Topic: Dirt, Dust, And Grass In Trunk

[Charlie W]

Today is the 1st anniversary of the last day I worked. I went on short and then long term disability on 11-11-08 to begin my battle with cancer. After 6 weeks of radiation and chemo, two operations, then 8 more rounds of chemo my Doctor says there is no reason I can't live out a normal life. I applied for Social Security in August and went on Medicare in October.
I had a lot of time to work on my car this summer. After 22,000 miles and almost 3 years it was getting a little dirt and dust under the hood and in the trunk. I started cleaning every little nook and crannie. At one point I even washed and waxed the inside of the wheel wells. Buy the time I was done it looked better than when it came out of the show room.
Now the problem. On one of our OKISS Sunday runs on county roads in Kentucky we encountered a lot of dried mowed grass and dust. When we got home and put the top up there was grass and dust all over the top and in the trunk. I found it was coming in through a big hole behind the liciense plate light. I used duct tape to close up the hole and went on two more runs, one of which had more mowed grass, and it solved the problem. This weekend I made a cover out of .025 thick aluminum, that mounts on the light, allows the light to shine through, and closes up the hole. Can't have duct tape on a GXP.

[DeepBlueGXP]

Where the hood meets the fender, place a foam rubber seal on the edges of the fender well.  That will seal up the gap and prevent durt from slinging off the tires under the hood

[Arabas]

Charlie W, as far as the dust in the engine bay, you should take a look at mine...then you would believe yours is cleaner than clean...
about the trunk, yeah you should fix that the way DeepBlueGXP says...
enjoy your kappa, your retirement and i truly hope that you feel better, stronger and healthier each and every day!!
i am sure your kappa is your best buddy to achieve this 

[Critterman]

Just one problem with what you did Charlie, the hole you covered by the lincense plate is the drain for the lip around the trunk.  You know the big pan in the back catches all the water that runs around the side channels back into that tray.  In the back is an s shaped channel that ends at the hole above the license plate.  As long as you never wash the car or drive in the rain you will be fine, but if you do either of the above you might want to rethink covering that hole.

[Charlie W]

Just one problem with what you did Charlie, the hole you covered by the lincense plate is the drain for the lip around the trunk.  You know the big pan in the back catches all the water that runs around the side channels back into that tray.  In the back is an s shaped channel that ends at the hole above the license plate.  As long as you never wash the car or drive in the rain you will be fine, but if you do either of the above you might want to rethink covering that hole.

After I read your post I pulled the light back out. On my car there is 1/2 an inch between the edge of the tray and the hole. Any water that runs off the tray will go on to the back of the valance then on the road.

[Kelu]

Charlie can I kindly ask you take some pictures?
After reading your post I have discovered I have problems with the water in the trunk. Because I barely open my trunk I didn't noticed I have a wet carpet in the trunk.
I don't know yet if it is because of the drain or other things.
I did some research but I'm not sure where is the drain spot of the water, are those 2 small square holes next to the license plate lights?

P.S. I was suspected of cancer at 23 years, but turned out to be just a non cancerous tumor. I don't want to remember that period between I have discovered I have a tumor and until I found out it isn't actually a cancerous one, all that period I was diagnosed as cancer tumor. I don't want to think how you felt when you find out your problem, it's awesome to hear what your doctor said, I wish you all good well and to live many happy and long years next to your kappa and to post many nice post like you did until now. You should be one of ours Kings of Clean  

[Charlie W]

Go here and take a look at another and better way to solve the dirt and dust problem.
http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f62/dirt-dust-grass-trunk-60436/#post907654

I don't know if the drains are in the same place on an Opel GT. I don't have any square holes by my light.

[Charlie W]

Just one problem with what you did Charlie, the hole you covered by the lincense plate is the drain for the lip around the trunk.  You know the big pan in the back catches all the water that runs around the side channels back into that tray.  In the back is an s shaped channel that ends at the hole above the license plate.  As long as you never wash the car or drive in the rain you will be fine, but if you do either of the above you might want to rethink covering that hole.

I took some measurments just to make sure that I was right about the relationship of the drain pan and the hole I closed up. I am not much of an artist but here is what I came up with. The lip is actually 1.5 inches below the hole.