Hello!
This is the second time I've found quite a lot of water in the spare wheel compartment of my X-Type estate.
The first time it ruined the rear parking sensor. I've just opened it up in order to install a new sensor and found it flooded again!
Has anyone else experienced the same problem before? Does anyone know what causes it and how to permanently fix the problem?
Cheers, from Portugal!

 

I would drill a small hole in the spare wheel well. (like I used to do in the S-Type sedans)
Find the lowest point and punch a small hole.

I like to PUNCH rather than drill to leave a small downward flange around the hole to discourage water ingress from splashing.

This won't prevent the leak but it will protect modules from water damage.

Probably the hatch seal or tail lamp seal?

 

Thanks for the tip, motorcarman! I just don't have any idea, so far, of what may be causing the issue. It's absurd for a spare tire compartment to get water anyway, but as full as I found it it's out of this world, so I'm really curious to find out if anyone else experienced the same problem!

 

The S-Type (X200) was notorious for getting water in the boot. It would get several inches deep and SLOSH.
Many electrical issues with all that water.

When I worked at the dealer I would punch a small hole to drain the water and then look at the tail lamps and boot lid seal for leaks.

X-Type had similar problems.

 

Check the radio antenna on the roof. I had the same problem with the spare tire wheel well flooding and it turned out to be the seal around the roof-mounted antenna. This was a few years ago and I believe I replaced the antenna itself. Not a bad job. You open the trunk and carefully pull the headliner down There's enough space between the roof and the headliner to get your hand in there and detach it from the roof. Then you just put it back together and wait and see if that was the problem.

Best of luck.

 

Thanks, guys!
It was, indeed, a few inches deep.
max224, you may be right! There is a crack in the seal of the antenna. Do you have any idea on how the water got there? Everything else is perfectly dry!
Cheers,
Wolfjag

 

As best as I can figure, water from rain and or from washing the car came through the seal and ran down the side of the headliner into the spare tire tub. There's a rubber plug in the bottom of the tub that you can leave out temporarily until you can change the antenna seal. The water in mine also shorted out the backup sensor module.

 

Any pictures of the antenna area we should be concerned about?

 

Sorry, no pictures. Antenna unit is a plastic block that has a gasket underneath it. I imagine, as a temporary repair, you could put a thin bead of silicone sealer around the edge. I changed out the whole unit which involved opening the tailgate, dropping down the headliner a few inches, and changing it out that way. A little tight working in there, but better than some other tasks I could mention.