Water in the well

Phil FSI

Member
Today I lifted the carpet in the drivers footwell to change my ECU and found 2 things.
1, The ECU was not there and
2, the foam underlay was wet along the sill edge.

I found the ECU under the passenger side and managed to change it but I’m a bit concerned about this damp carpet.

could it be that there is or should be something inside the door to stop rain coming in?
I don’t have OSS
Anyone else have wet foam along their sill?
I love them clips that hold the aluminium plates in place ??
Phil
 
The water drains down the door and out the lower edge. If you park on the camber with the drivers side higher than the passengers there is a chance this water can come over the sill step and into the car. What condition are the bottom of the door trims? Are they wet and or mouldy? It is worth cleaning out the drains in the bottom of the doors to reduce the build up inside before they empty.
Its always useful when these clever Germans provide a spare ECU under the passenger floor when someone nicks the one from the drivers floor.:D
 
I did notice the lowest part of the door card had some white fluff on it under the speaker/door pocket.
I will have a look at the drain holes tomorrow and pokes bit of wire up them.
Luckily the door card is coming off this season to have its check strap replaced to will give the door a good clean out then.
I sprayed furniture polish in the bottoms of my very first car!
Phil
 
The water drains down the door and out the lower edge. If you park on the camber with the drivers side higher than the passengers there is a chance this water can come over the sill step and into the car. What condition are the bottom of the door trims? Are they wet and or mouldy? It is worth cleaning out the drains in the bottom of the doors to reduce the build up inside before they empty.
Its always useful when these clever Germans provide a spare ECU under the passenger floor when someone nicks the one from the drivers floor.:D
Hi, this is my first post and I’m certainly no expert but I hope you can help! I have noticed the carpets in both front footwells are damp and have been for a while. In the recent heavy rain (car parked on a camber) water seems to have leaked in via the passenger door. When I opened the door water seemed to be released so I guess it is pooling behind the seal somewhere? What Specifically should I be looking for? My first thought was door alignment but don’t want to mess with that if I don’t have to! Cheers

David
 
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With this wetter autumn weather I’m having a similar issue of water ingress into the front passenger footwell but it’s quite obviously coming through via the pollen filter/air blower. It’s driving me absolutely nuts at the moment, to the point where I’m seriously considering setting fire to the bloody car! The kids and wife hate travelling in it because they get wet feet, and despite my best efforts it’s beginning to smell too.

I’ve checked the usual drain points on the bonnet, A pillar and scuttle area but it’s still pouring in. I’ve peered into the intake through to a the blower and it appears to be dry. The water appears to pool somewhere when it rains and then pour in when on the move onto the passenger’s feet.

Clearly I’m missing something but for the life of me I can’t see what or where. Is there a diagram view anywhere, or can someone advise on what I could check next? Apart from driving it into a tree?
 
I recall this issue has come up many times over the years. A google search using site:a2oc.net water in passenger footwell reveals possible culprits
e.g.
1. door seals / door alignment
2. leaking windscreen seal (poster had to fit windscreen twice to cure)
3. Water from the air-con system
4. Scuttle and bonnet drain pipes blocked
... lots more

You have to read all the google links as most links cover multiple possibilities. This is a good guide with photos link

Water in the passenger footwell is more serious as the CCU can be damaged.

Good luck
 
Having checked the doors this evening I think that may be my issue. Comparing the seals to the rear doors, the front doors certainly seem to be sitting slightly less flush. Also a fair bit of give if I push the doors closed. Are there instructions on how to adjust the doors? Incidentally also have the issue with the check straps making that annoying noise. Assume that wouldn’t contribute?
 
Check straps Paul @depronman has THE perfect solution.
Front doors here:


Rears here:

 
@Silverpig Windscreen would be my guess. Try removing the glove box completely from the car. Contort yourself into the passenger footwell. While looking with a very bright torch get someone else to run a garden hose along the bottom edge of the windscreen while you look for leaks. If nothing from the bottom try the sides then the top. Also with the bonnet on slowly add water through the intake and again look up behind the glovebox location. Remove the pollen filter and repeat. Refit the scuttle and wiper arm. Place a camera on top of the gearbox looking at the seal area of the bonnet, fit the bonnet and use the hose to soak the scuttle area. If you can see water coming in then the seal between the bonnet and engine bay is leaking. Is the insulation on the firewall wet and is the climate drain correctly fitted into the insulation and firewall.
 
