Tdi Sport 2004 Water in Plenum Chamber!!

[dickturpin]

I decided to investigate my alarm issues today after having read many very useful posts on here.
I found plenum chamber full of water ('no surprise there' I hear you say!).
Much deliberation on how to get the battery out followed....couldn't remove the cabin filter tray due to awkward bolts and couldn't see how, even if I had removed the loom, it would have let me manipulate the battery out. I think the diesel battery is a bit bigger than others.
My questions are....
Should my car have had a recall?
Why cant a drain hole be created at an accessible location between battery and servo?
If I dry everything out will the alarm stop going off?
My car does have a VW service history.

Has anyone with same vehicle had the recall and if so, if that is just a clean of the holes, what are they doing to solve the problem long term?

[paulgaukroger]

Hello.
I've been doing the very same thing with my 54 TDI estate today. I owned the car from new and had no recalls although I have read that there were some. I intend to check with VW.

The battery isn't easy to get out on a Diesel - it took much persuasion and some near broken plastic at the bottom of the windscreen. Lo and behold - the holes were blocked and filled with water - carpet on passenger side soaked and control unit and wires sat in pool of water!

Removed dirt, unblocked holes (also on top of drivers side corner of windscreen where the water is meant to drain away was also blocked) and then left a fan heater in the car with the carpets lifted up for about 6 hours and problem instantly fixed.

Let me know how you get on!

Paul

[dickturpin]

I'm pleased there was no long term damage, can't see how you got the battery out!

I'm thinking ablout a call to VW tomorrow.

Might just get the car on ramps to reack up from underneath and remove the geommet under the battery! One functioning drain hole will be enough.

My pollen filter is bedded on a sponge seal. Would like to improve that design but if the areas around the passenger side bonnet hinge is kept clean it should be ok.

[paulthefox]

best to remove both grommets battery/brake servo area if water gets into servo it can cause the brakes to fail, and with that a possible accident

paul

[dickturpin]

Is there any reasons to leave the grommets in place?

Can a new drian hole be made at an accesssible lication?

[djmx5]

What's the plennum chamber.. where is it and was does it look like and do?? To the uninitiated it sounds remotely religious!

Cheers
D

[paulthefox]

where the battery sits thats the chamber and the start of all problems for passat owners

paul

[dickturpin]

The cavity in front of the windscreen where the battery, brake servo and other mysterious looking bits sit. If you have a look at yours it's probably full of water! Just got 4litres out of mine!

[djmx5]

Okay, thanks for that...yes I understand.... seems this is a source of much problem. Not an owner yet but hoping to do the deal this week on a B5 Highline estate 1.9 tdi on a 55 plate with 42k.

this is something to look out for. I have an A3 that I regularly have to keep clean of debris just below the windscreen line, guess this is pretty much the same issue? But I've not experienced any water ingress.

Anything else on the Passat estate I should be aware of?

Thanks
D

[dickturpin]

Wiper arms proved impossible to remove without breaking something so gave up on the idea of removing the battery!
Instead I attacked the problem from below and managed to push out the grommets from beneath with a long skrewdriver. Very restricted acces but it was possible.. At least it lets the water out now!
Might try again to remove the wipers when the weather is a little kinder and in the meantime will keep an eye on the pollen filter surround and the plenum chamber for any signs of water not getting away.

Any tips for persuading the wiper arms to part company from the car?