B8.5 Audi A4 Allroad leaking

[spartacus 68]

So here's where I'm at.

2012 B8.5 A4 Allroad with wet passenger side carpet. I honestly thought I'd left this nonsense behind after I sold my B5 Amtrak locomotive.

The car has a panoramic sunroof and I've checked the drains (just the front ones) and they exit near the door hinges. Water runs clear, plus I've had strimmer nylon down the drains just to be sure. I've read some horror stories about cracked sunroof cassettes and some of the plumbing connections failing. The headlining is dry as a bone.

When I've seen the water drip after heavy rain, then it's running down where fuse box is on passenger side dashboard and drips from base of glove box. The door seals seem fine.

Now before anyone mentions the bulkhead or plenum drains, I've been there. I even removed the rubber grommet on the passenger side. Used warm water and detergent to clean it to so water runs freely.

Also read about A/C leaks, but pretty sure it's not that. It's definitely after rainfall.

So onto the web and the usual searching and I stumble across two separate threads, one on a B8 A4 and an C6 A6 both with leaks and which were attributed to incomplete sealant at the bulkhead allowing water to trickle in.

Attention Audi Stirling fix for my water ingress on my A6 C7

Wet carpets water leak

One of the posts mentions taking a wing off to access the bulkhead. Seem like a fair call, and should I even consider this? I don't want to damage any paintwork, and conscious some of the bolts inside the bonnet and underneath will be painted.

[micheal balbrig]

Why not use a dye as an aid when its raining

[spartacus 68]

Checked this again and pulled the passenger door seal back to lift the A pillar trim and could see water running down it. The A pillar trim is plastic backed hence no wet spots.

I'd stripped out the glove box out, which to be fair does help you see what you're doing.

Door seal off, plastic trim off, battery disconnected. Then A pillar airbag trim off, sun-visor, vanity mirror and passenger grab handle off so roof lining could be pulled partially down. There was a drip near the drain exit at the sunroof cassette. Dried everything off then used marine Sikaflex 291.

I've used Sikaflex on boats and can even be used on wet surfaces. Fingers crossed this does the job.

Only issue was airbag light on after everything was reconnected. I'd switched the passenger side off in the glovebox and I think had disconnected it under the glovebox before turning off at the battery. Ran VCDS and cleared all codes and airbag light is back off again.

Hopefully it stays dry tonight - but pretty sure I've fixed it.

[spartacus 68]

Why not use a dye as an aid when its raining

Not unless you want your interior trim and carpets stained, no thanks!