The dreaded water in footwell returns - with a vengeance

[armagan]

Hi,

I have a 1999 Passat B5 1.8L. Last year I had the water in the rear passenger side problem and proceeded to check the air filter gasket, as directed by previous threads. I thought the problem had been resolved. But now it seems the drivers side rear and front had water in it.
So i checked the seals, and they seem fine. I soaked up the water, but having had the car in the garage for the last month with windows open to dry it out.

I went and had a look under the drivers seat last week and there still seems to be water collecting in the drivers foot well. So I soaked it up some more.

Yesterday had another look, and there was still small amounts even though its been in the garage for a month! without me even using the car. So I'm scratching my head now, is it still coming from the carpet underlay. I do have a sunroof and the seals and drain holes in them seem clear. I've also cleared the 2 drains under the battery which other posts mentioned could cause the leak. but to be in the garage for a month and still have water leaking into the foot well?

one clue seems to be that the rear drivers side door lock seems to be playing up. I don't think its a problem with the CCM, it seems to be the lock itself in that the door would not shut, it looks like the mechanism for the lock to keep the door shut was not working. It is working now that the car is relatively dry inside, but its a clue as to where the problem may lie.

anyone have any ideas?

[nogrille]

if water's getting in when the car's in the garage, it implies it the heater matrix that's leaking as this is IN the car. Does the liquid smell of coolant?

[armagan]

no it doesn't smell of coolant,

I'm not sure if the water is leaking into the car now or if this is more water just coming out of the carpet underlay which was previously water sodden.

however, the source of the leak is still to be identified.

any ideas as to where the water could be leaking in from?

[MalcQV]

no it doesn't smell of coolant,

I'm not sure if the water is leaking into the car now or if this is more water just coming out of the carpet underlay which was previously water sodden.

however, the source of the leak is still to be identified.

any ideas as to where the water could be leaking in from?

The carpet and sound insulation do hold a vast amount of water

[cazyp]

If it has been leaking when dry stored then it has to be coolant. Has the level dropped?

Possibles for your leak are front and rear window seals/inner door skin seals/outer door seals/sunroof/rear wash wipe on estates/bulkhead/ childrens drinks or a bloody big hole in the floor under the carpet

[MalcQV]

If it has been leaking when dry stored then it has to be coolant. Has the level dropped?

Possibles for your leak are front and rear window seals/inner door skin seals/outer door seals/sunroof/rear wash wipe on estates/bulkhead/ childrens drinks or a bloody big hole in the floor under the carpet

I think he needs to rule out a very sodden carpet too.

[nogrille]

get a dehumidifier in there if you can

[phillyofish]

Try checking the aircon drain tube also, they get bunged up with gunk and leak water into the passenger footwell too.

[TheProducer]

I have fixed a problem like this and it turned out to be the drainage from the sunroof mechanism. Sunroofs are not typically designed to seal but the mechism has a drainage system. If you open the sunroof you will see at the front that there are two holes where watr is supposed to be drained off. What I found with my 2000 Golf estate is that behind the headlining the drainange tube had kinked and therefore blocked any run off, identified by pouring a small amount of water into the hole and watching it NOT draining away.

good luck

Bill