Cambelt Advice and Water Behind The Passenger Seat

[venetian-red]

I have 2 questions please (for a 2001 Passat Estate TDi 130);

1) I had the cambelt (full kit) replaced in November 2009, at 114k miles. The mileage is now 151k. On visual inspection cambelt looks perfect. When would it be recommended that the job is done again please?

2) During the recent very heavy rain, I have noticed that there is water behind the passenger seat, in rear passenger footwell area and quite a bit. The actual front footwell is dry. Any ideas? Windows are sealing fine and can't see any damage to any of the rubber door seals?

Thank you.

[Guest 2]

I have 2 questions please (for a 2001 Passat Estate TDi 130);

1) I had the cambelt (full kit) replaced in November 2009, at 114k miles. The mileage is now 151k. On visual inspection cambelt looks perfect. When would it be recommended that the job is done again please?

60k or 4 years whichever comes first for me.

2) During the recent very heavy rain, I have noticed that there is water behind the passenger seat, in rear passenger footwell area and quite a bit. The actual front footwell is dry. Any ideas? Windows are sealing fine and can't see any damage to any of the rubber door seals?

Thank you.

Search 'wet carpets' and you'll see that its a common problem on the B5, usually the plenum chamber gets full of crap and clogs everything up.

[venetian-red]

Thanks, for the cambelt query, you have confirmed my thoughts that it will need to be done soon.

For the wet carpets, the plenum chambers have been done by VW on a recall, but a long time ago, so maybe clogged again? Wouldn't the front carpet be wet as well though, not just the rear passenger side?

[passat 130 tdi]

Thanks, for the cambelt query, you have confirmed my thoughts that it will need to be done soon.

For the wet carpets, the plenum chambers have been done by VW on a recall, but a long time ago, so maybe clogged again? Wouldn't the front carpet be wet as well though, not just the rear passenger side?

get under the cowl where the battery is mate and push the rubber grommet out , they are not needed and cause the bulk head to flood . the water runs down and through the channels for the heat under the seats . water can also get in through the seal on bottom of the pollen filter if its flooded.

[scotty33]

I have 2 questions please (for a 2001 Passat Estate TDi 130);

1) I had the cambelt (full kit) replaced in November 2009, at 114k miles. The mileage is now 151k. On visual inspection cambelt looks perfect. When would it be recommended that the job is done again please?

2) During the recent very heavy rain, I have noticed that there is water behind the passenger seat, in rear passenger footwell area and quite a bit. The actual front footwell is dry. Any ideas? Windows are sealing fine and can't see any damage to any of the rubber door seals?

Thank you.

Plenum chamber/pollenfilter seal are the common ones, but also likely is the rear door window regulator has been out, the seal is not sealing any longer and water builds up in the door and spills over into the cabin.

[keelstow]

Soon!.... would wait till you get to 174k miles before any cam belt work...... still a long way off, 23k miles in fact, an expensive job so get the miles out of the rest of the car .

[PeteK]

I have the same problem on my car, I noticed the nsr carpet was damp last week. It is unlikely to be the plenum drains as the front carpet is bone dry on mine. As above I suspect that the seal has failed between the rear window regulator and door. As a temporary fix I've put insulation tape over the outer window scraper trim and window glass to prevent any further leakage which seems to have worked until I get chance to do a proper repair.

[Doctle Odd]

Bad advice. Man is averaging 9.5 k miles a year so unless you could guarantee the belt would last for 6.5-7 years he would be advised to change it.

Soon!.... would wait till you get to 174k miles before any cam belt work...... still a long way off, 23k miles in fact, an expensive job so get the miles out of the rest of the car .

[passat 130 tdi]

I was doing 10k a year and ran my belt for 5 years , but kept within the recommended mileage - having said that im a one off , yours may snap !! it depends on what you think the cars worth if it does snap - £ 1000 against a £350 belt and pump ?????

[27litres]

I have 2 questions please (for a 2001 Passat Estate TDi 130);
2) During the recent very heavy rain, I have noticed that there is water behind the passenger seat, in rear passenger footwell area and quite a bit. The actual front footwell is dry. Any ideas? Windows are sealing fine and can't see any damage to any of the rubber door seals?

Do you have a sunroof?
Rear grommets can clog up and cause leakage further up.
The grommets are behind the side trims in the boot, or can be accessed behind the rear bumper sides (pull the rear bumper off).
Can also saturate the jack and central locking pump recesses in the boot.