Water in Passenger side footwell!

Mackas_view

Hi I have a 1.9TDI vw Passat 2002 and there is water gettin in to the cabin on the passenger side footwell. I have already taken out the bung underneath the battery and cleared it. I think the water may be gettin in through the pollen filter housing someway. Anyone any insight into this problem? Or how to fix it as the CCM box is under here and that can cause big problems with the electrics

Max Moment

Do you have air con? Could be the condensate drain is blocked with gunk. If you trace the condensate pipe inside the car to outside (most likely under the front passenger footwell or in the firewall) then get a pipe cleaner or similar and rake out the gunk.

If the pipe is blocked the condensate has no where to go so backs up in the footwell

king_of_inismac

Blocked sunroof drain? Check bottom of passenger door (if you have a sunroof)

Mackas_view

Don't have a sunroof. It could be the air con but how do I find the pipe??

***its only the left hand side of the floor that gets wet

Max Moment

Look under the passenger side of the car directly under the passenger foot well. You'll see a half inch pipe sticking out slightly from the underside of the body.

Or if you pop the bonnet look down the fire wall at the low level passenger side. Varies from car to car.
But if you can see the pollen filter you should be able to trace the condensate pipe inside the car and see where it pops out.

See link to video below from an example.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ7TIYFU-u8

Mackas_view

Well I woke up this mornin after a full night of rain and the passenger side was absolutely drenched in water. Have the floor heater on now tryin to dry it out. Depressed

Does this mean it's def not the ac drain and rather the pollen filter housing?

GTE

If I remember correctly, Passats of that vintage are known for pollen filter housing leaks. If they are anything like the Golf, you can take the plastic cover which covers the wiper motor, from one side of the car to the other. You will have to double check this.

With that off, you have access to give everything a good clean and scoop.

It is worth checking the door as well if they are similar to Golfs, there are drains in there which can block up underneath and the inner door seal can perish.

A big flood of rain always brings a lot of 1998 to 2005 VW people on to boards to fix leaks, myself included

Mackas_view

But inside the pollen filter house where the heater fan is, that is bone dry which makes me think the leak isn't happening there.

Mackas_view

bbk wrote: »

If I remember correctly, Passats of that vintage are known for pollen filter housing leaks. If they are anything like the Golf, you can take the plastic cover which covers the wiper motor, from one side of the car to the other. You will have to double check this.

With that off, you have access to give everything a good clean and scoop.

It is worth checking the door as well if they are similar to Golfs, there are drains in there which can block up underneath and the inner door seal can perish.

A big flood of rain always brings a lot of 1998 to 2005 VW people on to boards to fix leaks, myself included

The drains on the door, are they underneath the door and can be seen without removing any panels? I think I know the ones

GTE

Mackas_view wrote: »

The drains on the door, are they underneath the door and can be seen without removing any panels? I think I know the ones

The drains, yes. The inner door seal will need the door card taken off. But Id say you could rule the door out if you can feel water far up the footwell along the firewall, towards the middle to drivers side of the passenger footwell.

If it is saturated there, it cant be the door saturating it. If it is only damp, you may have to wait till there is a lot of rain and you may as well check the door while you are curious.

monflat

Mackas_view wrote: »

Hi I have a 1.9TDI vw Passat 2002 and there is water gettin in to the cabin on the passenger side footwell. I have already taken out the bung underneath the battery and cleared it. I think the water may be gettin in through the pollen filter housing someway. Anyone any insight into this problem? Or how to fix it as the CCM box is under here and that can cause big problems with the electrics

I hAve a 04 audi a6. Exact same problem.
Replaced windscreen and all thinking it was a leak.


The husband tells me that the water got into an air vent somewhere and extra sillocone was put around it to secure seal.


If that's any help to you.
I had it for over a yr carpet wud b sopping forgot about it in dry weather then when it rained

It took two goes in the garage to get it right as he couldn't fix it at the time.

Mackas_view

So I just found the route of the problem I took the carpet back and at the top of the wall (were your feet would be of outstretched) there's a foam piece between the wall and the plastic which is the heat blower for when it's set to blow air at the feet: this foam is absolutely drenched.. So it has to be the pollen filter housing right?

Anyway I took off the pollen filter housing and the seal is done. Could I take the seal out and replace it with silicone or should I wait and get new seal??

Mackas_view

That's where I found the leak

Mackas_view

This is the housing and seal.

GTE

Mackas_view wrote: »

So I just found the route of the problem I took the carpet back and at the top of the wall (were your feet would be of outstretched) there's a foam piece between the wall and the plastic which is the heat blower for when it's set to blow air at the feet: this foam is absolutely drenched.. So it has to be the pollen filter housing right?

Anyway I took off the pollen filter housing and the seal is done. Could I take the seal out and replace it with silicone or should I wait and get new seal??

Silicone should do it, probably better than the OEM seal but only if it is done well. My only worry would be getting the silicone in and getting a pressure fit applied in such a small working area.

Mackas_view

bbk wrote: »

Silicone should do it, probably better than the OEM seal but only if it is done well. My only worry would be getting the silicone in and getting a pressure fit applied in such a small working area.

I put tec7 on it. So hopefully that works, it's water resistant and apparently very good adhesive. I then ran a hose on the windscreen for about 5 minutes and could find no more leaks so heres hoping