I've noticed that when in heavy rain I'll get a leak at the top of the rear hatch at the corners. I tried to recreate it yesterday by pouring some water in the top groove of the hatch and got the same effect,where water poured in from the corners of the top of the hatch.

I looked at try gasket and while it feels fresh and pliant, I noticed that the lip that goes around the top is angled differently in differently places. It seems to be pushed more towards the roof on the sides, where the center area behind the sunroof is a little more flat.

I suspect the water gets blocked up in the corners due to the compressed trough that the pushed-up lips at the upper corners creates and forces the water to overflow into the back of the trim and out into the car.

I have a picture of a corner from inside and I'm not sure if this looks right. Any thoughts?
image.jpg

 

What is that bracket looking device from under the panels ?
I don't have that on my car. My panels are flush.
That thing is deforming the molding (or whatever it's called)

 

That makes two of us then, as I'm not sure what that is either. Just needed some validation. Will do a little inspection to see what the intent of that was.

 

Thr bracket looking thing holds the flat ribbon wire for the 3rd brake light and courtesy light. If wiring frays(as mine did) you will lose passenger stop light and 3rd taillight. It does not take a lot of moisture for the press board backing to warp.

It does look correct in picture. If rubber is good try lifting it up a bit where not fitting ( corners) Check that the drains are clear in all 4 corners ( use weed eater line to clear)

 

Thanks, JoeJoe. That would make sense, and the PO had done some third light work right before I got it since the stop light was shorting things.

The lip is pretty flexible, so it may have gotten bent a bit as well. I'll clean out the trench as described, then check the form of the channel. Hopefully I can do without removing the trunk lid, since I'm not sure how to go about that. I see the four connecting screws in the two hatches in the roof lining, but not sure if it is a hidden PITA.

 

Taking the lid off is not terribly difficult, getting it back on and aligned correct is definetly a 2 man job. It is both heavy and awkward.

 

Cleaned and tested again and I still had the problem, but I think it is due to that wire harness placement. I think it has pushed up the gasket on the lip so that water is getting choked or overflowing the uncovered lip. I haven't taken off the trunk lid, but I think that harness in the pic is causing the issue.

Any other S4 owners have a pic of this area? Just want to make sure I had this adjuster right.