Check straps Paul @depronman has THE perfect solution.
Front doors here:




Rears here:


Thanks! I adjusted the striker plates on both the front doors over the weekend (5 minute job) now the door seals are much tighter up against the frame. Had a lot of rain since and no sign of any more water! Hopefully problem solved.
 
@Silverpig Windscreen would be my guess. Try removing the glove box completely from the car. Contort yourself into the passenger footwell. While looking with a very bright torch get someone else to run a garden hose along the bottom edge of the windscreen while you look for leaks. If nothing from the bottom try the sides then the top. Also with the bonnet on slowly add water through the intake and again look up behind the glovebox location. Remove the pollen filter and repeat. Refit the scuttle and wiper arm. Place a camera on top of the gearbox looking at the seal area of the bonnet, fit the bonnet and use the hose to soak the scuttle area. If you can see water coming in then the seal between the bonnet and engine bay is leaking. Is the insulation on the firewall wet and is the climate drain correctly fitted into the insulation and firewall.
Sorry, I’ve only just seen this response! I’ll give it another look over this weekend, see if I can narrow down where the water is coming through. Is the scuttle cover only secured by the wiper, or are there some hidden clips somewhere?

thanks!
 
Today I lifted the carpet in the drivers footwell to change my ECU and found 2 things.
1, The ECU was not there and
2, the foam underlay was wet along the sill edge.

I found the ECU under the passenger side and managed to change it but I’m a bit concerned about this damp carpet.

could it be that there is or should be something inside the door to stop rain coming in?
I don’t have OSS
Anyone else have wet foam along their sill?
I love them clips that hold the aluminium plates in place ??
Ph
The bottom of the door card is wet and mouldy. When the door is opened it seems to release water and as longs you keep draining it, it doesn't
The bottom of the door card is wet and mouldy. When the door is opened it seems to release water and as longs you keep draining it, it doesn't
come over the cill and onto the carpet. It's definitely an issue with the door/seals or whatever. If you feel the inside of the door card the foam's soaking. I'm racking my brains. Any thoughts.
 
First thing to check is the drains in the lower edge of the door are clear and free flowing. The water could either be coming in around the door weather seal or the weather strip along the door glass area..If the drains are blocked the water builds up inside the door then finds its way between the door and door card. Make sure the door glass trim seal is clean and not damaged to reduce the amount of water that can enter there. As the door is in two parts you need to ensure that the lower part is a good fit against the seals and the upper glass frame is also a good fit. The seal itself should be in good condition and not torn or badly cracked / split. Also make sure the path is clear for the water that drains out the lower door edge can escape over the sills. All rubber weather seals respond well to being cleaned / lubricated with Gummi Pflege. I prefer the stick version.

Other thing to watch for is if the keys had been previously locked in the car and someone wedged open the upper frame that could well be the source of the leak.
 
The water drains down the door and out the lower edge. If you park on the camber with the drivers side higher than the passengers there is a chance this water can come over the sill step and into the car. What condition are the bottom of the door trims? Are they wet and or mouldy? It is worth cleaning out the drains in the bottom of the doors to reduce the build up inside before they empty.
Its always useful when these clever Germans provide a spare ECU under the passenger floor when someone nicks the one from the drivers floor.:D
 
Many thanks, hopefully i'll get to the bottom of it soon as living in Glasgow, there's a lot of water about.
 
Why don’t you just remove the door car and foam, sit in the car and have someone hose it down, you will see where the water is coming from.
One place the water can come in is under the bare aluminium inner door card, that is sealed to the centre horizontal bar with foam for the factory, that perishes over time and lets water, but you have to remove the aluminium card to see this. The best thing to do is to run a line of silicone across it and refit the aluminium door card.

Ian
 
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