Leak Problem!

[PauloGTi]

Hi everyone! Newbie here!!

I am new to the Golf scene and am enjoying my GTi 8v.

However yesterday I discovered water in the drivers footwell - the carpet under the mat was wet. There had been heavy rain the night before so i'm guessing thats what caused it!

Has anyone any ideas what could be causing this as I don't want the floor pan to start rusting!

Any help much appreciated!

[Harooshum]

Ok, first you need to check the interior heater is working properly, and it blows out steady hot air.

If it doesen't, then it is almost definately your heater matrix, leaking coolant into the cabin and onto the floor. Trust me, that's the last thing you want (but a known prob with some MK2 owners).

You could also try and see the colour of the water in the footwells, and make sure it is CLEAR rainwater.

Also check the coolant hoses that go into the dash at the back of the engine bay, and if they don't have a valve fitted to them, then VW themselves might just fix the whole lot 4u, 4 free!

I hope that it is just a minor seal problem leaking rainwater.

Good luck Paulo

Obrigado, H.

[PauloGTi]

Thanks for that!!

The interior heater is working properly as far as I have noticed so hopefully thats not the problem.

From what I could see it was clear water and after all the rain the night before I hope its that!

I will check out the coolant hoses and see! Would be nice if VW fixed it all for free but can't see me being that lucky!

[Gambit]

its nothing to do with the heater matrix, when this goes it explodes and gushes coolant all over the footwell (it'll have a sweet smell) u'll know when it happens

as for your leaks, u need to check all these

door membranes - take the doorcards off and check the plastic membranes for tears, and where the glue has came away. water gushes in here if it has any defects. repair them & repair them good!!

sunroof drainage channels - wind the sunroof back, at the front corner on either side u'll will see a hole, blast compressed air (garage tyre pump thingy is ideal) down these

scuttle drainage channels - take the scuttle tray off, at the front corner on each side again u will see a hole, clean out the muck and then blast it compressed

rear lights - open the boot and feel the carpet, if its wet then either tighten the nuts (3) on the rear clusters or silicone or something.

u can also feed coat hanger wire down the channels but make sure you wrap the coat hanger in something as it can scrap the inner paint work, and cause rusting in the channels

HTH,
Craig

[modulater]

Scuttle drainage holes are normally the culprit, they get bunged up with junk and the water enters the car. On mine it was through the bonnet release cable. Check all the gromets are still in place and the little rubber boots on the scuttle drain holes are clear of debris.

[tobz.]

I had the same problem a few years back on my 8V, it turned out the sealant around the blanking panel where the inlet to the heater box would be on a left hand drive model had dried out, (this can be found under your ecu). Smeared a line of silicon around the join, job done. Definately check this anyway as the resulting leak drips straight on the top of the fuse box!!!

[PauloGTi]

Cheers for all the replies guys!  

I have had a look today and pulled the carpet back - from what I can see it has been going through the bonnet release cable hole - This looks like it has been sealed before and it has become broken and there were holes all round it! Its all sealed up now and I turned the hose on the front of the car around the top of the bonnet and windscreen and no water came in to the car! I will check the drainage channels at the sunroof tomorrow just incase it was coming from there as I put no water up there!
The boot isn't leaking as I have a boot build in there and would notice it wet!!

Thanks again guys,
Paul

[modulater]

See not bad am I ?

Good Darts.

[PauloGTi]

Not bad at all!

Thanks!!

Have another problem tho - check the "Brakes!" thread!

[modulater]

Myself and VR6 have answered, hope it helps.