bucket wash method. Wash your car in 20 minutes with 5 gallons of water, plus leave behind a polymer coating. 30 minutes if you also want to clean all the windows and put some protectant on the trim. You can toss the buckets onto the lawn when you're done, too. Google it.

 

When I got my GT500 I searched around for what pro detailers were using for washing and waxing and whatnot. ONR was widely praised for washing (and also as a clay lube), and now that I've used it I will never do the soapy mitt & hose wash again, except on my truck which has crappy paint anyway. And even it gets a microfiber mit and a boar's hair flow-through brush from Griot's, now that I've gone all snobby on my car care products. :D

 

I don't have any stake in ONR; I'm just immensely pleased with how the product has worked. Also a fan of Griot's Speed Shine. Buy that stuff by the gallon.

[2010KonaBlueGT]

Well,I did the simulated rain test, all areas around the trunk seal, no water entering trunk. All the areas around the top where it meets/seals against the trunk lip, no water in the trunk. It's the touchless auto car wash. On of the nozzles must be very high pressure that it musts cause part of the seal around the trunk lid to fail to seal or let it bypass and that's how the water gets in there.

 

 

I agree with you. I think the washer pressure is pushing the lower seal (in my case) inward and pushing water past it. I'm not worried about a few spots of water in my trunk because of the method I use to wash my car. My trunk gets dried with every other 'hidden area' on my car. Here's how I do mine:

 

I pull into the touchless wash booth and let the machine do it's work. I pull out of the booth through the dryer blowers but before I get all the way past the shut-off beam I slowly back up, then pull forward (repeat until blowers shut off) to use all the blower time they give me. I pull my car around to the entrance side but I pull into one of the (3 available) wand type booths so I have a shaded area to work in (sun and arid dry cars FAST out here). I leave the engine running for a short time to aid in drying it. I pop the hood, the trunk and both doors with the engine still running. I have a bag of micro-fiber towels in the trunk that I pull out and hang on the wand in the booth. Then, starting with the open trunk I wipe dry all of the trunk sealing areas, the channel around the trunk, the door jambs (on the doors AND on the car), the underside of the hood, the inside of the engine bay (engine is now off), etc. Always starting from the rear and working forward. I slam the doors a couple of times to shake the water out of the handles, the mirrors, etc. and catch/dry the water from there. Same with the trunk. Open, close, open, close (my wing seems to collect water and that's the only way I've found to drain it). Hood? Same. Close it, let the water drip from <where ever>, dry it, open it, dry it, repeat as necessary.

 

I use a mild car wash soap and a soft spoke brush on my wheels BEFORE I head to the car wash so they get clean too. And I always get the undercar spray in case I get any left-over salt from the roads on the car.

 

 

YMMV,

Phill

[2010KonaBlueGT]

Yes you will. Allow me to recommend the Optimum No-Rinse two-bucket wash method. Wash your car in 20 minutes with 5 gallons of water, plus leave behind a polymer coating. 30 minutes if you also want to clean all the windows and put some protectant on the trim. You can toss the buckets onto the lawn when you're done, too. Google it.

 

When I got my GT500 I searched around for what pro detailers were using for washing and waxing and whatnot. ONR was widely praised for washing (and also as a clay lube), and now that I've used it I will never do the soapy mitt & hose wash again, except on my truck which has crappy paint anyway. And even it gets a microfiber mit and a boar's hair flow-through brush from Griot's, now that I've gone all snobby on my car care products. :D

 

I don't have any stake in ONR; I'm just immensely pleased with how the product has worked. Also a fan of Griot's Speed Shine. Buy that stuff by the gallon.

 

 

I may have to try this. If I could keep my entire car wet, then pull into my garage (for the shade) it might work. The problem here in Co. Springs is that we're over a mile high )6100' ASL) so the sun is BAKING and the air is DRY. You can leave a piece of bread out for 10 minutes and it's hard as a brick so the water on a car dries faster than you can get to it. Even in the shade.

 

 

Phill

[Boidster]

I may have to try this. If I could keep my entire car wet, then pull into my garage (for the shade) it might work. The problem here in Co. Springs is that we're over a mile high )6100' ASL) so the sun is BAKING and the air is DRY. You can leave a piece of bread out for 10 minutes and it's hard as a brick so the water on a car dries faster than you can get to it. Even in the shade.

