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A permanent solution to wet footwells?
https://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=9454		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Mark Allen [ Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  A permanent solution to wet footwells?
I think I've traced my particular wet footwells problem to a cracked scuttle (over the heater in the bulkhead).

The top of the plastic scuttle just below the base of the windscreen had a large crack - I poured water on the windscreen and water very readily found its way in to the crack a presumably around the base of the heater.... which was surrounded by sodden leaves and silt (which I cleared out).

I've repaired the crack the plastic scuttle and applied new sealant all along the top edge to bond with the base of the windcreen so its now watertight and water now runs off the scuttle to the sides of the bulkhead. There was also lots of ponding within the bulkhead and both drains either side of the bulkhead were blocked with silt and these are now cleared.

Clearly, the surround of the base seal of the heater may not be 100% intact and perhaps that's why the water had got into the cabin of the car, but, at least now any breach in the base heater seal is not being bombarded by water coming in from the crack in the scuttle, the debris is all cleared away and also the bulkhead drains are now clear.

Anyone sufferng from wet footwells might want to check of the condition of their plastic scuttle.

.... hopefully, that's the end of my wet footwells problem... or at least my efforts today have made it a bit more difficult for water to get in.
Author:  MisterGT [ Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
I wonder if this is also the cause of my (only very occasionally) wet passenger footwell. It only happens to me when it rains heavily and the car is on a slight uphill incline. Whilst I had noticed that the drip seemed to come from behind the glove box I assumed it was a blocked sunroof drain hole which I would eventually get round to sorting out, but now you have mentioned it my plastic scuttle also has a split in it just above the heater.

Thanks for the idea.
Author:  t3rra [ Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
Mister gt Im 100 percent your problem is due 2 a windscreen coming un bonded. I had this. I tryed a sealent under the glass. In the end replaced the glass on the insurance. You could have it rebonded. But I was told there's no ganrenty it will come out in one peace, and you could end up needin a replacement.
Author:  MisterGT [ Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
T3rra

Thanks, Ill have a look at that at the same time
Author:  David924S [ Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
Mark Allen wrote:
I think I've traced my particular wet footwells problem to a cracked scuttle (over the heater in the bulkhead).

The top of the plastic scuttle just below the base of the windscreen had a large crack - I poured water on the windscreen and water very readily found its way in to the crack a presumably around the base of the heater.... which was surrounded by sodden leaves and silt (which I cleared out).

I've repaired the crack the plastic scuttle and applied new sealant all along the top edge to bond with the base of the windcreen so its now watertight and water now runs off the scuttle to the sides of the bulkhead. There was also lots of ponding within the bulkhead and both drains either side of the bulkhead were blocked with silt and these are now cleared.

Clearly, the surround of the base seal of the heater may not be 100% intact and perhaps that's why the water had got into the cabin of the car, but, at least now any breach in the base heater seal is not being bombarded by water coming in from the crack in the scuttle, the debris is all cleared away and also the bulkhead drains are now clear.

Anyone sufferng from wet footwells might want to check of the condition of their plastic scuttle.

.... hopefully, that's the end of my wet footwells problem... or at least my efforts today have made it a bit more difficult for water to get in.


Put this as a possible issue in your original thread from a few days ago!
Author:  Mark Allen [ Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
Water still getting into the footwells (although after the real serious downpour here in Norwich yesterday the amount of water getting in didn't seem so bad as before - maybe my efforts did at least something to stem the tide and I may have patched one of the problem areas).

Anyway, I do hope T3rra's right about the windscreen as I've run out of ideas concerning where else the leak might be coming from and this seems my last option.... I've got a new windscreen being fitted on Saturday.
Author:  t3rra [ Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
My problem was only the pangsers side. And would have the pansanger complaing there leg was getting wet. Lol. But if I parked on side higher then the other it wouldn't be so bad then if I parked the other. Changed the windscreen and the problem was gone. Once you got it sorted I would take the carpet up and check 4 signs off rust.
Author:  Mark Allen [ Thu Sep 16, 2010 6:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
I get water coming in one side at a time, depending how the car is parked.

I've never noticed any drips, but, I'm 99% sure the water is coming in from the front area of the car and into the footwells.

