Water ingress Audi A4

ION08

Hi Guys,

Im hoping somebody can shed some light on this as it's starting to drive me nuts!

I have a 02 Audi A4 and whenever it rains heavily water gets into the passanger footwell.

I already brought it to my mechanic TWICE during the course of the year...

The first time he cleared out dead leaves from the battery area and re-sealed the pollen filter box with some sealant.

Then, following some heavy showers footwell is still getting wet.

Brought it back a few months later and told him water is still getting in, I had done some research on the net and apparently its a common issue on A4's with drain plugs in the plenum chamber (under battery) getting clogged. He took it all apart and it was BONE DRY and drain plugs were clear!!

He spent about 2 hours drenching the car with a hose and Murphy's Law of course, no water got through into the footwell.

Now following yesterdays heavy rain, the footwell is soaked again!!!

Weather is only gonna get worse and worse and this is gonna really start to piss me off as im sick of having to towel dry the fecking footwell after every bout of heavy rain!!

Whats funny is , that it never gets wet after a car wash, just after heavy rain.

Any ideas where the water could be coming in from??

crosstownk

ION08 wrote: »

The first time he cleared out dead leaves from the battery area and re-sealed the pollen filter box with some sealant.

I'd say the problem is still in either of the areas outlined above.

There should be no need to 're-seal' the pollen filter housing. The OE arrangement will do once the pollen filter housing cover is fitted correctly.

Can you confirm that water is passing from the plenumb chamber (where the leaves can get trapped) to the ground?

ION08

crosstownk wrote: »

I'd say the problem is still in either of the areas outlined above.

There should be no need to 're-seal' the pollen filter housing. The OE arrangement will do once the pollen filter housing cover is fitted correctly.

Can you confirm that water is passing from the plenumb chamber (where the leaves can get trapped) to the ground?

Yes, I was there when he took it apart and plenum chamber was bone dry and was well able to dispers water from a hose.

crosstownk

ION08 wrote: »

Yes, I was there when he took it apart and plenum chamber was bone dry and was well able to dispers water from a hose.

OK. The the ingress is coming from higher up. Can the location of the ingress into the cabin be established?

ION08

crosstownk wrote: »

OK. The the ingress is coming from higher up. Can the location of the ingress into the cabin be established?

Yes it can... here are some pics I took a while ago..

From under the glovebox dripping down the side..



AThe golve box hinge also seems wet...

crosstownk

I'm a long time away from the VW/Audi end of things but isn't the pollen filter right above that location?

ION08

crosstownk wrote: »

I'm a long time away from the VW/Audi end of things but isn't the pollen filter right above that location?

Precisely!

And that was my first culprit and the first thing my mechanic looked at. He completely resealed it so i doubt its coming in through there, he also doused it with a hose for about 10 minutes straight when i brought the car to him for a second time and he ruled it out .... its stange that it seems to only be happening when it rains.

He also left the hose running into the plenum chamber for about 10 minutes and NOTHING.

Id say he ran enough water over the pollen filter and into the plenum chamber to fill up a jacuzzi , but all the water was disperesed and footwell stayed dry. Next day, a bit of rain and footwell wasdamp again.

Its really starting to bug me now , id actually pay somebody 100 quid If i knew they could guarantee me they can sort it.

ION08

This is a better pic, the badly drawn arrow shows a Drip

renofan

Did he/you put the hose on the roof of the car and let the water run down the windscreen etc? Could the seal on the windscreen be leaking?

crosstownk

ION08 wrote: »

re-sealed the pollen filter box with some sealant.

Honestly, that pollen filter housing causes ingress 99% of the time. Ill fitting the cover is so common. Maybe a new cover - old one is damaged?

ION08

renofan wrote: »

Did he/you put the hose on the roof of the car and let the water run down the windscreen etc? Could the seal on the windscreen be leaking?

Im not sure to be honest with you , i presume he would have but it could well be a culprit! ... I might pop down to a car wash at the weekend and just spray the roof & winscreen for my own piece of mind before i go insane ... I'll look like a right tit "washing" just my roof and winscreen for 5 minutes

ION08

crosstownk wrote: »

Honestly, that pollen filter housing causes ingress 99% of the time. Ill fitting the cover is so common. Maybe a new cover - old one is damaged?

Hmm, that gives me an idea, It might be worth covering it with a black bag to be 100% sure

dh0011

OP i had a similar problem with my old almera. There was a mudflap behind the front wheel. When the car was driving it was throwing water up onto this. The hole where the screws held on the flap was bigger than it should have been. Solved with some silica gel.
Not sure if it is the same problem you are having though.

visual

Do you have sun roof ?

ION08

Water is getting in when the car is stationary so i doubt its coming in through the mud flaps when driving. I havent driven the car since monday but noticed the windows steaming up so went out and checked.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway


Visual: No i dont have a sunroof.

mickdw

If would seem obvious that water is indeed getting in higher up.
Start at lower end say base of screen, spray for 5 mins then leave and check for leaks. Move up alittle and repeat.
If you start on the roof if might be none the wiser about location as you well have wet everything.

ION08

mickdw wrote: »

If would seem obvious that water is indeed getting in higher up.
Start at lower end say base of screen, spray for 5 mins then leave and check for leaks. Move up alittle and repeat.
If you start on the roof if might be none the wiser about location as you well have wet everything.

Great suggestion. Thanks.

So you definitely believe the water isnt getting in through the engine bay area, be it the plenum chamber or pollen filter?

renofan

ION08 wrote: »

Great suggestion. Thanks.

So you definitely believe the water isnt getting in through the engine bay area, be it the plenum chamber or pollen filter?

Is the plenum chamber not more to the centre of the car? Could you take the wipers off and all the plastic surround at the base of the window and have a look? But I'd definitely follow mickdw's advice too. If that much water is getting in it has to be easy to find from where.

Rainbow Kitty

Hi OP, i'm having the exact same problem as you except i have a Renault Clio. I've googled it and it says that the scuttle drains below the windscreens may be blocked up with leaves and dirt, it's also affecting my air and when i need to clear the windscreen the air doesn't come on, i think the rain is getting into the wiring. Will you let us know if you get sorted.

ION08

Quick update!

After further frustration to cut a long story short my mechanic and i have finally gotten to the bottom of this frustrating issue..

It turns out during heavy rain like today, water is getting through the windscreen seal (top passenger side corner) dripping down along the inside of A-pillar, down along the side of the glovebox and dripping down onto the floor!!

Took of the interior A pillar trim and the SRS airbag was soaked!!

renofan wrote: »

Did he/you put the hose on the roof of the car and let the water run down the windscreen etc? Could the seal on the windscreen be leaking?

BINGO renofan!