A4 Driver footwell water leak

[pompomJuice]

Hi there.

Recently I have been experiencing an awefull smell in my Audi. At first I had no idea where it was coming from and it would sometimes come and go. One day by chance I was driving bare foot and noticed that my footwell is completely wet. I searched the internet for simular problems but found nothing that exactly described my problem.

I took the car to an audi dealer and told him about the problem. The entire service of the car cost like 10% of its complete value and I was told that audi informed them about the problem and it is fixed now. Alas, it was not fixed.

I read up again and found all kinds of explenations ranging from battery tub drain pipes being clogged and letting water spill into the ventilation system of the car etc etc. I then proceded to simulate the problem. This is what I found out.

If I poured water down the driver side front windscreen the leak would occur. The pictures describe the leak best...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/pompomJuice/leak1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/pompomJuice/leak2.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/pompomJuice/leak3.jpg

Anyone have any ideas how I can fix this?

Thanks

W

[bez101]

if audi said they fixed it go back to them and get some wellys

[mrobson]

I suspect it probably doesnt matter where you pouring the water in, it's all about how it's getting to where it's coming out. My A4 Avant used to get wet footwells occasionally. On investigating it I found that the water collected underneath the battery area by the front bulkhead and it was from there it would find a way into the footwells. The commonly blocked drain hole is actually under the brake servo but if you cant get to it there then remove the battery. If you discover a puddle of water under the battery then this is the answer and it needs unblocking. Hope that helps. Mark.

[pompomJuice]

I suspect it probably doesnt matter where you pouring the water in, it's all about how it's getting to where it's coming out. My A4 Avant used to get wet footwells occasionally. On investigating it I found that the water collected underneath the battery area by the front bulkhead and it was from there it would find a way into the footwells. The commonly blocked drain hole is actually under the brake servo but if you cant get to it there then remove the battery. If you discover a puddle of water under the battery then this is the answer and it needs unblocking. Hope that helps. Mark.

Thanks for the reply.

The problem is that I know about the battery problem and I spesifically poured the water so that it does not go anywhere near the battery. Unless it somehow finds a way to run from the one side of the car to the other side, because that is where the battery is at.

The other problem I am having is that it is so difficult so see anything as there are so many panels and stuff covering the leak. I have no idea how one would get to the problem, even if it was know what it was. It looks to me like I would have to dismantle the entire front end of the car to find the leak. This is highly annoying. I can barely afford the car as it is... :zx11:

[bez101]

take the plastic cover off you will get a better view as mrobson said it doesnt realy matter where you pour the water it will fint a way in but i would defo remove batt to see if you have a build up of water or stick your hand down side off batt i could feel it when i checked mine

[jonbaker]

What car is it? mine had the blocked drainage problem and it actually got doen for free at Audi as there is a recall on the problem. I first noticed water dripping out of where yours is (not inside but outside near the front wheels, the plenum chamber i think it is)

[mrobson]

The black cover that goes across the back of the engine bay which includes the removable battery panel, conceals everything you need to look at to see if you've a blocked drainhole under the brake servo. It actually comes off quite easily in one piece. It's clipped into place so just use something to pull or push the clips up and off, pliers, screwdriver etc. Taking the battery out is a pain so if you do find a pool of water is present then see if you can get your hand or something pokey and flexible under the servo and poke about to unblock the hole. It can easily get blocked up with leaves and muck and the water sloshes around the whole area when being driven. You'll know when it's unblocked because all the retained water will gush out underneath the car and the puddle disappears. Mark.

[pompomJuice]

What car is it? mine had the blocked drainage problem and it actually got doen for free at Audi as there is a recall on the problem. I first noticed water dripping out of where yours is (not inside but outside near the front wheels, the plenum chamber i think it is)


Its an Audi A4 1.9 TDI 2001 model ( same as the 2002+ models )
Most of the water comes out on the outside right front wheel, but some of it manages to find its way into the cabin and drips on my accelerator paddle.

Thanks for that. I will speak with my dealer and ask them if they are familiar with this leak and if they can contact Audi for more information.

Thanks allot.

[pompomJuice]

The black cover that goes across the back of the engine bay which includes the removable battery panel, conceals everything you need to look at to see if you've a blocked drainhole under the brake servo. It actually comes off quite easily in one piece. It's clipped into place so just use something to pull or push the clips up and off, pliers, screwdriver etc. Taking the battery out is a pain so if you do find a pool of water is present then see if you can get your hand or something pokey and flexible under the servo and poke about to unblock the hole. It can easily get blocked up with leaves and muck and the water sloshes around the whole area when being driven. You'll know when it's unblocked because all the retained water will gush out underneath the car and the puddle disappears. Mark.


Thanks!!!

I will try this and report back.

Regards.

[pompomJuice]

Sigh its getting worse.

This weekend we had heavy heavy rains. When I started the car it sounded like the battery was flat and the on board computer told me there is something wrong with my break system.

After a while somehow the car started. The starter really struggled to turn the engine over, but it must be because its a diesel since there is no way a petrol engine would start with such low "starter RPM". I let it idle for about a minute, turned the engine off... and attempted a start again. Strangely this time around the car started like it normally does, no problems. No break warning on the on board computer either.

This is really starting to freak me out. I made an appointment with AUDI today and they are going to check if indeed my car is eligible for that plenum chamber recall, and then they would probably proceed to fix it. Since I live in Africa you cannot expect anyone to do "Audi recall" jobs for free on a service. It just won't happen. I hate this place.

[Marco34]

Mine started with a bad smell through the vents. The water that collected in my plenum chamber had gone stagnent. I took the cover off to see water lieing. This was years ago before the new of the recall. I couldn't find the drain holes so siphened it out. (9ltrs).

