Wet centre/near-side back seat after the rain...

[slipd]

Hey guys,

After some quite heavy UK summer this year, my centre/near-side back seat has started showing signs of water marking, ala Turing shroud... see picture below.



...you'd have definitely felt it if you'd have sat on it

It appears quite localised to the 'join' of the base of the seat, and the back. I've sprayed all the rear rubber door seals with silicon spray but I'm a bit stumped if it's not that. My car has a factory fitted sunroof, but I don't think it's that? Can't rule it out though. All the seals look good. I'd have thought there would have been some sign on the roof lining if it was the sunroof but apparently the roof lining is pvc backed?

I've completely taken all of the seats out now to clean etc, try and locate the source of the leak.



^^ That all looks nice and clean right?

The only viable, permanent damage so far is on the back of the bench seat:






One thing to note is I've noticed that when I lift the tailgate, after rain/washing etc. there is a lot of water running off on the near-side, right on top of the light cluster. Not a huge amount of water but enough to splash the contents of the boot.

If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated

Thanks.

[FLAPPERJACK76]

Strip out the boot. Climb inside with a torch. Close the boot. Have someone spray the vehicle and look for the leak.

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[Scott K]

For the metal to get so corroded, it must have been wet for a while.

[slipd]

For the metal to get so corroded, it must have been wet for a while.

That's what was thinking... should make it easier to locate right?

[Crasher]

Blue stains, screen wash fluid, this contains a lot of salt, H2o+Na+Z26=Fe2O3

[slipd]

Interesting. Washer fluid leak has been mentioned before but two things; 1x I get the water mark only after it's rained, and I rarely use the rear wiper, and 2x, I use a very green, apple smelling washer fluid

Where is the rear washer pipe out of interest though? I should probably check that too...

[Crasher]

It is along the right floor to sill join, over the rear arch and then up the C pillar out of the roof into the tailgate, the daft convoluted hose splits and is a sketch to replace all the way through and if the crack is in the tailgate conduit, you have to do the repair in the pillar and then run a new line trough to the motor.

[slipd]

Okay, more updates...

So I had to refit everything for my MOT on Wednesday, which sailed through thankfully, but we've had rain again and not having had the chance to remove the rear seats again until today, this is what I've discovered >







The water seems focused mainly on the near-side. The carpet was damp and let me soak up a lot of water just using paper-towels. There was a light spray of water in the spare wheel well but nothing major.

I removed the near-side light cluster thinking the water might be getting in from behind there and I was surprised to there was no foam seal, like there is on the mk3 between the light and the chassis? Is that normal? I think I've mentioned it before but after the rain/washing the car, when I lift the tailgate up for the first time there is a lot of water run off, is that normal? It's usually enough to wet whatever's near the back of the boot.





Everything looked clean behind the light cluster but I'm a bit concerned about the lack of a seal between the light and the car. Is that normal?

I'm back to taking the seats out now

Any ideas?

[Crasher]

Only the plug area has a seal

[slipd]

Grrr... so it probably isn't that then? Are there any guides/vids about for completely removing the quarter panel carpet out there, I'd like to see what's going on behind that.