Water ingress probs

[SosolidVw]

Hi everyone, glad i found this website. I own a S plate 110 passat with 184,000 miles, over all this car has been fairly solid but recently i have noticed water dripping down from under the front passenger foot well. All the carpets appear to be dry and all engine fluid levels are fine. I have looked underneath and there doesnt appear to be any pipes running where the drip is?

I have read before that passats are prone to water ingress around this area but cant remember what the cause was?

Any suggestions?

[Huweth]

The usual reason for passenger side carpets getting wet is a busted pollen filter seal. However, if your carpets are dry it may not be this.

Is the water leaking from under the car?
If so, it may be condensation from the air conditioner that can often be seen in humid conditions. If you suspect it might be this, try switching off AC and see if the problem persists.

Let us know what you find.

[SosolidVw]

thanks for the info, i checked the pollen filter and it looks to be dry (and very dirty, nice to see vw do what they say in a service....!) I did find both drainage holes blocked but the leak is still there. I drove with the air con off and it didnt leak when i stopped the engine. I know u were saying about condensation but i think there is a problem as a trail of water runs across the road once parked. How do i check the pollen filter seal so i can rule this out once and for all:1zhelp:

[Huweth]

I had some drips from the same place as you today after running my Air Con. It was only a few cc's of water though. If all your engine levels are fine, and the water is under the car, not in the car, it must be something to do with aircon since it stopped when you turned it off.

Is it definately water? There will be gas in the Air Con system, not a liquid.
If it was the pollen filter seal you'd get wet carpets on the passenger side after heavy rain, so it's not that.

Perhaps you just have very effective aircon and it's particularly humid where you are. It could just be as simple as that!

[SosolidVw]

Ok i could see the water running down then finally dripping off under the foot well, it goes up towards the battery tray, i took the tray out but it was fairly dry underneath. I feel a trip to an air con specialist coming on...:aargh4:

[SosolidVw]

Just another quick question, how does a busted pollen filter seal cause a water leak? i thought that was just air?

[Huweth]

When it rains, water can run down the bulkhead area and it gets inside the car through a pollen filter seal... (I think!)

[DiverDave]

Thought i might drop this one in, have you checked the windscreen seal?? I had one go once and it took me ages to find out where the water was coming in from! Turned out all it needed was some silicone sealant behind the seal and problem solved.

Might not be the prob in your case, but thought i would mention it!

Good luck :D

[MSB]

Hi I also had the same problmm on my Passat. In my case it too was the pollen filter housing. From memory I ended up buying some 4inch black inulsation type tape, and then took the pollen filetr out, and taped up the inside vertical side of the housing. I also has some spray waxoyl which I then used to careful spray around the outside of the hosuing, partcularly on the right hand side where it come close the the wing. In my case this solved the probelem. Might do the same for you too.

[andricos]

does anyone know where the drain holes are for mark 4 polo. next to pollen filter as my car leaks water when it rains and i cant c when im driving when i puton the heater. call me or email 07894053305 ASAP please andricos2000@yahoo.co.uk

[Eshrules]

does anyone know where the drain holes are for mark 4 polo. next to pollen filter as my car leaks water when it rains and i cant c when im driving when i puton the heater. call me or email 07894053305 ASAP please andricos2000@yahoo.co.uk

andricos, i think you could do with posting this seperatly under a differnt thread, your problem doesnt sound the same as above, a little more info will be needed before people can advise you. :approve:

[gary1]

check the windscreen see if has been changed you can tell by the makers name in the corner of the glass it should say vw or xxx the steaming in the car is a tell tale sign that is been happening for a while

[Bribc]

I have a 2001 Passat Estate which suffered the same water ingress problem after last weekend's downpours. Pool of water 1 inch deep in rear passenger's footwell also affecting the front passenger's. Can anyone advise best menthod of drying out the carpet once the problem is fixed. I've been told to aqua vac it - anyone done this? Which aquavac to use? Also how easy is it to lift up the carpet? I don't want to get into the huge task of removing the seats. Any help appreciated.

Brib C

[southamptonadi]

to dry out properly itd best to remove seat as the carpet is really stiff and this will give you access to the underneath along that side but anyway i had the dreaded leak and went to local vw dealer peter cooper in southampton they gave me new seal free looks live a stick off liquorice car now dry and all the electrics work properly