Leaky C5 Z06
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Cruising
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10
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From: NJ
Leaky C5 Z06
Hey everybody! I just purchased my first Corvette, a 2002 Z06 in quicksilver metallic, and I absolutely love it. I luckily managed to find one with only 12,000 miles on it and everything about it still seems new. Here's my issue; Took it to the car wash for the first time and noticed at the corners where the rear window meets the body, I had water leaking into the cargo area. Yikes! Being a newbie I thought maybe this is a common thing (or my own damn fault for not hand washing it only) so I figured I'd head to the forum. I've seen a lot of posts about leaks with convertibles but not with a Z06. The two leaks were identical in location (where the bottom window meets the body) and amount of water coming through (about a drip or 2 a second for just a minute or two after coming through the wash.). It was easily cleaned up but I'd still like to not have a leaky car. Also, when I popped the trunk to try and locate the problem, I noticed A LOT of water in the channel for the lid, and even some soap residue on the interior portion of the underside of the trunk lid just above the channel. I also took a look at the weather stripping around the rear window and it's definitely not entirely adhered at the corners where the window meets the body Anyone with experience or knowledge on this issue?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,532
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From: pueblo co
the soap you are finding around the seal in the trunk lid is common and will happen..no way around that..as far as the window..sounds like you have a seal failure and the glass just has to be taken out cleaned and then resealed...almost any auto glass shop will do this for you..but its going to be at your own risk..i.e.if the glass blows up then you are just out....another thing you could try is to pull apart the trim around the glass..and make sure its 100% dry then apply some black silicone to where its leaking at...
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I've got a few files on C5 water leaks, including one that has a lot of good info on all sorts of leaks. If you'd like a copy, PM me your e-mail address.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,032
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From: Del Boca Vista FL
I have three friends with 2000 FRC's (all Pewter color). All three leak and the leaks are getting worse. Since joining the C5 forum I have seen this issue posted more than once and I asked the engineer of the three (yes, he is an actual engineer and a great Corvette mechanic) about the problem and he said it is not a leaking gasket. It is a separation/breakdown of the bonding material at the seams where the top is bonded to the lower body in the rear. It appears like a gasket leak but replacing the gasket does not cure it.
I don't know if this is in fact the cause of the leak but my 2000 convertible doesn't leak in that area while the three FRC's do.
I don't know if this is in fact the cause of the leak but my 2000 convertible doesn't leak in that area while the three FRC's do.
