A guy smacks into the back of my RX 300 (2002). He hit me pretty good (and took off - unlicensed, uninsured), but surprising the only damage is a cracked rear bumper and some dings in the liftgate.

A day later, the car is outside and we get some heavy rain. I notice a significant amount of rain in the spare tire wheel well and, although the radio comes on and the antenna goes up, nothing comes out of the speakers (and the mute button doesn't go on and off).

Does anyone have thoughts? Could this be related to accident? It never has happened before in the decade that I've owned the car.

 

Regarding the water in the spare wheel well, it is likely that the impact disturbed the seal between the body and the hatch, allowing water to run into the car rather than down and away. Regarding the radio, the amp is mounted beneath the carpet directly in front of the spare wheel well. Probably got crunched in the impact. May be simply a loose connector; perhaps worse. Amps are easy to find PROVIDED it is not a Nakamichi which are harder to find and usually more expensive.

 

Thanks. The weird thing about the water is that, although it collected in the well, nothing else was wet.

 

I agree with Jab, the water more than likely got to the amp. The amp is located right in that area.

I would let everything dry, before doing anything. Well except fixing the leak of course.

Have you spoken to your insurance company?

 

Yes, but I haven't taken the car to the body shop yet. I'll have to eat the deductible (after the guy hit me, he ran about a half mile and totalled the car of a WWII vet, and then took off on foot).

The lift gate closes securely, funny that the water got to the well and no where else. So, the amp is located behind the seats. How do you access it?

 

This thread should help you locate and remove the amp: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...he-amp-at.html

 

Thanks again. I gave myself two whacks on the back of the head for not using the search function.