How Do I Fix a Leak in a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier Trunk?

A trunk full of water after a car wash can be a perplexing problem. This is especially true if the deck lid on a 2000 Chevy Cavalier is properly aligned and there are no visible signs of damage. Foul odors, mold and mildew, and ruined and rusted tools or cargo in the trunk are all the result of standing water. Repair is essential. Although water leak repairs on this mid-sized model are not difficult to make, knowing where to start can be.

Instructions

1

Open the deck lid and inspect the neoprene seal. It should be spongy and resilient. Make sure there are no gaps, tears or deformations that could cause a water leak. If the seal is bad, pull it off and press a new seal into place.

2

Clean any debris and leaves from the drain channel next to the deck lid seal. Organic debris can collect in this channel and block the water run off, causing overflow. This debris can also decay, producing a foul odor.

3

Remove the tail lights and inspect the gasket. There are three black plastic wing nuts that hold each tail light in place. Remove the three nuts and pull the tail lights out. No tools should be needed; however, if the nuts are tight, loosen them with pliers. Tail light gaskets can fail and allow water to leak into the trunk. If there is any doubt as to their integrity, seal the gaskets with a thin coat of silicone sealer before reinstalling them.

4

Shut the deck lid and inspect the alignment and gap between the deck lid and the body. It should be uniform and even. Minor adjustments can be made at the hinges to improve alignment and at the striker-lock assembly to improve the deck lid seal's contact. Open the trunk and slightly loosen the four hinge bolts with a wrench. This will allow the deck lid to to be pushed slightly back or pulled slightly forward for better alignment. It can also be squared up if one side is more forward than the other. The striker-lock assembly can be raised or lowered a small amount to tighten or loosen the lid closure. Over-tightening will make the lid hard to open. Severe misalignment should be corrected by a qualified body shop.