Hello - I am new to the site. I found only one short thread on the subject which did not mention if the suggested fix worked. After a hard rain or snow melt the cavity holding the third brake light fixture fills with water and pours out onto my cargo carpet when I make a left turn. I took the fixture apart and saw no obvious place where water could enter. It is happening every time it rains. The solution offered was to clean out any debris that may have gathered under the gasket. I see no debris looking a the gasket from the outside of the car, but I intend to do a more thorough check with water hose later. I know it is not my rear window washer tubing because I already repaired that hose and the car does not have a sunroof. I'd like to know if anyone in this group has been through this and how the issue was resolved. Off to the wash your own with high pressure hose now ---

 

Hi Rich, to the forums!

The third brake light is completely on the interior of the vehicle, and entirely in the rear hatch. The only ways I can see for liquid to enter is washer fluid, or the seal for the rear glass.

 

Check the weather strip around the top of the hatch , I haven’t had or seen this problem before , here’s a photo of tge area the third brake light is

 

I just reexamined the weatherstrip and found no debris or obvious deformity, but if I pull the strip up I can feel a gap. However, the e weatherstrip should seal this gap when the hatch is closed. The third brakelight molding cover is in direct contact with the weatherstrip, so if water is making it over the strip it would easily enter the third brakelight molding which is where water pools on my car. I figure I can either:
1) replace the weatherstrip if I can find the part, or 2) remove the strip, apply silicone sealant to the metal rib to which the strip attaches and reattach it.

The issue with the second option is that the space between the hatch and the strip itself is extremely tight and will be very difficult to do properly without removing the hatch itself. I'm having some difficulty finding an OEM replacement for the weatherstrip which may be the easier fix. Anyone know where I might find the part? I did find another member who had this issue on a 2008, but the final fix is not listed.

 

Our resident HHR dismantling guy, hellshotrod would have what you need, send him a PM

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/memb...shotrod-28731/

 

The dollar bill test might help. Close the hatch with a dollar bill (some prefer 100's) and try to pull it out in several spots test for resistance.

 

Sprayed water under moderate pressure from garden hose into the jamb the top of the hatch. Opened the hatch and dimantled the 3rd brakelight (2 hexhead nuts, then pull back on fixture). Inspected the area behind the 3rd brakelight and found a small break in the window frame seal from which water was dripping and entering the 3rd brakelight molding cavity. There was some rust on the exposed window frame. Ckeaned up the rust and sealed the break with Permatex Black Silicone Adhesive/Sealant, let it cure 24 hrs., and repeated the water test. No leaks. We had a short hard thunderstorm and it appears that the repair is holding. Waiting for an all day drencher to really prove that the leak is fixed, but I'm confident from the water test that the silicone sealant will hold.

I really thought it was the gasket, but the gasket is good. I wasn't expecting a leak at the window frame. Not sure what caused the window frame seal to fail, but it did. The source of the leak was very obscure. It took multiple inspections of the area behind the 3rd brakelight over a year long period to find the leak source. I felt like the 4th stooge with water pouring out of a light fixture and it wasn't a ghost. Just a leaky window frame.

 

Nice shout out to Shemp Howard, the fourth stooge.
Glad you have it repaired and now on with the show!

 

"Well, I oughta'