Footwell water leak / first gear is stiff

[stejuk]

Hi people,

I just read a few posts about leaking water into the footwell on the drivers side and also in the rear of the passenger side, a problem I've also recently found on my 99 golf mk4 1.4. Pain in the back side! I've had a good look around. I've found water on the 'footstep' of the drivers side, it collects there and runs down the gap into the footwell. None of the solutions posted else where would help. I've cleaned the seals, they look in good order, and they aline well to the door. There is no water running down from above, and the bottom of the door on the inside is dry, and still water collects! |Its the same story on the passenger side. I don't have a sun roof or AC. Anybody have any ideas whats going on?

The other problem I'm having is that the first gear is sometimes very stiff, and at other times no problem at all. The guy I bought it from said that the gearbox had only recently been replaced. I assume that the connection between the gear lever and the gear box had not been adjusted coorectly. Is this a possibility/likely? And is it a big job to fix it? I've had a look but I can't seem to work it out.

Any last but not least, the petrol cap does not function any more. Is it just a case of replacing a fuse, I already looked but couldn't seem to find the right fuse. Or would something need replacing?

Typical because I just decided tot sell the dam thing, thing I'll get something japanese like a honda civic, I wanted to buy european but what I really would like is a car I can depend on!

Would appreciate any imput, Steve

[Flash2]

Steve, I don't know what you've read on the other posts but I can tell you that Mk4 golfs almost always leak through the window regulator panels. Remove your drivers door trim panel and you'll see a large metal panel behind it. There is a seal between that metal panel and the door frame. The seal breaks up letting water leak into the car - very common. Another common problem with VWs is that the actuator that operates the petrol flaps sieze. To check the circuit, disconnect the wiring from the actuator and connect a 12 volt bulb across the connector (remove one of your side light bulbs and bend the wires to fit into the actuators connector. Bend back to original position after test and refit). Get someone to operate the release button and the light should...eh...light. If it does, replace the actuator.

[Lord Nelson]

The leaking door seems to be a bit of a problem on Mk4 Golfs and Boras. Like you probably read in one of my earlier threads, my cabin completely flooded (not jus wet carpets, could have had ducks swimming in it p) anyway, i followed the advice given and have not had a leak since. I dont know if i cured the problem though, because prior to cleaning the seals, we had another downpour but no leak.
Im still in the dark about why i had a leak in the first place, but new knowledge cometh from Flash2 re the regulator panels....Il have a look this weekend!
cheers chaps.

[Eshrules]

The leaking door seems to be a bit of a problem on Mk4 Golfs and Boras. Like you probably read in one of my earlier threads, my cabin completely flooded (not jus wet carpets, could have had ducks swimming in it p) anyway, i followed the advice given and have not had a leak since. I dont know if i cured the problem though, because prior to cleaning the seals, we had another downpour but no leak.
Im still in the dark about why i had a leak in the first place, but new knowledge cometh from Flash2 re the regulator panels....Il have a look this weekend!
cheers chaps.

any chance you could give some info on how you fixed it the last time?

[Lord Nelson]

You know Esh,
i dont know how i fixed it, if i fixed it at all.
I just cleaned all the seals, while checking for any breaks in them - there were none.
one of my theories is that because i had the car parked half on a kirb that the angle maybe had something to do with it....stab in the dark like.

anyway.....had the hose pipe over it, no leaks, been through the car wash n no leaks....so i ahve absolutely no idea....maybe just a freak occurance.

But, as flash mentioned above, the regulator panel may have something to do with it, so im going to check that!

[stejuk]

Flash2, thanks for the info, what a pain in the back side trying to get to that actuator - you have to remove all the trimming. I still haven't got there yet, will have another try soon.

It gets even better, my golf has just started to leak oil, the sump is all wet. I think its because the gearbox was replace not so long ago and some bolts on the bottom side have been threaded - I'm just going to buy 2 big bolts with nuts - fortunately there is space to apply the bolts.

I'm not very impresse with my VW, only had it 4 months and all this hassle/expense. I don't think I would buy another one. Is this your experience?

Thanks for the advice, Steve

[Flash2]

Flash2, thanks for the info,

I'm not very impresse with my VW, only had it 4 months and all this hassle/expense. I don't think I would buy another one. Is this your experience?

Steve, I couldn't possibly comment. (because I've never owned one).

Sorry to hear about your latest problem.

Jim.