 

Yeah, I hear ya. In Nebraska we get the heat, but also humidity so dessication of bread takes longer. ^_^

 

The thing about the no-rinse products (and there are other good ones besides ONR; I just heard about ONR from the most forums/blogs so I went with it) is that you basically wash/rinse/dry each section all at once. So keeping the car wet really isn't a concern. I can wash the GT500 in my garage without ever being in the sun or using a hose after filling the buckets. Here's the method in a bit of detail:

 

1. Gather: 2x 5-gal buckets, 1x microfiber wash mitt, 1x microfiber waffle-weave drying towel, Optimum No-Rinse, whatever towels/brushes you use for wheels

2. Fill the wash bucket with 2 gallons of water and 1 oz of ONR

3. Fill the rinse bucket with 3 gallons of water; adding a "grit guard" is recommended

4. If car is super-dirty, you can give it a blast from the hose to knock off chunks of dirt, dead bugs, small mammals, whatever. Most normal road dirt/grime can just be washed off with the process below, though

5. Starting at the top and working down:

1. Dunk wash mitt into wash bucket; wring out slightly so it's plenty wet, but not pouring water everywhere

2. Wipe down a section with the mitt; flip mitt over as it collects dirt

3. For tougher dirt, let ONR soak for a bit - it doesn't look like soap, but it actually cleans very well

4. Drop wash mitt into rinse bucket while you use the waffle-weave to dry the section you just washed (you do not rinse the section, hence "no-rinse")

5. Rinse & wring wash mitt and repeat from 1

[*]Use remaining ONR solution to do wheels, wheel wells, any other grimy areas (I use a different cloth or a brush for this; too much grime for my MF mitt)

[*]Throw ONR and rinse solution onto lawn

 

 

I do my car in this order: roof (both sides), trunk lid/spoiler (including the hidden areas the lid, rear bumper, side, hood, front bumper, other side, wheels & under hood.

 

It seems a little odd/scary to be wiping on the "wash" solution and then just drying it off, since I grew up doing the typical hose/bucket/soap/sponge wash in the driveway, but ONR has enough lubricity to protect the paint while the microfiber mitt picks up dirt and holds onto it. In fact, at 2 oz/gallon, ONR makes an excellent clay lube. And at 8 oz/gallon (I think) it can even be used as a quick-detailer (tho I use Griot's Speed Shine for that).

 

Another neat trick, if you're anal-retentive like I am: I bought a small half-gallon or so pump-sprayer and I keep some ONR at wash strength in it. When I get home I spray down the front of the car (covered with dead insects) and soak a microfiber towel with the solution and then just wipe all the bugs off. Since I'm not using a soaked wash mitt, I make sure that the wet towel is well soaked and that I've sprayed plenty of solution on the bumper. Another MF towel is used for drying (ONR should not air-dry). Takes maybe 5 minutes and I don't have bug guts eating the clearcoat.

 

Also - you can add 1oz of ONR to regular car wash water to soften it, add some lubricity, and get the polymers into the mix to leave some extra shine after washing.

 

I've only been using the no-rinse method since I got the GT500, so about 4 months, but I am completely sold. It's easy, fast, results in almost no mess, and can be done in the garage. Even at 10PM when I get a wild hair to go wash The Other Woman.

[2011SHELBYGT500CONV]

Yeah, I hear ya. In Nebraska we get the heat, but also humidity so dessication of bread takes longer. ^_^

 

The thing about the no-rinse products (and there are other good ones besides ONR; I just heard about ONR from the most forums/blogs so I went with it) is that you basically wash/rinse/dry each section all at once. So keeping the car wet really isn't a concern. I can wash the GT500 in my garage without ever being in the sun or using a hose after filling the buckets. Here's the method in a bit of detail:

 

1. Gather: 2x 5-gal buckets, 1x microfiber wash mitt, 1x microfiber waffle-weave drying towel, Optimum No-Rinse, whatever towels/brushes you use for wheels

2. Fill the wash bucket with 2 gallons of water and 1 oz of ONR

3. Fill the rinse bucket with 3 gallons of water; adding a "grit guard" is recommended

4. If car is super-dirty, you can give it a blast from the hose to knock off chunks of dirt, dead bugs, small mammals, whatever. Most normal road dirt/grime can just be washed off with the process below, though

5. Starting at the top and working down:

   2. Dunk wash mitt into wash bucket; wring out slightly so it's plenty wet, but not pouring water everywhere

   3. Wipe down a section with the mitt; flip mitt over as it collects dirt

   4. For tougher dirt, let ONR soak for a bit - it doesn't look like soap, but it actually cleans very well

   5. Drop wash mitt into rinse bucket while you use the waffle-weave to dry the section you just washed (you do not rinse the section, hence "no-rinse")

   6. Rinse & wring wash mitt and repeat from 1

[*]Use remaining ONR solution to do wheels, wheel wells, any other grimy areas (I use a different cloth or a brush for this; too much grime for my MF mitt)

[*]Throw ONR and rinse solution onto lawn

 

 

I do my car in this order: roof (both sides), trunk lid/spoiler (including the hidden areas the lid, rear bumper, side, hood, front bumper, other side, wheels & under hood.

