Water in Spare Wheel Well - Golf MK7

[GolfDragon]

Good afternoon all

I have noticed I have a significant build up of water where the Spare wheel and wheel changing kit is kept. I have tried to identify the source of the leak by pouring water over the car whilst examining panels etc in the boot but I suspect that the water may be entering from the underside of the car (as it seems to be worse when driving on motorways which are soaked in water and surface spray is present)

One garage I have told wants to keep the car for a week to identify the leak. I was wondering if anybody else has experienced this leak and managed to fix the issue or has any suggestions as to what more I could do to try and find the source of the leak.

Thank you

[MDMA .]

A lot of earlier Golf's used to leak via the rear lights. Seals would perish or the backings deteriorate. Worth checking.

[g7jhp]

This may help

[GolfDragon]

I have seen the link and youtube video but when I poured water over the back of the car earlier on, there was no obvious sign of water ingress from this point (unless it trickles down from the tailgate into a channel out of view)

[g7jhp]

Not sure if the Mk7 has vents behind the bumper, that was the boot leak point on the Mk4 when the seals failed.

[acme]

My MK7 went in for exactly this earlier in the summer. I too tried to identify via a hose to no avail.

The VW dealer had for four days and tested noting the VW badge/boot lid. But it’s back. Mine isn’t from below/drain plug as left alone for a week last month & not moving after having been dried out it returned....

[jjaack]

Quote "Not sure if the Mk7 has vents behind the bumper, that was the boot leak point on the Mk4 when the seals failed."

Had this on my mk 6, I partly removed the bumper and silicone sealed inside and outside around the drivers side vent behind the bumper just rear off the wheel arch after some arse side swiped me.
Very small mark on bumper but enough to bend the metal around the vent and it was worse when driven as it would fill up quicker
I found this out after using a carpet cleaner to remove the water as it went into the r/h drivers side front and back footwell aswell.
Pain in the b'side to do, wear gloves if you intend doing this yourself as there is baffle type plastic reinforcement behind the bumper which has sharp edges as does the bumper.

Jack.

[Swampy1982]

Rear washer jet? Happened on my mk4, pipe came off, every time I sprayed I filled up the boot.

Quick, simple fix.

[GolfDragon]

Swampy1982 said:

Rear washer jet? Happened on my mk4, pipe came off, every time I sprayed I filled up the boot.

Quick, simple fix.

I have checked that this morning and the boot release/vw badge but no obvious signs of water intake. As far as I'm aware the car has never been involved in any minor scrapes which could have potentially created any minor gaps in panels. There doesn't appear to be any external (visible) seals broken. May just have to book it in with VW and see what they find.

Considering German motors are supposed to carry a reputation of reliabilty, I'm a bit disappointed that a 4 year old car is letting in that much water.

[g7jhp]

You have to remove the rear bumper to see the seals of the vents and I'd put money on it they are the issue.

[GolfDragon]

g7jhp said:

You have to remove the rear bumper to see the seals of the vents and I'd put money on it they are the issue.

If this is the case, it won't be a fix I could do myself. I don't think I have the tools and I don't trust myself enough to remove the rear bumper and put the rear bumper back on correctly.

[SteBrown91]

GolfDragon said:

If this is the case, it won't be a fix I could do myself. I don't think I have the tools and I don't trust myself enough to remove the rear bumper and put the rear bumper back on correctly.

Just a series of bolts and screws. Paying vw to do that is madness

[GolfDragon]

SteBrown91 said:

GolfDragon said:

If this is the case, it won't be a fix I could do myself. I don't think I have the tools and I don't trust myself enough to remove the rear bumper and put the rear bumper back on correctly.

Just a series of bolts and screws. Paying vw to do that is madness

I don't have an indoor garage just on street parking and don't want to make the problem worse. (Or take the bumper off and not be able to put it back on lol)

I might take it to an independent garage first which will be a lot cheaper and will at least show me the source of the leak

[TinoVW]

I have a 16 GOLF MK 7 that has leaked via the vent in the boot. This Vent is below the RH light cluster behind the bumper. Unfortunately the car was outside for 2 very wet weeks. The boot overflowed into the passenger area; the carpets and rear seats are are destroyed. The cost to replace the moldy and smelly carpets is over €3000.
The car has not been in an accident, has always been maintained by VW main dealers and is just over 3 years old.

[waz2010]

GolfDragon said:

Good afternoon all

I have noticed I have a significant build up of water where the Spare wheel and wheel changing kit is kept. I have tried to identify the source of the leak by pouring water over the car whilst examining panels etc in the boot but I suspect that the water may be entering from the underside of the car (as it seems to be worse when driving on motorways which are soaked in water and surface spray is present)

One garage I have told wants to keep the car for a week to identify the leak. I was wondering if anybody else has experienced this leak and managed to fix the issue or has any suggestions as to what more I could do to try and find the source of the leak.

Thank you

[waz2010]

I have the problem of my wheel well on my mk7 golf filling with water, vw want £75 to check it, so I went in and asked if it's covered under warranty, they said no I told them what I had checked and their reply was it will more than likely be the air vents in the boot, so time to cancel it going to vw for them to charge me £75 to tell me that 😂

[Mike8030]

waz2010 said:

GolfDragon said:

Good afternoon all

I have noticed I have a significant build up of water where the Spare wheel and wheel changing kit is kept. I have tried to identify the source of the leak by pouring water over the car whilst examining panels etc in the boot but I suspect that the water may be entering from the underside of the car (as it seems to be worse when driving on motorways which are soaked in water and surface spray is present)

One garage I have told wants to keep the car for a week to identify the leak. I was wondering if anybody else has experienced this leak and managed to fix the issue or has any suggestions as to what more I could do to try and find the source of the leak.

Thank you

[Mike8030]

MDMA . said:

A lot of earlier Golf's used to leak via the rear lights. Seals would perish or the backings deteriorate. Worth checking.

Hi any one got water underneath carpet passenger side? Whole the sound absorbing material is wet.Vw Golf mk7 GTI 2015

[GolfDragon]

Got a notification from this old thread. My problem was the seals behind the rear bumper which VW sorted for me for around £200.

Only reason I ended up getting the work done with them was because they offered me a very good price for water pump and timing belt at the time (considering how much main dealers charge usually, it cost £20 more than an indy quoted me but with a 2 year VW warranty on the work)

They said they'd have a look at the leak whilst they had my car.

Probably could have got it fixed elsewhere cheaper but would have to have taken another day off and money saved would be lost in losing a days earnings.

[Aidanfin1.]

I had a similar issue with my mk7 Golf (14 plate). Having just taken the bumper off, I found a large amount of water behind the rear vents - bumper comes off after taking out a few screws (T10 / T25) from the wheel arches and a few under the bumper.

I picked up some spare vents from a VW garage (approx £15 each) and these just push into place. Speaking with the mechanics at VW they suggested just using some mastic to seal these on.

I also used the mastic on the lights as I read a few posts about this being the cause of the problem.

I'll let you know if the water returns.