Water in fuse box - boo hoo

Hello,

Last week I deceided to the change front wheel bearing, one thing led to another and I left the car on axel stands. A week passed new parts arrived…….and so did the water. Whilst inspecting the repairs I had made to the instrument panel I noticed the window wipers were operating in the off position. A quick feel around the fusebox area and low and behold the dreaded water had arrived, my wiper realy was half full of water.  8O

Having removed the dash tray I could see a large drip plopping down from the bulk head right onto the relays/fusebox.  

I know I have rust bubbling at the bottom of the A pillar, is this it, probably. Could it also be the window seal?

I believe this is a common-ish problem, anyone with experience in sorting this out (methods of sorting the rust at the bottom of the A pillar). I have noticed on Ebay repair panels, are then any good/worthile?

Thanks in advance
Regards
Scotty

Yo Scotty

There is a little grommet in the bulkhead where the bonnet (hood) release cable pops out.  Check its condition…mine had split and was replaced (Pt. No. 311 611 743)…before you rip out the screen!

Cheers

Also worth checking the drain holes in the scuttle as well as any gromets in the scuttle, i suspect its having the front up meaning the scuttle collected some water

hello chaps,

Thanks for the advice. I checked the grommet where the bonnet release goes through the bulk head. Although brittle it is too low for where I saw the water dripping. I checked the drains in the scuttle and they were clear. It seems to me, to be the window seal/ rust patch at the bottom of the A pillar.

Thanks again as I will probably have to change the bonnet release grommet.

Cheers
Scotty

hi.sounds like it could be a whole in the windscreen appature.r there any rust streaks on the metal bar directly below the inside of the windscreen? I had this problem on my first GTi curred it temporarily by bunging loads of silicon around the screen rubber. a new screen rubber might help depending on how corroded the metal is underneath.

Yo SCotty

There is a repair panel (looks like it may be a "Hadrian") on E-Bay at the mo…just in case my lower bretheren (the Tin Worms) need the order of the boot.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9889&item=4531272590&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Cheers

Superworm

Thanks for the advice and info,

I have, for now, put silicone window sealer under the window screen rubber. I think I'll have a bid on that repair panel as for sure the paint at the bottom of the A pillar has bubbled and cracked. Rust can now be seen clearly. As for the condition of the 'window frame' under the seal I cant tell until I take out the screen.

Thanks Again

MK1Scott, check your local motor factors to see if you can get the A post/scuttle repair patch before paying to much on ebay. Might be wrong, but sticker looks like a Hadrian panel and new can't imagine would cost more than ?10.

Cheers

I had to replace the lower A piller section (amongst half a tonne of other panels!), think it was like markwon said, about ?10 and it was a nice and easy part to put in once the windscreen was out and the bonnet was off