Leaky floor!? *** FIXED ***

Hi,

Having ripped all the carpets and sound-proofing out I spent some time looking for leaks during the great British weather we've been enjoying.

I discovered that when the car is parked pointing down a slope water comes into the drivers footwell from a spring in the floor!

There's a tiny hole about 3 inches in from the sill right where the floor starts to angle up towards the pedals. It seems as though water is running down the sills and into the cabin through the floor. During heavy rain it fills the footwell right-up.

I don't really want to just block the hole as presumably water will be sitting somewhere else.

There is the odd drip coming from the bulkhead but nothing more. Also it doesn't seem to be coming from the boot either as back of the rear footwell stays dry. Not the sunroof or the doors either. It really is coming out of the floor!

Has anyone else seen this kind of leak? Any idea where the water is coming in from?  :dontknow:

Cheers, Duncan

Yes i've had this kind of leak but i am afraid i can't help you as i'm still looking for where mines coming from, however i am pretty sure its sunroof related, i'll be taking mine to bits in a few weeks so will hopefully find out then, in the mean time its got a car cover on and doesn't go out in the rain!

may only seem like an odd drip but could be your problem. best way to find a leek is by using a hose pipe. i have had one leak caused by a badly fitted windscreen, and also worth double checking plastic liner inside door cards, and all gromets in bulkhead are sealing correct. and then of course theres the rear tailgate seal or the rear lights can let water in which can run forward and gather in the front footwell. best to sit inside your car why a mate goes over suspect areas with a hosepipe. good luck ....

Thanks for the replies.

The water is definitely coming out of the floor. It must be leaking into the sills from somewhere and then into the floor when the car is on a slope.

There's quite a delay too after the rain starts until the leak appears.

I think I may have the answer. Recently I had 2 new sills put on but there aren't any drain holes  :dontknow:

So when it rains and the car is on a slope the water in the sills has nowhere to go so it comes up through the floor.

Anyone else noticed the aftremarket sills have no drain holes? Did you make your own?

Cheers

Growers

if you look in the engine bay [drivers side] and follow the chassis leg to the rear just before the bulkhead you will see some 'gaffer tape' this protects a hole in the chassis leg .

Water from the scuttle area drains through those holes on either side of the scuttle down on to the chassis leg , if that gaffer tape is missing or damaged water will flow under the floor area and fill the chassis leg .

This will be the source of your leak . Bung it up .  Sills should have drainage holes i would drill maybe 3 each side [6mm] and protect with plenty of wax based rust proffer

Cheers Chudd………..

Chudd,

Thanks for the advice. I think I know where you mean, just had a look and there is a hole but it's plugged with a blanking grommet. Can't see any gaffer tape though?

In the mean time I'll try drilling some drain holes to see if that 'cures' the leak. I wonder why aftermarket sills don't come with them :dontknow:

Cheers, Growers.

Chudd you were spot on!

There are TWO holes in the driver-side chassis leg just before the bulkhead. I had previously seen only one (plugged with a grommet) but today a found a second covered with tape. I didn't see it before as the tape had 24 years of engine grime covering it!

I only found the second hole by squirting water into the first hole. Sure enough the tape is damaged and water came pi55ing out!

Just got to find a way to seal the hole now…

Cheers  :clap:

Stikaflex!!!

Growers

Where is that second hole in the chassis leg in relation to the one with a rubber grommet?

I can't find it!

I have 2 leaks (at least) one in each footwell

The drivers side looks like its coming from the corner nearest the door, while on the passenger side it looks like its dripping down the centre of the footwell

tried all the obvious things but its still leaking!

In the mean time I'll try drilling some drain holes to see if that 'cures' the leak. I wonder why aftermarket sills don't come with them  

Pattern sills usually have 2 or 3 drain holes pressed into the flange that is welded to the inner sill/floor pan flanges. Do you mean the round holes in the sills, as the pattern sills do not have these. These are not drain holes, but for cavity wax injecting and should have rubber grommits in them.

Cheers

Growers

Where is that second hole in the chassis leg in relation to the one with a rubber grommet?

I can't find it!

I have 2 leaks (at least) one in each footwell

The drivers side looks like its coming from the corner nearest the door, while on the passenger side it looks like its dripping down the centre of the footwell

tried all the obvious things but its still leaking!

Head from the hole with the grommet directly toward the bulkhead, the second hole is almost at the point the chassis leg meets the bulkhead right where the water drains from the driver-side hole in the scuttle tray  :roll:  Mine was covered with tape and was virtually invisible! It's bigger than the hole with the grommet.

Have you checked the windscreen surround on the passenger side? Also check for pin hole corrosion in the scuttle tray and that the drain holes are clear - the passenger side one is obscured by the ignition module mounting.

Good luck!

Thanks

I hope I find it soon

I had to cut a load of that black tar soundproofing stuff off the floor yesterday as there were cracks in it and I was starting to get surface rust on the inside of the floor.

My old campaign leaked but that was the sunroof drain hoses, this one doesn't have a sunroof