Damp footwells

[JumboBeef]

My 400 driver's side footwell is damp. I've resealed the screen at the top (as rain used to get in at the top of the screen) but I'm guessing the bottom might need it as well. The passenger side is also damp, but not as bad.

Could it be something else?

The car is parked outside with a top cover on it.

Thanks.

[mrzigazaga]

JumboBeef said:

The car is parked outside with a top cover on it.

Hi mate...Is it a Targa top cover or a full car cover?...Unfortunately the recesses behind the inner wheel arches are water traps..Check around the bulkhead grommets to see if they are letting water in..I had it in mine a little while back and it was down to a small screw hole just beneath the expansion tank...The car cover i had at the time was pants and let water in..I had about an inch of water in the passenger footwell...Since i plugged the holes with some black-tac its been okay...Cheers...Ziga

[maston]

I thought that was a standard trait with wedges, really waterproof...not !!!!

My 390 leaks badly on both sides and that is with new seals

[wedgeman]

It might be worth taking your battery off and checking to see if the fibreglass underneath has worn through. If your battery has not been properly secured in the past and has slid around it is highly likely that the glass may have worn through in the corners - the bit right above your legs...

[maston]

I'll check mine too, cheers

[350zwelgje]

I have drilled holes in the floor.....
No carpets at the moment, some rubber stuff so not bothered.
But must say it is not too bad in the rain, but will let a bit of water in, standing still or driving.

Rob

[SLB]

Wedges aren't as bad as my old S3. So much water collected under the seats that when I braked hard my trousers got wet with the water sloshing forwards. Turned out to be the fibreglass on the rear fold up was split due to the weight of the roof panels. I only realised this when during a thunderstorm water was pouring through the interior light which on the S is in the roof. Had to remove the roof rubber seal to see the split and this was on a 3 year old car!

[adam quantrill]

I got a splash of rain in my eye on the way to work today.... most offputting.

Anyhow a small hole in the floor will allow it to drip out, and if you leave the mats on the parcel shelf in wet weather they won't sponge up the water and go rotten.

[RCK974X]

SLB - funny you should mention your S3..... My S3 had a leak which I didn't find, it was a crack running along the bottom moulded 'box' where the pedal box fits into.... This was almost invisible, I didn't discover it until stripping back the paint as part of its rebuild.

So JumboBeef, as well as the other suggestions above, have a careful look for cracks in corners, bulkhead holes/rubber seals/grommets that might leak, anything where water might make its way in...

On my wedge (2.8), there are a couple of bolts which hold the steering column, and a couple for the pedal box, and a couple on other side for the wiper motor - not very likely, but all possible leak sources...

[Jack Valiant]

As mentioned above if you are using a bikini cover then it is common for the water to run into the engine bay between the bonnet and the body and into the battery area then through the body into the car. Test by putting paper into the foot well and pour some water into that area.

Second candidate is the door seal rubbers. Water can run from the roof panel, down the door seals and then runs into the foot wells. If the carpet is wet up the side from the foot well to the door seals you have your answer.

Both of which are fixable by removing the battery and sealing that area and replace the door seals.

[gmw9666]

My car never had any foot well carpet so I bought a big roll of this stuff for about 20 quid

Actually enough to do about 10 foot wells lol

Looks great and easy to replace, not that she goes out in the rain

[ElvisWedgely]

Are you sure its rain water? It could be the heater matrix or its pipes or connections leaking.

Tony.TCB.

[mrzigazaga]

ElvisWedgely said:

Are you sure its rain water? It could be the heater matrix or its pipes or connections leaking.

Tony.TCB.

That is a good point.....

[jmorgan]

Once matrix is removed from the suspect list, check the door seals. Check em anyway.There should be a flap for water run off from the targa on each side, or water gets to the inside of the seals and spill over.

I also have cut outs at the bottom of the door seal section to let anything out that makes it to the inside of the seal and tracks down.

Edit. Also the targa and rear drop down can act like a big sponge, so water treatment is important so as much runs off as possible I stead of acting as a slow release.

[red tasman]

I also have cut outs at the bottom of the door seal section to let anything out that makes it to the inside of the seal and tracks down.

This is well worth checking/doing as the water collects at the bottom and without the cuts, water runs into the foot well.

[bobs280i]

After a good days rain the next time I would drive the car the passenger would receive a tsunami over their feet on the first corner ! I found that tape over the mesh vent under the window stopped this ...the damp carpets now is water that drips down the inside glass where the window and rubber seal meets on the hood you can see its not tight ...now my steering wheel is on the wrong side as I would have been the one with wet feet! ( but that's why its a convertible so I can drive around with the roof off to dry it out ..lol )

[bradderztvr]

Typically wet footwells are from water following the seals down the window line, and ends up entering at the bottom front door seal right angle. If there is heavy rain the ash trays will fill with water. Excellent design feature, preventing too much water in the footwell!

[Jonah666]

Hi Guys, I too suffer from damp footwells when raining, despite having fitted brand new seals all the way round. These 'cut outs' in the seals that a couple of people have mentioned - has anyone got a photo so that I know where to put them, and do they actually work?

[jmorgan]

Do they work? I have no empirical evidence other than a dry car. Water can get down the inside of the seal from the targa and front door glass. This can run down the inside, all this does is provides a route to the outside for the water. Made the difference on my 350 many years ago.


front cutout. there is another close to where the door shuts.


targa flap, on the outside to show where it is.

[c pryor]

I think Wedgeman has the answer.