Leak from driver's side bonnet release catch

[gatsovictim]

Hi

I'm pretty sure that this is a source of the leak in my footwell. I can feel it dripping on my leg when driving in heavy rain, and I can't see anywhere else where it can be coming from.

Anyone got an idea what I can do about this? It's not like I can block it up, is it?

[phillpot]

Not heard of that leaking before, but there's always a first time

Other "favourites" are:

Throttle cable
Brake balance valve mounting bolts
Wiper spindle

[ketvrin]

you can get leakage from the side indicator repeater if its not sealed properly but thats unlikely to be dripping on your leg... I would agree wiper spindles are a suspect...

K

[Gerald-TVR]

Dont thimk its the bonnet catch as it is well to the right of your legs and behind a panel which is part of the body tub (at least on the S3 I looked at.

I woul guess the wiper spindle if its the top part of your leg and the brake balance valve if its lower down - BUt could be any where on the scuttle and running along

norman

[gatsovictim]

Water drips onto my right calf, and the seal round the wiper spindle looks pretty solid.

I simply can't see anything other than the hole that takes the bonnet catch as being the guilty party.

[Barkychoc]

Sounds too far across to me but I could be wrong - check out the bolt heads on the flat area behind the brake servo including the ones for the brake pressure valve bracket - there's no sealant on any of them.
Also it won't be this but the little black plastic brake line clips are just pushed into a hole.

[v8s4me]

Barkychoc said:

the little black plastic brake line clips are just pushed into a hole.

Those were the culprits on mine. They had come loose and water was running in freely and soaking my right foot, carpets etc.

[phillpot]

Its surprising how much water can get in through a very small hole. My drivers side footwell almost filled up after a night of heavy rain last year during our Euro Tour, all I've done since then is seal the throttle cable grommet (which didn't look bad before) and 99% dry now.

A tip I was given (Tinks ?) was make a little ledge above it from "gaffer tape" or similar, it stops water running off that flat area above and straight down the cable almost like a capillary action.

[Le TVR]

I had a leak around the bolts of the passenger side bonnet catch. Just needed re-assembly with liberal use of silicone sealant.
The only leak on the driver side was the speedo cable entry (S1)

[gatsovictim]

v8s4me said:

Those were the culprits on mine. They had come loose and water was running in freely and soaking my right foot, carpets etc.

I've had a look at these on mine, and they are now looking like the main problem. I've pulled them out, and can see straight into the footwell through the holes!

Did you just shove them in further, or did you use any sealant?

[v8s4me]

I put silicone sealant on the pegs on the clips before reinserting them. I put a weight over the clips to make sure they didn't ping out again and left them overnight. Sorted.

[Barkychoc]

Where are you in East Mids? I've got some of those brake pipe clips (new) if you want some.
I'm in Bingham. I can bung you a bit of blue hylomar sealant in the holes aswell if you bring the car over.

Chris

[gatsovictim]

Barkychoc said:

Where are you in East Mids? I've got some of those brake pipe clips (new) if you want some.
I'm in Bingham. I can bung you a bit of blue hylomar sealant in the holes aswell if you bring the car over.

Chris

Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll be ok. My plastic clips are in good condition, and I've got a tube of silicone sealant (for another little job) in case me pushing them back into position doesn't work. I did a little test on the properly-inserted clips by pouring half a cup of water over them and nothing came through, so I hope this is the end of this particular matter.

Hope nothing else comes up. This is going to be the first autumn/winter that I'll be using the car.