Help! Water getting in, a lot! Now solved...I think.

[Phil-E30]

Well guys, ownership of the new car hasn't started well...at all. Yesterday when giving the car its first thorough cleaning (only got as far as hoovering inside!) since I bought it I found what could only be described as a small swimming pool behind the passenger seat.

Upon further inspection it looks like the water is coming in from the front of the car running all the way from the top of the passenger footwell to under the chair.

Can any of you suggest where I should look to stop this problem!? We had heavy rain again today and quite a lot more got in. Given the area of the car that is wet it must be coming in from the front. I am guessing something under the scuttle panel maybe?

Also, what is the big black box at the back right hand side of the engine bay?

Thanks!

 

[andysat]

Isnt that where all the relays are?

 

[Phil-E30]

I couldn't tell you Andy, I know very little about the car at the minute. But from looking earlier, I think you're right.

Priority is stopping the water getting in then I can worry about other stuff.

 

[andysat]

Its not the front of the door membrane is it?

 

[Phil-E30]

Don't think so Andy, the water seems to be right up in the passenger footwell and I don't think the water could get up in there coming from the door?

I took out a bit of hosing which I assumed was a hose water should be leaving from and it was bone dry which makes me think water is going elsewhere. I thought something under the scuttle panel could be causing this?

 

[slick]

check the heater plenum drain ....... its under the bonnet on the passenger side ( a black rubber tube) they can block up

 

[andysat]

Isnt there a hose to the pollen filter inside the glove box-could that have come loose?

 

[Phil-E30]

Had no idea about the hose to the pollen filter inside the glove box, how do I get to that?

I took out what I think may be the heater plenum drain, from the lower part of the bulkhead, passenger side and it is bone dry, doesn't look like water has gone through it for a while, why would that be?

 

[andysat]

Is the carpet wet under the glovebox?

 

[Phil-E30]

Yeh it is Andy, seems to be coming down there and then flowing right the way under the seat!

 

[andysat]

IIRC there was someone on here that posted that the stealers had not fitted the pollen filter hose back properly and that had caused a leak,how to replace pollen filter on you tube

 

[Phil-E30]

How then do I get at the pollen filter hose though? I know you access the filter itself from inside the car, but how do I get at the hose?

 

[bandit12]

I've got wet carpets behind my passenger seat but the footwell is dry so I'm not sure where its coming from. I'm not enjoying Z ownership at the moment I feel like I'm sitting on a time bomb waiting for something to break.

 

[Phil-E30]

My start to Zed ownership hasn't been good either! If it is wet behind the seat have you checked out your roof drains, door seal and door membrane?

Anyone help with where I find the pollen filter hose? Or any other possible areas that could be causing my problem, water definitely seems to be coming in from the front of the car, passenger side in front of the glove box.

 

[bandit12]

I've checked door seals & membrane but not roof drains. That's next on the list.

 

[Phil-E30]

Roof drains a big culprit with water related problems, cause water in the boot it would seem.

Either way I am hijacking my own thread here and I really need to get this problem solved before the damage gets serious!

 

[RussellP]

After reading this thread I have just been out an checked behind my seat, luckily it's dry! However we have an Audi A4 and last year we noticed the rear passenger footwell was soaked, turned out to be the bulkhead blocked under the bonnet, water can track from places you wouldn't think it would so maybe worth a look under the bonnet and make sure there are no leaves blocking the drains....

 

[Phil-E30]

I will have to investigate a lot further by the sound of things, would like to know about the pollen filter hose that may not be connected and where I can look at that.

Would also like to know how to remove the scuttle panel and look under there for any possible blocks.

 

[Phil-E30]

Any chance you guys can point me in the direction of the main drains in and around the bulkhead passenger side and under the scuttle panel? Want to check all possible drains.

 

[oli445]

Can't help unfortunately but I do know there isn't anything electrical to worry about under the seats. There is an airbag control unit that you don't want getting wet but that's bolted to the transmission tunnel. I found that out the hard way!