Leaky R32

[sir_camel]

So after all this rain in Sydney my R32 has developed a bit of a wet dog smell inside. Upon digging around, the rear seat drivers side footwell carpet is damp.

I've sourced this to come from when i am parked next to the kerb at the slight camber that is in most roads. the water seems to fill up in the sill and when it fills up enough it flows over the top of the sill into the rear footwell.

First of all does this happen to anyone else?

Any suggestions for a solution?

The history of my car is pretty good and as far as i know and the people who have worked on it it has never been involved in an accident.

[Treza360]

Have a look for some drain holes and/or bungs that may have come lose in that area underneath the car. Also I don't know if it will cause it but if you take out your wheel arch lining (front and rear), you can develop a massive build up of dirt and crud in there over time which may cause a blockage or maybe a backflow of water.

See this post here for what I'm talking about (ignore the widowmaker ):

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showpost.php?p=389290&postcount=62

Cheers,
Trent

[sir_camel]

Thanks Trent. I'll check the bungs but i am almost certain it is the building up in the door sill that is causing the problem. I'll try take some pictures tonight.

[vagman]

does your car have sunroof ? if so check the drain tubes on the a-piller when door is opened.
also check the pelum chamber for dirt build up each corner . it draines behind wheel arch trims like trent said
does the air con excess water drain on floor/road ? check drian rubber gromet on fire wall rubber sometime sticks itself together.

[balkanac]

[QUOTE=vagman;457342]does your car have sunroof ? if so check the drain tubes on the a-piller when door is opened. QUOTE]

Aussie spec MK4 R32s never came with a sunroof.
I never had a problem like this with my car. Maybe the drivers door seal (the rubber thing around the door) is worn. Wait till it dries out, get a garden hose and spray the drivers door. That should show you where the water is coming in and where its going

[glidn]

my GTI golf use to do the same thing,

Ended up under the Raintray cowling, on the drivers side is a single vent covering the ECU and all the Cars wiring. It had a slight leak, So when it filled up on the right side, it would then seep in slowly, then go under the carpet and fill up from the rear.

Hope this helps.

[sir_camel]

Pics as promised...

The water is 'pooling' just above the oval shaped hole in this picture where you can see some dampness.


The seals all look good here on the door...


When the water pools it seems to go over near where the middle of the silver bar is

[Jmac]

I suggest use a second party. Hose the car down for a fair while and sit inside and watch for ingress.
Jmac

[JVLR32]

I suggest use a second party. Hose the car down for a fair while and sit inside and watch for ingress.
Jmac

yes i agree with this method....strange problem thou

[Driven Threads]

I had a leak in the rear foot well on my passenger side in my r when there was heavy rain. Problem was the seal in the pollen filter housing. Such an annoying problem. All fixed now. There is a thread floating around somewhere on it. Good luck mate.

[graeme86]

Looks like its coming in thru the door itself somewhere to get water there....unless you have MAJOR flooding inside.

If the regulators in the door have been replaced then the metal inner liner might not be sealed properly against the door skin now.

I have heard water getting in thru the mirror mount too. Water can run in along the wires from the mirror motor into the area behind the door trim, so it would end up on the door jamb like that.

Or it is the door seal itself as others have said.

[sydVR6]

Check the drainage holes in the bottom of the driver's door. 90% sure that there'll be a blockage there.

They look like this, on the bottom edge of the inside part of your door:



Use some fuse wire or similar to push anything out. When they fill up, water will start to come out through other parts of your door.

[Jmac]

Looks like its coming in thru the door itself somewhere to get water there....unless you have MAJOR flooding inside.

If the regulators in the door have been replaced then the metal inner liner might not be sealed properly against the door skin now.

I have heard water getting in thru the mirror mount too. Water can run in along the wires from the mirror motor into the area behind the door trim, so it would end up on the door jamb like that.

Or it is the door seal itself as others have said.

Which leads me back to - Water test the thing. Sit inside and have a 2nd person hose it for a while till you see ingress
Jmac