Some time later my brakes were sticking on. Servo has rusted. :zx11: I found the drain hole under the battery. I put some water in and then poked about until woosh... I unlbocked the whole.

Does anyone know what Audi do to the plenum chamber. I just keep and eye on mine now.

[jonbaker]

Sigh its getting worse.

This weekend we had heavy heavy rains. When I started the car it sounded like the battery was flat and the on board computer told me there is something wrong with my break system.

After a while somehow the car started. The starter really struggled to turn the engine over, but it must be because its a diesel since there is no way a petrol engine would start with such low "starter RPM". I let it idle for about a minute, turned the engine off... and attempted a start again. Strangely this time around the car started like it normally does, no problems. No break warning on the on board computer either.

This is really starting to freak me out. I made an appointment with AUDI today and they are going to check if indeed my car is eligible for that plenum chamber recall, and then they would probably proceed to fix it. Since I live in Africa you cannot expect anyone to do "Audi recall" jobs for free on a service. It just won't happen. I hate this place.

Why does it matter what country you're in? If there is a recall on the car then your local dealer should do it.

[pompomJuice]

Why does it matter what country you're in? If there is a recall on the car then your local dealer should do it.

Am am sure Audi headquaters are not concerned that mangie Audi dealers in South Africa are ripping of their customers. I mean, I took my Audi in for a 120 000 km service and it cost me R10 000. That's almost 10% of the car's value. A month later I find that despite that hefty service I still have leaks and the car's electronics is going crazy. Either Audi is making dodgy cars or I have a dodgy dealer.

This is Africa though, you cant expect more. That is why I don't really get mad or something.

[jonbaker]

Am am sure Audi headquaters are not concerned that mangie Audi dealers in South Africa are ripping of their customers. I mean, I took my Audi in for a 120 000 km service and it cost me R10 000. That's almost 10% of the car's value. A month later I find that despite that hefty service I still have leaks and the car's electronics is going crazy. Either Audi is making dodgy cars or I have a dodgy dealer.

This is Africa though, you cant expect more. That is why I don't really get mad or something.


All your symptoms sound to me like this:

You have blocked drainage holes. The plenum chamber is now full up with water and is effecting your brake servo. The water has leaked in through the front footwell and got inside your central contro or conveniance unit (or whatever its called) causing electrical mayhem.

Do a search on this site for instructions on how to remove your battery and find the blocked holes so you can clear the water. I would then get someone (an autoelec) to have a look at your central control unit which is under the passengers front seat. Or do it yourself if you are able to.

All this should be done and fixed by Audi if your car qualifies for the re-call. Why dont you ring Audi uk to express your concerns or to see if your car (if it was in this country) would qualify for the recall.

Good luck with it mate, i feel your pain!!;)

[Oldfart]

Hi - I am not sure if you resolved this but I thought it maybe useful to someone if I added my experience.

The nearside bottom of the windscreen was found to have a leak, calling for a repair by Autoglass. Footwell still wet so I took out the battery and clreared out the drain hole. No leak for a couple of weeks until it rained.

There was a strong smell of windscreen washer in the car and it used loads so I traced the washer pipes and the junction located under the passenger's bulkhead was leaking - replaced junction. All was well then the rear windscreen washer packed up. The newly found pressure in the sytem blew off the rear junction which is located and reachable from the offside first aid/jack compartment.

All very exaperating but now all is well.

[cowboy]

Check the cover to the ECU.

I had water in my footwell which I put down to me. Later on I started to get all sorts of error messages with the ABS and ESP. After switching off and restarting, all was well.

One rainy day the car went into limp mode. I also noticed that cooling fan was on and that the ECU was not powering up. After having the car recovered to Audi, they said the ECU would need replacement.

I wasn't convinced so pulled parts off the car in their workshop to find that there was a chunk missing at the very back of the ECU cover. This was allowing water to fill up the ECU housing and also to run into the footwell through a cable entry point. Water was also dripping all over the connectors for the braking system.

A repair was carried out with a tube of silicone sealant. Not very pretty, but it's not readily visible!

No more leaks and no more electrical faults - after 8 months.

Hope this helps

[jonbaker]

Check the cover to the ECU.

I had water in my footwell which I put down to me. Later on I started to get all sorts of error messages with the ABS and ESP. After switching off and restarting, all was well.

One rainy day the car went into limp mode. I also noticed that cooling fan was on and that the ECU was not powering up. After having the car recovered to Audi, they said the ECU would need replacement.

I wasn't convinced so pulled parts off the car in their workshop to find that there was a chunk missing at the very back of the ECU cover. This was allowing water to fill up the ECU housing and also to run into the footwell through a cable entry point. Water was also dripping all over the connectors for the braking system.

A repair was carried out with a tube of silicone sealant. Not very pretty, but it's not readily visible!

No more leaks and no more electrical faults - after 8 months.

Hope this helps

That sounds just typical of Audi, they will never salvage anything just replace things that will cost you a damn fortune. Glad you sorted it

[medixman]

My wife has a 2002 2.4 A4 cabriolet. This has water appearing in the drivers footwell. The drain grommets under the battery and servo are both clear, and no evidence of water build up. The effect is a bit strange. The carpets do not get a water build up on them when the car is stationary and it is raining, they only seem to get wet when the car is then driven. It appears to be near the footrest area that gets wet. The water is obviousy rain water - there is no smell to it and the car is not loosing coolant. Any one got any ideas? Thanks

[Oldfart]

Hi

It does suggest that the ingress of water relates to the forward movement and suggest the following:

Does the top fit securely?

Are the grommets under the carpets securely fitted
The filter for the air con mounted on the near side can cause a problem and a simple clean might cure it,

Otherwise I am sorry but no further ideas. It took me a long while to sprt out my leaks and I wish you luck but it is worthwhile.