I can understand how water may find its way into the cabin from a breach in the base of the heater seal. If indeed the windscreen has become debonded as T3rra suggests may be the case, I'm struggling to work out which route into the cabin the water would take. Any ideas?
Author:  David924S [ Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
It isn't just the seal on the heater that can cause issues if someone has removed the heater motor assembly to either repair it or the windscreen wiper motor or arms then they may have not replaced all the screws holding it down to the bulkhead as they tend to snap when removing as they get very rusty.

I would remove the plastic shroud from over the heater motor unit (means removing the wiper arms and the large washer holding the shroud onto the window area and unsealing it from the bulkhead or for a quick look unclip it from the fron of the bulkhead nearest engine and prop it up careful not to crack it more) and take a look underneath give it a good clear out of leaves etc and make sure the wiper.heater cables which sometimes run behind the heater motor unit low down are not holding up muck and stuff like a dam, which then lets the water build up and either go through the seal or like I said a missing screw etc.

If you can manage to see under the dash at the back behind the glovebox/console area you (usually by laying on your back feet on the passenger seat) then maybe you can see where the water is coming in or lay some kitchen towel on the top of the carpet in the footwell across the whole length and see if it gets wet this should indicate if the water is coming from the top or not.
Author:  doctor924 [ Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
Just to add to the original posters solution - I too have now sealed the cracked bulkhead scuttle cover and this seems to have stopped my wet drivers footwell too.
CHeers for the tip
Author:  Mark Allen [ Sun Sep 26, 2010 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
Thanks for all your comments.

New windscreen fitted, scuttle repaired as well as the outer sunroof I had seal fitted three weeks ago.

My four sunroof drains are clear (last week in the dry poured water in them and all the exit points trickled with water).

Out in the rain this afternoon and noticed water was dripping in from the corners of the sunroof.

Thus far I've been spared the 1cm deep water in the footwells I had a couple of months back despite the three or four heavy downpours and almost continuous drizzle we've had since Friday here in Norwich, but, water is still getting in nevertheless.

Something I did point out to our Porsche specialist here in Norwich before the outer sunroof seal was fitted was that my inner seal lifts very easily off the guide metal and presumably is not, therefore, watertight and I'm guessing this is what the problem is.

The new sunroof seal is probably keeping most of the rain water at bay in moderate rain. However, when the rain hammers it down I guess the drains can't cope and the water fills the channel around the inner sun roof seal and if it rains hard enough then breaches the poor fit between the inner sunroof seal and the guide metal and drips over into the cabin.

Seems my only options left are to:

Get a new inner sunroof seal installed, possibly fixed in place with a sealant;

Get a car cover (although not exactly ideal when given the car's parked out on the street).

Cheers

Mark
Author:  Mark Allen [ Sun Sep 26, 2010 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
....... or, I could of course put gaffer tape around the outside of the sunroof... that will look real classy too.
Author:  t3rra [ Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
I would try the inner seal as well, how ever mine lift fairly easy as well, but lucky it sees water tight and my car is park out side. Have u waxed the roof off the car? A good wax will also keep the water sitting in large droplets and prob keep the out seal water tight as well.

Did the wind screen help?
Author:  Mark Allen [ Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
Thanks for your comments.

Either the outer sunroof seal is not sealing as it should and/or the inner seal is not up to holding back torrential rain.

The car is well waxed and water does in fact collect in large droplets around the sunroof seal itself so that must indicate the outer sunroof seal is doing something.

I can't say whether doing the sun roof has helped - the water ingress is certainly no worse than it was before though. Nice new screen is a plus though as the previous one had plenty of scuffs.

I kind was being kind of flippant re: the gaffer tape, but, now I've thought about, so long as I make a reasonably tidy job of it I can't see any harm in going around the perimeter of the sunroof with some insulating tape or similar even if that just sees me through the worst of the winter.
Author:  lindsayhbrown [ Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A permanent solution to wet footwells?
I seem to recall a previous thread along these lines, if I recall correctly there was some mention of using vaseline to seal the inner seal, but I can't remember if this was successful tho', but it maybe worth a try
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