 

It seems a little odd/scary to be wiping on the "wash" solution and then just drying it off, since I grew up doing the typical hose/bucket/soap/sponge wash in the driveway, but ONR has enough lubricity to protect the paint while the microfiber mitt picks up dirt and holds onto it. In fact, at 2 oz/gallon, ONR makes an excellent clay lube. And at 8 oz/gallon (I think) it can even be used as a quick-detailer (tho I use Griot's Speed Shine for that).

 

Another neat trick, if you're anal-retentive like I am: I bought a small half-gallon or so pump-sprayer and I keep some ONR at wash strength in it. When I get home I spray down the front of the car (covered with dead insects) and soak a microfiber towel with the solution and then just wipe all the bugs off. Since I'm not using a soaked wash mitt, I make sure that the wet towel is well soaked and that I've sprayed plenty of solution on the bumper. Another MF towel is used for drying (ONR should not air-dry). Takes maybe 5 minutes and I don't have bug guts eating the clearcoat.

 

Also - you can add 1oz of ONR to regular car wash water to soften it, add some lubricity, and get the polymers into the mix to leave some extra shine after washing.

 

I've only been using the no-rinse method since I got the GT500, so about 4 months, but I am completely sold. It's easy, fast, results in almost no mess, and can be done in the garage. Even at 10PM when I get a wild hair to go wash The Other Woman.

 

 

Thanks for the write-ups on the ONR. Ill have to look into to it. There is another product, sounds similar, Fast Wax, guys are always trying to peddle it at the gas stations. I wont let them "Demonstrate it" on my Shelby. It sounds similar to ONR. You guys ever heard/use it? For me, its hard to break away from water and soap and multiple hand mitts, for the different cars and different buckets for the wheels..

 

www.fastwax.com

 

 

Also not too impressed with the Demo Video. Would you allow them to clean your Shelby?

[Boidster]

I don't know anything personally about the FW1 product, though based on what I read when Googling it, I probably would not ever use it on any of my cars. The detailing forum that I frequent - Autopia.com - had only one substantive comment in the only FW1-related thread:

 

I see that stuff twice a year when the NASCAR circus comes to town here. With Talladega being next door, it's a big to do here. Although I think they changed the labeling at some point, I was given a can of this a long time ago. I think I might have used it once or twice playing around with it. IIRC, it smelled very solvent-like, and you might could get about 2 regular sized cars out of a can. It's not something I would be using, having learned some of the things that i know now.

 

Compare that one thread at Autopia to the 452 threads that mention 'ONR' and it's clear which product detailers use (between those two, anyway).

 

I would be skeptical about any product that claims to be a one-step, waterless wash-and-wax for arbitrarily dirty cars. Note that ONR is not a waterless wash, it is a no-rinse wash. Big difference.

 

Waterless Wash: spray-on, wipe-off car wash. No buckets, no water (duh). All of these contain polymers that trap dirt and also protect the paint surface. They have very high lubricity (very slimy/slick) to protect the paint. Usually not recommended for very dirty cars or adhered dirt (like tar), but the better ones (like Blackfire Wet Diamond Waterless Wash) can do a great job on moderate dirt.

 

No-rinse Wash: concentrated polymer-based (almost no suds, no detergents) wash product that you mix into a bucket of water. Wipe on (with soaked wash mitt, like you would with regular wash soap), dry off. No-rinse products can be used to replace a hose/soap/bucket wash for almost all conditions. In addition to ONR, you could try Ultima Waterless Wash+ Concentrate, Detailer's Pro Rinseless Wash & Gloss, and others.

 

Quick-detailer: spray-on, wipe-off dust remover and shine enhancer. For light dust only. I use Griot's Speed Shine but there are many others.

 

Here's a recent Autopia thread where a person asked about No-rinse ("rinseless") and waterless washes.