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Rain water in spare tire compartment

7692 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Bretore
A few months ago, my wife had a flat in the rain. After she got home, I was getting the flat tire out of the spare tire well and noticed about 2 inches of water. Thinking that the flat tire may have filled with water until she got the car stopped, I just dried it out and forgot about it. About 2 months later I was checking tire pressures and noticed about an inch of water in the spare tire well. Took the 2018 Traverse to Chev. They could not find any source for the water so I brought the car home. About a month later after a medium rain, I checked again and lo and behold, water in the spare tire well again. Back to Chev. but once again they could not find a problem and they even left the car outside during a 2" rainfall, sitting level the same as my driveway.

I am puzzled as to where the water might be coming in and how to determine the problem. No idea why the car did not leak for Chev dealer. They even sent me videos when they opened the well to show, no water.

Anyone else run into this?
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Is that the only place you've found water?
Is the carpet wet anywhere else?
Do you have a sunroof?
Is that the only place you've found water?
Is the carpet wet anywhere else?
Do you have a sunroof?
That is the only place. No wet carpet, no sun roof. It has been frustrating not being able to determine source, even with lots of water test.
Here's what I would try: Put a bright light in the well at night. Crawl underneath and see if you can see light anywhere. Or conversely, put the light underneath and see if you can see any light in the well.
Here's what I would try: Put a bright light in the well at night. Crawl underneath and see if you can see light anywhere. Or conversely, put the light underneath and see if you can see any light in the well.
Thanks, I have already tried both methods, no luck. I am looking for some water soluble paint that I can paint inside the well and hopefully when it leaks, it will leave a line in the paint.
Let us know how it goes.
So did you discover the water after driving?
Or the water pooled up even just sitting there parked?
So did you discover the water after driving?
Or the water pooled up even just sitting there parked?
From what I could tell, just sitting, on a level driveway.
Maybe a leak from the roof/roof rails or maybe a faulty window seal or something?
This is gonna require some investigating for sure though
Maybe a leak from the roof/roof rails or maybe a faulty window seal or something?
This is gonna require some investigating for sure though
Yep, thank goodness we are under warranty. Chev dealer has had it twice with no success. The saga continues.
I figured maybe someone else had encountered this problem.
Maybe it's because most people do not check the spare tire until they need it. So go ahead and take the back of your vehicle apart and remove the spare tire to have a look under it. There is a piece of white insulation under the spare tire, so you should see some staining if you have a leak.
I kind of feel like at this point I'd tell them you don't want the car back until it's fixed. Give me a Traverse loaner and tell me when it's done.
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If I were with my original dealer in Atlanta, I could do that, but we are now in FL and a different dealer will not provide a loaner, but we have another vehicle.
It's a tough problem to solve when they can't make it leak. So when it does leak, I take pictures for them.
I just wouldn't want to get stuck holding the bag out of warranty... water inside of cars is a scary proposition when considering mold and electronics.
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What happens at a car wash on a sunny day?
If it happens then, have the deal get in a see how it gets in.
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Thanks, I have already tried both methods, no luck. I am looking for some water soluble paint that I can paint inside the well and hopefully when it leaks, it will leave a line in the paint.
How about pulling everything out of the well, have someone sit inside watching while you use a hose/pressure washer simulating rain on various parts of the car (roof, side windows, tailgate)? I would venture to guess that if it is happening while parked that it's not leaking from below. Plus if it was leaking from below it should also drain as you said there was 2" of standing water.
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A few months ago, my wife had a flat in the rain. After she got home, I was getting the flat tire out of the spare tire well and noticed about 2 inches of water. Thinking that the flat tire may have filled with water until she got the car stopped, I just dried it out and forgot about it. About 2 months later I was checking tire pressures and noticed about an inch of water in the spare tire well. Took the 2018 Traverse to Chev. They could not find any source for the water so I brought the car home. About a month later after a medium rain, I checked again and lo and behold, water in the spare tire well again. Back to Chev. but once again they could not find a problem and they even left the car outside during a 2" rainfall, sitting level the same as my driveway.

I am puzzled as to where the water might be coming in and how to determine the problem. No idea why the car did not leak for Chev dealer. They even sent me videos when they opened the well to show, no water.

Anyone else run into this?
I ran into this problem in my 2008 Chevy equinox. I believe the water was going under the rubber seal of the lift gate. I never alleviated the issue though. I just drilled holes through the floor in the bottom of the tire well. :ROFLMAO: No more water!! lol
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2020. Trav Same problem here, 2inches if water in the tub. You can see a seam at the back top portion of the spare tire tub where there are drip marks coming down. Have not traced it up from there. Also water in pass side inner tail light.Going to take it in and see if the find the leak. Seems to happen more in hard rain or if I wash it, I only hand wash and I don't ever put too much of a straight shot water anywhere only a fan spray, same way Ive been washing cars for 20yrs. Slightly back sloping drive way.
I have the same problem on my Chevrolet Traverse 2018. Water accumulates in the tub, in the spare tire trunk. I have noticed last year but I thought that may be I have spill water. But now again with more water… I can’t find from where it is coming. This is clean water so it must be from rain. Cannot see any traces. Anyone’s figure out from where your problem is coming? Should be the same I guess.
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