Door Speaker Seal Leak Queries

[Lyons]

I picked up a Mk7 GTD yesterday and dismissed a damp smell on the test drive. After a bit of investigation today I've found the rear underlay is damp on both sides. I've found plenty of useful info on here about the door speaker seals and sure enough mine are perished.

I'm just wondering what everyone did about the damp smell? Did it disperse itself, or did you have to replace the underlay? I can't face the prospect of removing the whole interior, but thinking about cutting out the damp base and sides and patching it with some 23mm acoustic underlay from ebay.

How is the water actually meant to escape from inside the door?! I had a look for a drain earlier but couldn't see anything.

The seal around the door is rusted at the bottom- I assume the metal grippers have rusted with the water from the leak sitting on them. Is this purely aesthetic and the seals themselves will be ok? I'd rather not replace the seals if I didn't have to. It looks like I'm going to have to replace both speakers and the plastic around the rivet holes as broken.

Thanks in advance!

[Lyons]

I went and had another look and spotted the drain hole on the middle of the door seal.

How does the water (and enough to flood the car) actually get up and out the speaker seal!?

[rowlers]

"ALL" Mk7s leak around the speaker seals, the boot drain, the rear lights and the vents behind the rear bumper.
Just fix em all and see how you get on. For the damp smell, I'd make sure all the water was extracted and leave to air out, or use some odour killing sprays etc...

[Lyons]

Thanks.

I’ve ordered the boot drain pipe too. Not sure I can face investigating the other 2 there until I get the speaker seals sorted!!

I actually have some enzyme stuff actually, so will maybe try it before I get carried away with replacing the underlay. Borrowing a dehumidifier this evening so will leave it on for a while first.

[mcmaddy]

"ALL" Mk7s leak around the speaker seals, the boot drain, the rear lights and the vents behind the rear bumper.
Just fix em all and see how you get on. For the damp smell, I'd make sure all the water was extracted and leave to air out, or use some odour killing sprays etc...

on my third Mk7/7.5 and never had any leaks from speakers, lights or vents. The only reason the boot drain leaks is because the bit that sits against the body goes dry and then comes off so the drain pipe doesn't cover out far enough.

[SuperScaff]

"ALL" Mk7s leak around the speaker seals, the boot drain, the rear lights and the vents behind the rear bumper.
Just fix em all and see how you get on. For the damp smell, I'd make sure all the water was extracted and leave to air out, or use some odour killing sprays etc...

on my third Mk7/7.5 and never had any leaks from speakers, lights or vents. The only reason the boot drain leaks is because the bit that sits against the body goes dry and then comes off so the drain pipe doesn't cover out far enough.

Small smear of silicone grease couple times a year helps keep it compliant

[Adam T7]

"ALL" Mk7s leak around the speaker seals, the boot drain, the rear lights and the vents behind the rear bumper.
Just fix em all and see how you get on. For the damp smell, I'd make sure all the water was extracted and leave to air out, or use some odour killing sprays etc...

on my third Mk7/7.5 and never had any leaks from speakers, lights or vents. The only reason the boot drain leaks is because the bit that sits against the body goes dry and then comes off so the drain pipe doesn't cover out far enough.

Small smear of silicone grease couple times a year helps keep it compliant

I squirt a bit of Gummi Pfledge on it every now and then, same effect.

[Lyons]

I've nearly completed this now. I ended up replacing the OEM speakers with JL Audio ones when I was at it, got them well siliconed up along with a couple of other weak points in the door and put everything back together.

The carpet ended up drying itself, and I gave it 2 goes with an enzyme odour eater and the offensive smell is no longer.

I've ordered 2 replacement inner door seals which are due to arrive in to my local dealer today. I don't think these were necessary, but given that the metal grip teeth in the original seal were rusted I thought I might as well. Just wondering if anyone else replaced the rear inner seals and what did you use to seal them? Any tips for the install too?

Did anyone replace the seal that runs along the bottom of the window on the outside too? I assume this is how the water gets into the door in the first place, but given the drain holes inside the door is it normal for water to get in anyway?

Thanks!

[Adam T7]

The only way I guess you can guarantee zero water ingress is to seal up the window - which is clearly nonsense. Personally I check the drain holes are free from crud and also lube the window seals with Gummi Plfege applied with a fine artists paint brush to keep them supple and hope this improves the seal to the window glass and reduces the need to replace.