A4 leak into footwell!

[GS tone]

Hi
Used my A4 estate today first time for about a week and found passenger footwell and rear swimming in water!
I can see it running down the carpet from under the dash
any idea before I start taking things to bits?
Cheers

[olds_kool]

check plenum chamber (where battery is) see if its full of water, if so unblock drains plenty of info on this problem if you search forum

[stevie-g-2.6]

as above, but also check the gromit where the bonnet release cable goes through too.

also something else to check is that little plastic cover over your pollen filter.

[GS tone]

great thanks guys will check tomorrow

[chris.r.]

What about the A/C condensate water outlet? Maybe blocked?

[GS tone]

it was the two drain holes under the battery
the battery tray is almost rusted away!
unbelievable amout of water came out
thanks again

[AutoTDI]

Have just cleared drain hole (again) under battery after water ingress. This seems to happen every couple of years and following heavy rain. I removed about a gallon of water using my Pela extractor. Looking around Poundland the other day, I came across a "Water Leak Alarm" which looked as if it might be useful for alerting me to a potential flooding situation. The device comes in a small round plastic box and is powered by a 9V PP3 battery. It fits neatly just in front of the brake servo. I did some checks first for battery current and did not see any movement of the pointer on the 1 ma scale. When I bridged the sensor pins with two wet fingers, about 50 ma was drawn from the PP3 and the device emitted a loud screeching sound. So it looks as if this device, if fitted with an alkaline battery, should be OK for a couple of years. I should add that I do regular visual checks for flooding, but obviously not often enough!

[Sam]

Poke the drain hole bungs out completely to stop the blocking in the future.

[AutoTDI]

Poke the drain hole bungs out completely to stop the blocking in the future.
Thanks for the tip. I did consider this, but as the blockage is usually caused by a leaf spread across the opening I'm not sure how this would help. What it really needs is a drain hole of about 2" diameter and/or a more effective leaf trap below the windscreen. The vulnerable area seems to be near the passenger door. Unfortunately I live in a heavily wooded area and my roof gutters (house) are another problem.

[olds_kool]

you could try and get a scuttle cover as fitted to facelift models
it stops all but the smallest leaves getting through and fits all earlier models

[AutoTDI]

you could try and get a scuttle cover as fitted to facelift models
it stops all but the smallest leaves getting through and fits all earlier models
Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware, so will investigate further.

[olds_kool]

heres a pic
you need the two pieces below windscreen, the cover and the rubber seal
id imagine there expensive from audi but if you can find one in a scrappy

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll65/olds_kool/95d882aa.jpg

[AutoTDI]

Yes - I could do with one of those!