I've discovered my trunk leaks. I found a considerable amount of water in the spare tire compartment as well as under the plastic storage compartment in the right wheel well.
Because the mat was damp, it must be a leaky trunk lid weatherstrip.

I'll be taking it for service, but has anyone any experience or insight into this that may be helpful?

Also, I discovered a plastic tube in the right wheel well, under the plastic bin.
It runs vertically and the bottom end goes through a grommet in the wheel well bottom and the top is out of sight behind trim.
Does anyone know its function?

Wow, I have an 06 Sonata and although I always find lots of junk in the trunk liner (leaves, bugs, dirt, pollen, water) none of it ever made it's way into the trunk.... you shouldn't have much trouble getting a warranty fix...

A plastic tube running vertically in the trunk....sounds like it could house wires? idk..

This post has been edited by dcjwlee: Sep 17 2008, 07:33 PM

I can't speak with any knowledge of the Sonata, but I know on previous cars of mine there were drain tubes for rain/water runoff. If one of those got clogged with crap, water was forced to go places you didn't want it.

You can test if it's the weatherstripping or if it's coming from somewhere else. Just set down some paper towels in the trunk and pour a pitcher of water over selective sections of your trunk. Check your trunk afterwords and try and find where water is coming in. Might be able to make an easy patch if it's just damaged weatherstripping.

Just to mention the NF Sonata was produced with a revolutionary :trophy:

triple seal Weather stripping, and many of us have noticed crimped or

semi defective seals. :whistling:

Do you have the sunroof? What exactly does the tube look like? Is it clear and smooth or is it black and corrugated?

If it's clear and smooth, it could be a water drainage tube, either for the sunroof or somewhere else. If it's black and corrugated, it probably houses wires of some sort. Based on your description of "through a grommet in the wheel well bottom," it's probably for water drainage from somewhere.

Either way, the leak should be covered under warranty, provided you have fewer than 100,000 kilometers on the car.

The tube is clear, smooth and perhaps 1/2" ID. There is nothing inside.
My guess is drainage. I just couldn't figure out from where.

You have given some ideas that I'll need to check out.
Maybe the external side of the weatherstrip gets drained. I'll have to take a look.
I do have a sunroof as well.

It is also still on warranty.

Just remembered I took a photo.
Hope it a posts OK.

hmmmm...I'm gonna have to check this out. I plan on waxing the Sonata tomorrow and will do an inspection.

Oddly enough, when I first got my pre-owned Sonata 9 months ago, I discovered that the bottom of the spare tire compartment was completely wet and there were some standing water (not nearly as much as the OP, but enough to soak a towel completely when I removed the water). There was also condensation around the spare tire compartment. The water has never returned though, I'm wondering if the original owner had a problem with a leak in the trunk area.

Anyhow, I hope the dealer can fix the leak for you! :460:

This post has been edited by bakshi6: Sep 18 2008, 07:05 AM

anyone think maybe there is a leak in the seal on the top part of the trunk? water from the roof and the back window run down the back of the vehicle into the trunk outline and then down the bumper.. maybe there is a leak in that track area, causing it to find its way into the trunk...

just a thought...

Could also be water left over from the detail guys cleaning the trunk. Not enough extraction. :whistling: Just a thought.

Where's tommer when you need him? :grin:

I had a problem with my 2002 sonata (my old car) and the strange thing was that the water was coming in from the back lights. I took them off and saw that the seal they used was really thin and as well i noticed that the light was not really tightened at all it was easy to take it off. I just took them off dryed the ruberry seals for a couple of hours put some silicon on them and put it back on the car but this time i tightened the screws a bit more. Just to be safe i changed the little seal that sits under the spare tier as well and i never had problems with water in the trunk. I live in iceland and ppl have this same problem with many cars not only hyundais. The biggest problem for rust here are ppl who have Hondas and Merc they rust like crazy really if you dont take REALLY good care of them.

The tubes you speak of are to vent the water drainage from the sunroof. Perhaps one has came off on the sunroof end? or maybe the trunk wasnt all the way closed on one of those sideways-rainy days?

Just a followup.

Apparently the leak was due to a bad rear window seal.
It was resealed.