Flooded footwell after heavy rain!

[Yan55]

Hello everyone, I know there are others out there that have suffered a similar problem to me but the remedies i've found are not possible on my A3 as its a 2000 model and the engine bay has a different layout! Normally i like to think that i'm quite good at solving problems but this has got me stumped; hope someone out there can help...

So for a while now, after rain, when i've backed my car up the driveway i could hear the sound of sloshing water coming from the passenger footwell. I expected to see water draining out all over the road but nothing! Anyway, months later i get in the car to see a patch of water on the carpet. I lifted the mat and underneath - very wet!! Like i spilled a pint on the floor or something.

Searching on the net and mainly here others said that the drain plugs under the battery were likely to be blocked with debris causing rainwater to collect to such an extent that it eventually it overflowed into the pollen filter, down into the heating system and out all over the carpet! Trouble is, my motor being a 2000 model quattro the battery is right down by the headlamp and not behind the bulkhead like everyone elses seems to be, so its not that.

So i take it all apart (as you do). Removed my wipers, took off the plastic trim which covers the join between the windscreen and bodywork, and lifted the panel which covers the pollen filter. Incidentally, that plastic cowl is a load of cack. I think it's just there for cosmetic aesthetics as it certainly isnt watertight to the screen - rain can run over it, under it and go right into the hollow compartment behind the bulhead. Which is exactly where it had gone - my pollen filter was very soggy. Certainly newer audis seem to be sealed much better. All i could do was clean out all the cack in the **** poor drainage channels, reseal the pollen filter's housing in an attempt to make it more watertight and use some silicon sealant between the screen and that plastic trim on the window. Couldn't seal it all the way across mind; the gap was too baggy in the middle.

Anyway that fixed it. Until this morning.

I really hope someone knows what to do here! Sorry that was a long post. If you're still with me I appreciate it!

Many thanks in advance....

[towcestervag]

have you cleaned out the water drains in the sides of the pelham chamber in front of screen
has the car got a sunroof? if so open front doors and pinch the two grommets that petrude halfway up door shut between hinges as these block and check the drains at rear

[Yan55]

Yeah i took everything out and gave it a proper clean so its pretty shiny in there now. The plenum filter is just the pollen filter is that right? If so that didnt really have any drainage channels near it, just a gap in the bodywork at the extreme ends of the car which must drain water out down the back of the wheel arch.

Haven't got a sunroof but good thinking. It's chucking it down out there tonight - car is under sheeting. Honestly, it's so embarrassing to have a car that isn't waterproof!

Thanks for taking the time to reply...

[towcestervag]

the plenham chamber is the complete area below screen where pollen filter sits there are 2 holes 1 either side to allow water out one is by the pollen filter
as car got air con?
release carpet on n/s and follow bulkhead across to base of heater box and you will find a drain tube/plastic channel
check to see if this is blocked remove lower screw and twist to one side and push small tube down through grommet to see if its blocked