Wet driver’s foot well - CURED!
Discussion
A few weeks ago I started a thread stating that I was getting a wet foot-well and that I had found a grommet which clearly needed sealing. I sealed it up and thought that was the end of it – until I went out in the rain last weekend and once again had soaking carpets on the driver’s side. The water was coming from beneath the carpet at the far (front) end so a leak from the engine bay penetrations was still the prime suspect, although all appeared to be well sealed.
I found the following suggestion on the TVRCC forum so I can’t really take credit for it - but it seemed a good idea. Basically the plan is to build a small wall of blue-tack around each penetration one at a time and fill up the resulting ‘well’ with water to see if it remains or drains away.
The most likely culprit was the brake master cylinder reservoir, although the surrounding mastic appeared to be good, so this is where I started.
First the carpet was removed and some kitchen towel was carefully laid in the footwell to mop up any water that found it's way there.
The wooden block and socket simply hold the carpet out of the way and the paper towel in place.
Next the ‘bund’ is built around the reservoir.
Then using a small syringe, left over from my son’s engineering A level project, water is carefully loaded into the bunded area. It didn’t stay there long as I watched it quickly seep away towards the rear of the seal, behind the filler cap. A quick check in the footwell showed some very wet paper towel! Eureka! Now I stress again that the mastic seal 'appeared' to be perfectly ok before I started.
I dried the area and pulled out the old mastic, which came away VERY easily. Simple, the seal wasn’t sealing. Out with the black mastic, (don’t use sikaflex, it’s far too adhesive for this application) and the job’s done. The following picture shows the old mastic, which came out as a single piece. It didn't take much persuading!
It’s not the neatest job in the world but it does at least seal now.
Last job is to repeat the water trick. This time it stayed in place on top of the reservoir and the paper towel in the footwell was dry!
So I’m hopeful this is it. I haven’t checked the other areas as the clutch cylinder was replaced recently and resealed. The remaining accelerator cable and pipes all look OK – but this is how it all started. Ha! They’ll be next on the list using my new trick if the wet carpet persists.
Good luck and I hope this helps someone else with a soggy driver's carpet.
I found the following suggestion on the TVRCC forum so I can’t really take credit for it - but it seemed a good idea. Basically the plan is to build a small wall of blue-tack around each penetration one at a time and fill up the resulting ‘well’ with water to see if it remains or drains away.
The most likely culprit was the brake master cylinder reservoir, although the surrounding mastic appeared to be good, so this is where I started.
First the carpet was removed and some kitchen towel was carefully laid in the footwell to mop up any water that found it's way there.
The wooden block and socket simply hold the carpet out of the way and the paper towel in place.
Next the ‘bund’ is built around the reservoir.
Then using a small syringe, left over from my son’s engineering A level project, water is carefully loaded into the bunded area. It didn’t stay there long as I watched it quickly seep away towards the rear of the seal, behind the filler cap. A quick check in the footwell showed some very wet paper towel! Eureka! Now I stress again that the mastic seal 'appeared' to be perfectly ok before I started.
I dried the area and pulled out the old mastic, which came away VERY easily. Simple, the seal wasn’t sealing. Out with the black mastic, (don’t use sikaflex, it’s far too adhesive for this application) and the job’s done. The following picture shows the old mastic, which came out as a single piece. It didn't take much persuading!
It’s not the neatest job in the world but it does at least seal now.
Last job is to repeat the water trick. This time it stayed in place on top of the reservoir and the paper towel in the footwell was dry!
So I’m hopeful this is it. I haven’t checked the other areas as the clutch cylinder was replaced recently and resealed. The remaining accelerator cable and pipes all look OK – but this is how it all started. Ha! They’ll be next on the list using my new trick if the wet carpet persists.
Good luck and I hope this helps someone else with a soggy driver's carpet.
This is a good tip which I'll try out. Mine doesn't leak if I park it facing downhill, but if it's facing uphill, water drips down behind the pedals ( I've had evidence on newspaper I've put in there). Yes, I know but it's not always practical to park facing downhill every time.
I had presumed it's something on the bulkhead but this procedure will help to eliminate other areas.
I had presumed it's something on the bulkhead but this procedure will help to eliminate other areas.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff