Water Leak

[jaycee_w_uk]

Hi,

 

Yes I know. I'm really sorry to drag this one up again but my story goes like this. I purchased a 1996 TDI Galaxy on a P reg. I love it - its brilliant!! The only problem I have had so far that I can't fix is this water leak into the passenger side footwell. After checking through the various posts the common theme seems to be the bulkhead drains so I've cleaned them and now that all works perfectly. If I pour water over the windscreen it drains beautifully out of the bottom of the nearside wing. However even the slightest rain will cause a small trickle into the passenger footwell.

 

I've stripped out the passenger side dash, carpet, trims etc and after a lot of fiddling about I can see where the water is getting into the car. About 5cm below the quarter light on the upper near side of the bulkhead, facing towards the passenger side of the car, (next to the LH side of the upper glove box) there is a large hole that looks no different to any of the other loom holes I can see; as in its a pressed hole into the panel. Here I can see the small trickle entering the car. No looms etc come through this hole.

 

Now whilst doing all of this I can see that the previous owners have had the same problem. There is additional sealer down the passenger side of the windscreen. The bulkhead drain flaps have been removed. Bits of tape in odd places. Evidence of various trims having been removed before etc etc. In the hole where the water is entering there is what looks to me like expandable foam(?). This may well be standard but it could be that someone has added it to try and prevent the leak.

 

My questions are these:

 

How is the water getting into this point in the body?

Should I just block the hole up with some silicone sealer to stop the water getting in?

If I block the hole up am I just going to get a build up of water in the body that will eventually lead to corrosion?

Has anyone come across this specific problem before and if so do they have step by step instructions on how to cure it?

 

Any help/advice is gratefully appreciated!

 

Justin

[gregers]

long shot but have you investigated around the pollen filter area?

[jaycee_w_uk]

Hi, thanks for response.

 

I have investigated around the pollen filter area and checked the filter housing as well but it still leaks. Now I've stripped everything out I can see that the air intake area is sound and there is no water entering the car from there. However since I posted earlier I found a post on this site that referred to the clips that secure the small plastic trims that go around the wiper arm spigots. I've removed these and two of them do have holes that go straight through into the body of the car!! As it suggested in the post I've now sealed these and will retest tommorrow. Fingers crossed!!

 

To find the post do a search for 'Bulkhead water leak".

[jaycee_w_uk]

Well sealing up the plastic trim body clips didn't stop the leak either. So thats the pollen filter, bulkhead drain, windscreen, sunroof drains, washer pipe, and now the plastic trim clips - what else can it be?

Think I'm going to have to strip out the bulkhead and paint sealant everywhere in the hope I can seal it up. Just wish it was sonmething a bit more obvious so I knew I'd got it!

[Richmond]

Well sealing up the plastic trim body clips didn't stop the leak either. So thats the pollen filter, bulkhead drain, windscreen, sunroof drains, washer pipe, and now the plastic trim clips - what else can it be?

Think I'm going to have to strip out the bulkhead and paint sealant everywhere in the hope I can seal it up. Just wish it was sonmething a bit more obvious so I knew I'd got it!

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I haven't been on the forum for months. Have you checked the rear windscreen wassher pipe? It runs fron to back down the left hand side of the passenger compartment (on mine), and there's a join in the front passenger footwell area which can leak or part.

[roy202]

Hi,

 

Yes I know. I'm really sorry to drag this one up again but my story goes like this. I purchased a 1996 TDI Galaxy on a P reg. I love it - its brilliant!! The only problem I have had so far that I can't fix is this water leak into the passenger side footwell. After checking through the various posts the common theme seems to be the bulkhead drains so I've cleaned them and now that all works perfectly. If I pour water over the windscreen it drains beautifully out of the bottom of the nearside wing. However even the slightest rain will cause a small trickle into the passenger footwell.

 

I've stripped out the passenger side dash, carpet, trims etc and after a lot of fiddling about I can see where the water is getting into the car. About 5cm below the quarter light on the upper near side of the bulkhead, facing towards the passenger side of the car, (next to the LH side of the upper glove box) there is a large hole that looks no different to any of the other loom holes I can see; as in its a pressed hole into the panel. Here I can see the small trickle entering the car. No looms etc come through this hole.

 

Now whilst doing all of this I can see that the previous owners have had the same problem. There is additional sealer down the passenger side of the windscreen. The bulkhead drain flaps have been removed. Bits of tape in odd places. Evidence of various trims having been removed before etc etc. In the hole where the water is entering there is what looks to me like expandable foam(?). This may well be standard but it could be that someone has added it to try and prevent the leak.

 

My questions are these:

 

How is the water getting into this point in the body?

Should I just block the hole up with some silicone sealer to stop the water getting in?

If I block the hole up am I just going to get a build up of water in the body that will eventually lead to corrosion?

Has anyone come across this specific problem before and if so do they have step by step instructions on how to cure it?

 

Any help/advice is gratefully appreciated!

 

Justin

i would fill the hole with a sealer and see what happens next, if it is a gromet hole there should be a gromet in it! expandable foam would only seal it so much, if you cant see any rust around it i expect it would be ok filled with sealer.

[rbar]

Hi,Justin

I had the same problems and it cost me a lot of cash and time in my local garage to find the reason. My answer was a Leaking SUN ROOF left hand corner passenger side, and the water was running down the inside frame and up under the floor panel in the passenger well. Hope this works for you, Ray

 

Yes I know. I'm really sorry to drag this one up again but my story goes like this. I purchased a 1996 TDI Galaxy on a P reg. I love it - its brilliant!! The only problem I have had so far that I can't fix is this water leak into the passenger side footwell. After checking through the various posts the common theme seems to be the bulkhead drains so I've cleaned them and now that all works perfectly. If I pour water over the windscreen it drains beautifully out of the bottom of the nearside wing. However even the slightest rain will cause a small trickle into the passenger footwell.

 

I've stripped out the passenger side dash, carpet, trims etc and after a lot of fiddling about I can see where the water is getting into the car. About 5cm below the quarter light on the upper near side of the bulkhead, facing towards the passenger side of the car, (next to the LH side of the upper glove box) there is a large hole that looks no different to any of the other loom holes I can see; as in its a pressed hole into the panel. Here I can see the small trickle entering the car. No looms etc come through this hole.

 

Now whilst doing all of this I can see that the previous owners have had the same problem. There is additional sealer down the passenger side of the windscreen. The bulkhead drain flaps have been removed. Bits of tape in odd places. Evidence of various trims having been removed before etc etc. In the hole where the water is entering there is what looks to me like expandable foam(?). This may well be standard but it could be that someone has added it to try and prevent the leak.

 

My questions are these:

 

How is the water getting into this point in the body?

Should I just block the hole up with some silicone sealer to stop the water getting in?

If I block the hole up am I just going to get a build up of water in the body that will eventually lead to corrosion?

Has anyone come across this specific problem before and if so do they have step by step instructions on how to cure it?

 

Any help/advice is gratefully appreciated!

 

Justin

[gregers]

bloody hell why all of a sudden we have a constant stream of quotes on the forum?????