Rear Footwell Water - not in archives

[BenGV3]

I know that there is lots in the archives about water leaks into the rear footwells; I've spent hours trawling through them, but still can't find the source of the water that is getting into my rear passenger footwell. So any ideas for the following gratefully received.

It comes in from rainfall into a parked car. Only the rear passenger footwell carpet gets wet, very wet, eventually standing water on it, but all of the carpet above footwell level is dry. The seats are dry too, and there is no evidence of water dripping in anywhere.

I have checked cleaned and checked the sunroof drains, the door, the inside of which remains quite dry, the sill drains and the side window seal. All of these are not passing water into the car.

Does anyone know of any other route by which rainfall water could get to this rear footwell?

Many thanks,

Ben

 

[millimeep]

Tried checking the drains under the bonnet?

They're either side, just below the windscreen, where leaves usually gather...

 

[944s2]

Try here

http://www.titanic.co.uk/FAQs/FAQ27_944WaterLeaks.html

 

[BenGV3]

Thanks for the ideas. Drains under the bonnet have been regularly kept clear so its not those. I had seen that other thread offered before and it made me clean out my sun roof drain tubes carfully from the bottom some weeks ago. The only possibility that seems left is that the drain tube has come off its spigot at the sun roof on that rear passenger side, but after I had cleaned the tube at the bottom a few weeks ago water poured from a jug into the sunroof channel came out at the correct exit point by the wheel arch so I didn't think it could be that. I wonder if there is a way I could find out without taking the headlining down?

Ben

 

[Fen]

Just because it appears in a given footwell doesn't mean that that is where it is coming in. I'd venture that it can't cross the tunnel easily, but it can flow front to back quite readily if the car is on a slope or even if that is the natural shape of the floor (which it could well be).

That still isn't helping you much, of course. I think someone had a leaking seam in the shell around the scuttle a few months back which could be the cause if the rest has been eliminated. Could also be coming in the passenger door if the membrane isn't sealed properly behind the door card.

 

[944Turbo]

top of rear hatch seal? or between the glass and frame on the rear hatch? Is it usually parked flat, sloping forwards or sloping backwards?

 

[peanut]

if you have looked everywhere else the most likely source of ingress is the doors.

I had a very bad leak into my passenger footwell for months and despite trying everything including sitting in the car during a rain storm found nothing.

One day I was pulling away up the drive smartly when i had to brake suddenly to avoid running over one of my neighbours []
I happen to glance at the passenger window and noticed 3-4 pints of water suddenly shoot out of the base of the passenger door between the door and threshold .

Weak or worn door glass rubber strips can allow a lot of water into the doors during rain.It should drain out but if the drain holes are blocked it can sit in the bottom of the door for a few hours.
oops just seen Fen has already suggested this

 

[BenGV3]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I shall keep looking at all possibilities before I start stripping door car / carpet / headling etc to better identify where it is coming from. I just hate the thought of that water starting corrosion of the floor pan.

Many thanks, I will let you know when I find the source of this troublesome leak.

Ben

 

[peanut]

best of luck[] check the rear light clusters as well. Its not likely but water can travel when you accelerate and brake. Try opening the passenger door after the next shower and see if any water floods out of the bottom of the door .

 

[millimeep]

We found our leaks in the carwash! []

Once it had finished, (we had to wait patiently and keep our feet out of the way of the torrents of water), I popped the bonnet and found lakes left and right - hence me asking about the bonnet drains.

And yes I'm aware that those of you who are more precious about bodywork than us probably won't go anywhere near a carwash, but it's great for diagnosing leaks [8|]

 

[jaunebox]

I had this very problem when I bought my new 944 in 1986. It was returned to the Dealer (they weren't called Porsche Centers then) and it took them for ever to locate the source, which turned out to be from the bonnet area from where the water traveled to the rear footwell. Best of luck

 

[knightma]

Ben,

Your water leak sounds exactly like the one I reported in the following post:-

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=406149&mpage=1&key=&#406597

Unfortunately I still haven't solved it, I just bought a full cover so will have another look at it when the Berlin winter has ended. The water coming in is definately rain water as I'd not driven it in the wet when both rear footwells got wet. I experimented pooring water over various parts of the car. Rain water falling on the windscreen is what eventually ends up in the rear footwells. It drains off the windscreen under the rear edge of the bonnet into the area above the front bulkhead. From here it drains without problem out of the drain holes at the two sides. Most ends up on the ground as it should. However some must get into the sill cavity and runs rearwards. It then runs into the crossmember which divides the front and rear footwells under the front seats. From here it runs out into the rear footwells. Both sides suffer with this problem on my S2. The only thing I can think is that when I waxoiled the sill cavities I blocked some drain holes as I never saw any leaks prior to waxoiling it. Has your car had the sill cavities waxoiled? However having said that, I'm a bit confused how water is getting into the sill cavity in the first place when it should be just draining onto the ground. When it's warmer I will have a more thorough look. There must be a simple explanation. Let me know if you find it!