Today I discovered why my spare wheel was swimming in 30mm of water!And why my windows mist up whenever the sun shines.
History; I have had this car from new, paid cash almost £30ks worth, added tons of extras including leather seats, +£400 on detailing, it has been the second love of my life.
Always serviced by VW and never a single problem...........until now!
Online search indicated rear light seals or air vents (?) hidden under the wheel arches (er why ?)
Now I am a qualified mechanical engineer so I set to work removing interior trims, plug in connectors, etc.
Result; a 25mm pool of water sloshing around in a cavity between the outside and inside corner panels, directly below one of these
air vents.
Wait it gets worse much worse, because VW were aware these vents leaked water.
YES VW KNEW THESE VENTS LEAKED WATER - FACT!How do I know? Because an attempt had been made to seal the floor panel below the vents....with wax! YES Liquid wax had been poured into the cavity in an attempt to seal it.
Worse - there is nowhere for this water to drain but into the area under the hatch floor, soaking into anything it contacts.
Top - a piece of the wax I melted and smeared to prove to myself exactly what it was.
Below- the cavity drained of water.
Please note;
a) the partial layer of wax in the bottom, a piece was broken away and was floating on the water before I drained it.
b) bottom right, the muck line cause when water drains from a hole in the cavity out onto the hatch floor.
c) the grey air vents (4) simple paper thin flaps that allow water into the car. The black moulded frame is so poorly made it rattles!
If anyone can explain why I should not permanently seal these vents would they please reply.Thank you all.
