GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk1 => Topic started by: GemGTI on 15 February 2006, 15:20
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Had a major leak to the offside rear footwell in May last year. Coming up through carpet, the mat ontop was dry. When I had my car re trimmed, the guy said it was the doorcard which was letting it in. He sorted it out and since then every time it had rained it had stayed dry. Last night it p!ssed it down and this morning the offside rear footwell was like a mini paddling pool! But again the mat ontop of the carpet is dry! Beats me! Anyone else have any ideas?
Gem
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O/S rear light cluster leaking? Were you parked facing downhill? Could be tracking through from the rear light cluster down behind the rear seat and into the footwell.
I assume the front footwell is as dry as a bone?
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I was facing slightly up hill but only slightly. I wouldn't say the front footwell was dry as a bone, somtimes there is a slight trickle coming from behind the peddals but I assume this is a seperate leak as the trickle never seems to reach into the rear footwell? Ive checked those drainage holes under the bonnet and they are clear. Just seems strange that the mat is always dry but the carpet is soaked!?
Gem
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You have some strengthening channels running fore and aft along the floor pan. The water can leak in, settle into the channel and then track and collect somewhere completely different.
This pic from underneath gives you a pretty good idea what I mean:-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/gwilson16v/Sealeroff.jpg)
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Any idea how I find out if that is what it is? Or how I would go about sorting it out? (Not very clued up on technical aspects of cars!)
Cheers,
Gem
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I had the same problem and it drove me mad trying to find the problem.
Following on from richhazel's reply, chances are the water is building up in the scuttle (the area below the windscreen where your wiper motor sits). If the drainage holes on either side are blocked the water will rise to a level until it finds some way of working it's way into the cabin. Even though the drainage holes appear to be clear as you say, bear in mind the scuttle area is not 100% watertight so the slightest gap will be enough for the water to escape. It will run down these channels *under* the front carpets where it then gathers in a pool in the rear, soaking it from the underside, which is why the front carpets and the mat on top in the rear stays dry. Clever bit of design!
Peel back your front carpets and you'll see these channels. Be warned - it may smell! Recheck your door seals and make sure the door drainage holes on the bottom of the doors are clear, but I'd bet that the main culprit is the scuttle. I've since sprayed and sealed my scuttle so it shouldn't reoccur. It's a good idea to check the drainage points regularly though, especially in winter with leafs and cr*p flying about. Hope this helps.
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Thanks Phil, how do I get to the scuttle to see if this is the problem?
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Open the bonnet and at the back of the engine under the windscreen you should see a black plastic moulded tray covering the wiper motor and wiper mechanism.
Unclip this tray and you will know be looking at the scuttle! Have a poke around and clear the drainage holes. You are looking for any major and minor signs of cracks or places where water can run in. Best thing is to clean it out thoroughly and give it a new coating of paint or sealant of some description. I'll try and find out what was used on mine and post it up here.
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It is also well worth checking all your cable grommets are in place i.e speedo cable, accelerator cable (may explain your leak around the pedals which may well be the same leak believe it or not) etc.
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Thanks guys your help is greatly appreciated! :smiley:
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Latest update on leak... peeled back carpet on drivers side and the floor is soaking wet under the sound proofing. It is dry in the back which seems strange to me as this is where the carpet ends up soaked. Does this mean its coming in at the front and travelling back? How do I dry out the floor and stop the leak for good?
Cheers, Gem
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I would really consider taking out your carpet completely and two front seats and then close the doors and put the water using a hose over the sunroof and through the door shuts and over front screen - see if water is coming in from those area's and if not then its got to be coming in from engine area - check for any holes near engine area that will allow water in, also check the shuttle area where the heater unit is - water somethings comes in there if water is not draining properly in the shuttle area.
Might want to leave your carpet out for a while to allow water to dry up as well.
Also - I noticed that you park your car on the drive way facing your house, which is slightly on a angle - so any water that sits in the engine area of shuttle will if there are any gaps or holes, go straight into the car - try parking the car facing the road - see if your leak stops - if so its more than lucky shuttle or engine hole somewhere.
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It may not have dried out from last time? The only thing I can think of is to take the carpet up and get some air on it? I still blame the scuttle...  :grin:
Unless you have a massive hole in the floorpan I doubt that water is working it's way in from underneath. When I had the same problem I thought that maybe water was coming off the road, but I was told that it is very unusual and highly unlikely that that amount of water can work it's way up.
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I got to seal my scutle are on my mk1 also, i got some great stuff for my mk2, it was guttering sealant, it was black, really sticky and was very water tight, but the mk1 is white! any ideas on what's the best sealant type stuff to use?
Also, the major leak i had on my MK1 was coming from the passenge side, where the arial cable can through, but i ain't got any inner wheel archs on mine (as it's an import) but maybe worth a check!
Cheers
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Two great products to seal the scuttle with:
Stonechip - get it from Wilco or Halfords
Schutz - if you can't find it in your local car-care emporium, Jaguar dealers stock it.
Both can be sprayed when dry. Used on mine and the leaks stopped.
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Thanks phil!
Is that Stonechip stuff like a slicone? and does it come in white? :)
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More like a sealing paint rather than silicone.
I think it's black but it can be painted when dry.
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Thnaks, i'll pop down on the weekend :)
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don't know if this helps but i had tons of leaks in my last mk1.
the water would come down the doors and out the bottom of the split membrane also where the prev owner installed an alarm no gromets were used so water was trackin down wires. but the main one was with my sunroof (dont know if u have 1) the drain pipes had split at the joints so water was just running down the door pillars good way to check if its runnin down them is to pull your seatbelt out all the way and feel if the cord is wet hope this helps.
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Thanks, this is really doing my head in. I checked the sunroof drainage holes by putting some wire down them. They seem clear, a bit of dirt came out with the wire but it went through easy enough. I've checked the scuttle and can't see any holes at all and the drainage holes are clear. I thought somehow it could be coming in through the rubber boot round the steering column as sometimes when I drive up a hill water drips onto my feet. I've been told It won't be this. I want to re carpet my car but can't until I find this F**king leak!!! :angry: I will check out the seat belt idea thanks :smiley: