Fixing a Leaky Hatch

Charles Patterson authored this message about fixing a leaky rear hatch and posted it message to the AMC Pacer list. (16 November 1999)

Thought I'd pass on a solution I devised to stop water from leaking into the back compartment around the Pacer Hatch.

Our wagon came from the prairies and thus saw normal rainfall all its life. But here on the west coast, we get far more annual rainfall than most places.

So, as the fall/winter rainy season is trying to get going, I had discovered that the rear floor mat and underlay was absorbing an influx of the wet stuff. Not good, thought I, and all examination of the weather seal revealed was that it seemed to have lost it's spring and flattened with age.

After musing about this for awhile, and examining the seal, which is U shaped and lying on it's side facing the opening, I decided to dig through the workshop and see if inspiration would hit.

I was trying to come up with a method of expanding that seal, so that when the hatch closed on it, a compression would occur again, like it was originally designed to do.

My Solution?
I had some clear vinyl coated clothes line wire, which I cut off at the appropriate length. Holding the hatch open [I need new supports], I proceeded to fit this clothesline into the U, all around the hatch seal. I will be cementing it in place if it works, I thought. Once this was done, I put some plastic sheeting at the back to protect the matting, in case it doesn't work, plus I have the wet corner propped up to dry. Well we have had a full day of drizzle, and more expected over the next few days. But so far this seems to be working.