Celica Vert Top Leak - Help Wanted Options

[SoBeforLife]

Hey there folks. I'm another new guy in town. Just got my 95 Celica convertible about 2 weeks ago. Brilliant condition.

After giving the car a wash, I saw there was a small leak in the trunk, just a small drip. Since I figured it was exclusive to the trunk, I didn't worry about it too much.

However, after driving 5 hours in the rain over the weekend, the trunk was soaked, so I began taking the trunk apart. There was a cap underneath the spare tire that wasn't where it should be, leaving a 2 inch hole to the outside. As I started taking the trunk apart to see if I could find the source, I eventually moved to the back seats, took those out, all the back trim, the vinyl hold for the top when it's down, and eventually everything up to lifting the carpet behind the front seats. It is apparent now that I have a major leak, maybe a couple. So here's the list.

1. Trunk floor carpet is SOAKED, which COULD be due to that cap being gone, but seems like a lot of water to make it past the spare tire AND the cardboard cover.
2. Foam underneath the back seats is substantially wet on the lower parts (underneath your butt, as it were).
3. Underneath the carpet just behind the driver's side is slightly wet, but 99.9% dry.
4. Underneath the carpet on the passenger side is SOAKED up to about half the length of the seat, maybe less.

There are no OBVIOUS leaks from the top itself, which is brand new except for the section around the back window. The girl who owned it before me had an ex-boyfriend who slashed the top and all four tires, so the top is less than a year old. Everything SEEMS to check out as far as seals (windows, etc.)

The source is probably in the back passenger side, with maybe a small similar leak in the same place on the driver's side. Has anyone had similar experiences and be able to help me narrow down my search, for find something I might not be able to see? I ran out of light tonight before I could finish gutting the inside.

Also: Is it normal that the seam between the section that holds the back window and the rest of the top is not sealed?

I'll probably end up taking the passenger seat out and pulling the carpet up as much as I can, but I'd prefer not to gut the WHOLE thing if I don't have to.

Thanks in advance (and also, I did do a search but didn't find anything, so sorry if this sounds like a repeat).

-SoBe

[MaskedMan]

All the water that collects from the convertible top should run off and then into a drain. Sounds like possibly either your drain is clogged and/or the water is being redirected into your car rather than out of it. I doubt that the hole beneath your spare tire played any part of this Celica flood. The only place where water could get into all the places you mentioned is from the back part of the convertible top or the rear windows seals.