Water ingress woes, below battery filling up then emptying.

[KieranM]

Hi there, I was hoping that after having the rubber skirts taken out of the drainage holes last year, and having the pollen filter housing seal replaced last week, that the next day of rain would result in a dry car. Not so.

Last night it really hammered down, this morning there was 1/2 an inch underneath the passenger front carpet, I checked underneath the battery with my finger, there was probably a cm of water, after going to work and coming back, underneath the battery was dry.

Is it safe to assume that there is a partial blockage in the drainage below the battery? And even though the pollen filter housing is sealed (according to the local garage), that the water will still get through if the drainage holes are blocked?

The windscreen has been replaced in the past also, and the guy who did it didn't do the cleanest of jobs, but I don't know.

I have removed the glove box to help dry out the carpets, after rain I can see drips coming off the left hand edge of the dash, dripping on to the pillar of connections and the loom below.

This morning I was more than slightly frustrated, as I'm sure lots of you have experienced before, so any clues, or are my assumptions correct?

Thanks,

Kieran

[scotty33]

I guess the drain hole could have been bridged/blocked, - there is also another of the drain grommets under the brake servo which may be still fitted? There is a factory 'hole' through the bulkhead near the pollen filter, from memory, I think air con pipes run through it. non aircon cars have a blanking grommet which can crack and would let water pass.

[Sam]

Left side of the dash is usually the pollen filter leak but due to the large mess of wires up there diverting the water, you can't be 100% sure.

Remove the pollen filter and put your hand down inside the vent (obviously with the engine off ) and see if the sides are wet at all. Press down on the pollen filter housing too and listen for squelching.

The water has to get very deep (and the drains very blocked) for it to overflow into the cabin.

With the bonnet up, remove the small plastic bonnet hinge covers and see if that area is all bunged up with crap.

To check the windscreen is properly sealed run a hose or if you're in a drought area and you don't have a spare £1,000 to pay the fine, pour a jug of water onto the screen and see if runs through into the car.

[KieranM]

Hi thanks for the replies,

I will check the drains again, as it is definitely wet underneath there when standing, but it's not that deep, or perhaps by the time I get to it, it has partially drained.

Fortunately North Wales is wet enough not to be on a hose pipe ban, so I can get that checked, if it is that I wonder if I could get autoglass to pay as they replaced it.

Are there any other culprits? Could the passenger door seal be an issue? I have poked a bike gear cable through the sunroof drains and they were clear.

Thanks again,

Kieran

[Crasher]

Take the battery out and poke the drains clear, one under the tray and one below the servo. If you search this problems on here there are about 365,000 posts about this problem...

[KieranM]

Hi Crasher,

Yep well aware, but I am asking because the drains have been cleared and the pollen filter housing sealed, although I do think the drains need clearing again, I was under the impression that if you remove the grommets it would prevent it happening. I want to check all avenues, before I dry the carpet out again!

Thanks

Kieran

[Sam]

If there's still standing water in the chamber - I missed that in the first post, sorry - then the holes are blocked (again) - it's definitely worth getting your head in there and looking for yourself though - quite often the second bung under the servo is missed.

Crasher will advise you to leave the bungs in to prevent light headed feeling when in traffic - but it's up to you what you do - I quite like the smell

Window seals sometimes go, but the water would be coming in from the bottom of the door area.

[KieranM]

Ah thanks again, and I do apologise for what must be a repeated post on many occasion! The bungs were taken out a while ago, dunno where they are now! Traffic isn't too much of an issue up here, but the spreading of fertiliser is a different issue.

[caldirun]

Ah thanks again, and I do apologise for what must be a repeated post on many occasion! The bungs were taken out a while ago, dunno where they are now! Traffic isn't too much of an issue up here, but the spreading of fertiliser is a different issue.

If you are sure the rubber valves are binned I would call out the idiots who fitted your screen.

[KieranM]

I'll have chance to check this out on Friday, today definite sloshing below the battery plate, I took a photo with my phone to make sure the rubber valves were gone, and that one is definitely gone. Can't see the other one though, I'll update as soon as I find the source.