Jack B
01-03-2014, 12:25 AM
I removed the tail light surround to get it painted. The car is just sitting there so I gave the area behind the surround a good inspection. You have to keep in mind, unless you remove the surround you would never see this area, it is usually hidden for the life of the car. For reference, my car is a 2013 that was delivered at the end of June.
There are three pictures below, one shows a white arrow, this is the viewing angle that is needed to see the area behind the wheelwell liner. The second picture shows the area at the rear of the wheelwell and the third picture shows the same spot, but, from the rear of the car.
Problem #1.
The area within the red circle (picture #2) shows an opening that is approx 3/16" X 2" that leads right into the hidden area behind the tail light surround. Maybe this oversight only occurred on my car, but, I do not think so. The problem is, during normal driving the area behind the wheelwell fills with dirt. That may seem like a nothing, however, when that mixes with water from a wet road you could have a 1/2" of mud in that hidden area. My car only has 3000 miles on it and it looked like a garden behind the wheelwell and that was on both sides.
Solution
Merely use clear silicone or black silicone and run a bead over that opening.
Problem #2
The passenger side area behind the wheelwell also had a 2" layer of leaves on top of the mud/dirt. I have the car off the lift so it will have to wait for this weekend to figure out how they got in there, it wasn't thru the 3/16" opening, these were large leaves. I think the brake cooling duct goes thru an area that can access the space behind the wheelwell. Most of the early 2013 car did not have the brake air duct fastened, therefore, that access hole to the wheelwell might have allowed debris to be blown back into the area behind the surround. I will figure it out this weekend. If you haven't tie-wrapped the rear brake air ducts in place, you might want to think about getting it done. I believe late 2013 and all 2014 models have a fitting that holds the duct into the wheelwell liner hole.
217521762177
There are three pictures below, one shows a white arrow, this is the viewing angle that is needed to see the area behind the wheelwell liner. The second picture shows the area at the rear of the wheelwell and the third picture shows the same spot, but, from the rear of the car.
Problem #1.
The area within the red circle (picture #2) shows an opening that is approx 3/16" X 2" that leads right into the hidden area behind the tail light surround. Maybe this oversight only occurred on my car, but, I do not think so. The problem is, during normal driving the area behind the wheelwell fills with dirt. That may seem like a nothing, however, when that mixes with water from a wet road you could have a 1/2" of mud in that hidden area. My car only has 3000 miles on it and it looked like a garden behind the wheelwell and that was on both sides.
Solution
Merely use clear silicone or black silicone and run a bead over that opening.
Problem #2
The passenger side area behind the wheelwell also had a 2" layer of leaves on top of the mud/dirt. I have the car off the lift so it will have to wait for this weekend to figure out how they got in there, it wasn't thru the 3/16" opening, these were large leaves. I think the brake cooling duct goes thru an area that can access the space behind the wheelwell. Most of the early 2013 car did not have the brake air duct fastened, therefore, that access hole to the wheelwell might have allowed debris to be blown back into the area behind the surround. I will figure it out this weekend. If you haven't tie-wrapped the rear brake air ducts in place, you might want to think about getting it done. I believe late 2013 and all 2014 models have a fitting that holds the duct into the wheelwell liner hole.
217521762177