Another water leak post!

I got in the car this morning and the drivers footwell was flooded… I knew my smugly bone dry Gti was too good to be true!  

…so after doing the usual and searching through all the posts on the forum, I checked the drain holes in the scuttle tray and checked all the rubber gromets and bungs into the bulkhead - all ok.

I took the tray off under the dash and (after getting into a position which the Mrs had to help me out of) I looked up behind the dash and could see the water running from right up near where the top of the dash meets the "A-Pillar" I think its called. Looked from the top but it was dry? Strange.

Starting to wonder if its coming from water running forward along the drainage channel along the roof and behind the plastic trim running down the side of the windscreen? It's definatley dry on the inside of the rubber windscreen seal though? Completely stumped me!

I'm bald enough as it is without doing anymore head scratching so I thought I'd post for ideas! Anyone else had this problem? (water leak…not baldness)

Appologies for the long post!
Mike

What's the condition of your window rubber?

T

Hi Tian thanks for the reply,

The seal looks ok but I'm concious of the fact that they dont always have to look perished to let water in.

I've had a gander at the A-pillar trim and its fitted by being slid behind the window seal which seems a rediculous idea?! Surely that's asking for water to get in? I'm thinking about taking the trim off completely as it seems like a bit of a daft idea - just worried that the seals's going to be stretched now and not sit tight against the frame hmmm….

Was listenning to the rain in bed and remembered I'd forgot to put the cover over it - 2hrs later I was still tortured by the thought of bailing out the footwells this morning so I ended up going outside in my boxers in the dark and battling with the cover in a gale. Don't think the Mrs was too pleased when I got back in bed dripping wet and freezing cold ha ha.. The joys of owning a Mk1 Golf!

The trim is well know for letting water in mate. If your seal is in anyway suspect I'd avoid it. TBH I have the same trim on my car and not had any problems but only time will tell.

As for it stretching the rubber seal I have no idea but it would depend on how long you've had them in place.

T

Ok cheers for the quick reply! I'll leave it on and keep the cover on in the rain for the time being.

It's going in the bodyshop for a resto after Christmas so the screen will be out then - I'll replace the seal at the same time to rule to out! Definatley won't be putting the trim back on!

Thanks for the advice mate


Any ideas to what might be the problem on acceleration on the post below mate?

"Pulling hard to the right when accelerating…"

MikeyBoy said

 

The seal looks ok but I'm concious of the fact that they dont always have to look perished to let water in.

 

I've had a gander at the A-pillar trim and its fitted by being slid behind the window seal which seems a rediculous idea?! Surely that's asking for water to get in? I'm thinking about taking the trim off completely as it seems like a bit of a daft idea - just worried that the seals's going to be stretched now and not sit tight against the frame hmmm….

 

I eventually discovered that I had the same problem with mine. Tho mine was leaking from the sunroof as well…  :roll:

See here:

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=33267&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=10

 
There is a 'flap' of carpet just in front of the drivers door, the water was running down behind there & into the footwell, also seemed to be coming thru the junction between the floor pan & bulkhead.  :dontknow:

If you contort your body & reach up high enough, there are a couple of holes located next to the side of the dash just down from the bottom of the A pillar. The water seemed to be getting in there from the bottom corner of the windscreen. Without removing the dash to thoroughly check the area, the inside of the windscreen seal seemed to remain dry despite the leak.   I had recently had the windscreen seal replaced as I'd had a bit of work done to a 'hole' that was found under said seal, next to the window wiper. Doesn't look like it had been put back on properly. Plus the wind deflector didn't seem to be helping. Took the deflector off & lifted the seal as best I could.  Pumped in some sikaflex & that seems to have done the trick. Been water free for a few weeks now  :pray:

You could try that until the work gets done after christmas  :dontknow:

Hi there - just found a similar thing with mine - it was the passenger footwell that was soaked - thought it might have been the winscreen seal, but on further investigation with a jug of water it turned out to be coming down the sunroof drain then coming out a hole right up in the top corner that a grommet really should be in. (if you look up to the left of the fuse box behind the dash - would have thought the drivers side is similar)  It was then dribbling down the back of the flap of carpet infront of the door, under the main carpet, and collecting till it was deep enough to come through the carpet making a puddle!

I work at the toyota factory so theres tons of grommets knocking about of various sizes so took a few and plugged that hole up and every other hole around it- been bone dry the past couple of days!

rossirvine said

 on further investigation with a jug of water it turned out to be coming down the sunroof drain then coming out a hole right up in the top corner that a grommet really should be in.

the sunroof drain tube is suppose to pass thru the body of the car next to these holes. It should protrude out & be visible when the door is open. If its been pushed back into the body of the car or missing then the water would have been leaking in as you discovered.  You should be able to see the white plastic drain tube thru the hole you found. I managed to get my finger in thru the hole on the drivers side & poke the drain tube back out. Never thought of using a grommet, good idea. Might give that a try too.. :wink:

cheers

Eck

well theres a larger elongated hole up there as well, I could see the end of the drain pipe so think mines broken off through being old and brittle, so untill I find a real need to remove the headlining then grommets are the way forward!!

I couldnt see any holes when I looked up behind the dash ….it looks like my "car-gymnastics" aren't up to scratch! I'll warm up and do a few stretching excersizes at the weekend and try again! May struggle if its cold, damp and wet though - damn arthritis! lol

Speedo stopped working this morning so I'll have to try squeeze my hand in the radio hole and have a feel around the back - I'll have no skin left on my knuckles altogether after all this fiddling behind the dash!    Ha ha

I had this trouble, I poured water over the pillar by the plastic trim and it dripped through, I took the plastic trim off and taped the seal where the trim had tucked in and poured water over it again, it didn't come through. I phoned the VW dealer and there are two types of windscreen seal, one for cars with the wind deflectors as they call them, and another for cars without, they now only supply the one for cars without which is what I wanted. I fitted it and the car is dry, the plastic trims are  up in the loft, the best place for them.

I'm definately going to leave them off, how much did you pay for the new windscreen seal if you don't mind me asking?

Hi Mike,
?30 including VAT, I thought it was cheap for a genuine VW seal.

did you get the leak sorted if not bob round and i'll reseal your screen for you give me some notice so i can get some sealer from work
Dave

I'm holding fire with the windscreen seal for the time being because the glass is coming out to repair a rotten section so I'm going to replace it with a new seal.

The leak was definately down to the A-Pillar wind deflectors pulling the seal away from the frame so they'll be burned in a celebratory bonfire in the back garden once the ne seal's fitted after the hassle they've caused!

You could put the deflectors on ebay but like you I would rather have the satisfaction of burning them.