Finding source of Drivers footwell leak - driving me nuts

[taylormj4]

Half an inch of standing water in the driver's footwell again this morning.

Car has had a full respray including engine bay / door shuts etc recently so it's something to do with the parts that needed to be removed for that.

I've removed and resealed the pedalbox bolts, checked round the clutch reservoir seal and the brake reservoir seal, sealed the rivets for the VIN plates, sealed around the drivers side washer jet tube, sealed around pipes that go through the drivers inner wing, sealed around the throttle cable grommet and under the bonnet stay clip.

Anything else ?

[2OOM]

Have you tried around the heat shield? I had a leak years ago, I did all you have done as well as the heat shield .. it might also be around the windscreen if that was removed/refitted ..

[s p a c e m a n]

Windscreen rubber, mine used to leak in the middle and dribble out on my feet. Get yourself a watering can and a helper with a torch

[QBee]

+1 for windscreen rubber - mine actually stores the water on some ledge near the steering column, then the first time I go around a right or left corner, the opposite leg gets a soaking with ice cold water at shin height... ....I have taken to driving in wellies for the first five miles after a rainy night.

[Smokey Boyer]

not sure if the chimaera doors are the same as the S, but on the S I had there were some large rubber sheets attached to the fibreglass behind the door cards. My assumption that these are in place to ensure that an water running through the doors stays in the doors and out of the cabin. Might be worth checking if that is the issue

[pb450]

You say you've checked the reservoir seals... How thoroughly have you checked? Mine LOOKED fine but when I poured water over the seal it shot underneath and leaked like a sieve. It reappeared in the footwell immediately! The sealant doesn't always 'grip' to the plastic reservoir particularly well or for ever. I'd suggest remove and renew.

[TwinKam]

s p a c e m a n said:

Windscreen rubber, mine used to leak in the middle and dribble out on my feet. Get yourself a watering can and a helper with a torch

^^This^^ The only way.
Best to create a shower of water with a rose, rather than a jet with any force behind it. A small child inserted into the footwell with the promise of sweets is a far better option than going in yourself, head first, on your back.
Only once they've finished cleaning your chimneys, obviously.

[jtrinder]

Check door seals mine were not seated correctly allowing water to run straight into footwell
Hope this helps
Jay

[Timja]

pb450 said:

You say you've checked the reservoir seals... How thoroughly have you checked? Mine LOOKED fine but when I poured water over the seal it shot underneath and leaked like a sieve. It reappeared in the footwell immediately! The sealant doesn't always 'grip' to the plastic reservoir particularly well or for ever. I'd suggest remove and renew.

This. Had this happen twice (2nd time recently) and both times was from the same place, brake fluid reservoir seal - It seems to line up well with the bonnet vents and amazing how much liquid travels down what looks like a non existent gap!

What is the best sealant to buy for this? I still haven't sorted it yet and the 1st time a garage sorted it out.

[roseytvr]

I would suggest you remove the carpets to dry them otherwise you will get mould. Once they are out use talcum powder or chalk dust everywhere and give it a good wash or leave it out in the rain and the ingress is self evident from streaks in the powder.
Good Luck!!

[ClassicChimaera]

roseytvr said:

I would suggest you remove the carpets to dry them otherwise you will get mould. Once they are out use talcum powder or chalk dust everywhere and give it a good wash or leave it out in the rain and the ingress is self evident from streaks in the powder.
Good Luck!!

How clever,,, and here's me thinking it's so it smells nice

The problem with water on the ledge,, it builds up then comes down in a gush rather than drip down the carpets.

I had a new windscreen and no water leaks in that area anymore,, I'd say that's cured it but I also had MBE ignition fitted only a few months before and Powers boys sealed everything in the engine bay so I can't be sure what bit solved the same problem as QBEE mentions earlier in this thread regarding water on the shins.

[taylormj4]

s p a c e m a n said:

Windscreen rubber, mine used to leak in the middle and dribble out on my feet. Get yourself a watering can and a helper with a torch

Yes, windscreen was replaced - old rubber used as in good condition.
Asked the garage and was told it cannot leak around the windscreen due to its construction - not true then ?

[taylormj4]

roseytvr said:

I would suggest you remove the carpets to dry them otherwise you will get mould. Once they are out use talcum powder or chalk dust everywhere and give it a good wash or leave it out in the rain and the ingress is self evident from streaks in the powder.
Good Luck!!

Yes carpets have been out since the first leak - car is parked outside. It's been like this for months now.

I have to put a towel on the floor to mop up the water on the way to work and stop it sloshing around and then take it in the house at night to dry off before swapping to a new towel. I have several towels in various states of drying around the house. Very annoying !

Good idea on the talc. The water seems to collect at the far end of the footwell mostly but not sure if that's because the floor slopes that way slightly or if it's coming in from that end.
Lying upside down in the footwell, you can see the rivets for the VIN plates and the bolts for the pedalbox and they all seem dry.

There was an unsealed hole around the bonnet catch, which I'd hope was it but sadly no.

Edited by taylormj4 on Thursday 9th February 10:17

[s p a c e m a n]

5 internet pounds says that it's the windscreen, they cursed it with a comment like that

They can defiantly leak, mine has done it in 2 different locations and there's enough cars going around with milky bits on the bottom of their screens to show that mine isn't an exception. Mine ran down the windscreen, leaked under the rubber rather than over in a little spot in the middle which then pooled in the ledge that the screen sits in until I moved the car where it would run all the way along onto my ankles.

The vinyl on the windscreen surround also lifted because of this, so if this is happening to anyone reading this don't just put up with a minor drip because my windscreen has to now come out to fix the vinyl.

[ChilliWhizz]

s p a c e m a n said:

Get yourself a watering can and a helper with a torch

This.... ^^^^^ And/or this.....vvvvv

roseytvr said:

I would suggest you remove the carpets to dry them otherwise you will get mould. Once they are out use talcum powder or chalk dust everywhere and give it a good wash or leave it out in the rain and the ingress is self evident from streaks in the powder.
Good Luck!!

Removed carpets on mine and used helper with watering can and me upside down in drivers seat with head in footwell with excellent LED torch thingy... Took three days to get out of car but problem was clearly identified and resolved

[ChilliWhizz]

TwinKam said:

s p a c e m a n said:

Windscreen rubber, mine used to leak in the middle and dribble out on my feet. Get yourself a watering can and a helper with a torch

^^This^^ The only way.
Best to create a shower of water with a rose, rather than a jet with any force behind it. A small child inserted into the footwell with the promise of sweets is a far better option than going in yourself, head first, on your back.
Only once they've finished cleaning your chimneys, obviously.

And definitely this

[EddyP]

QBee said:

+1 for windscreen rubber - mine actually stores the water on some ledge near the steering column, then the first time I go around a right or left corner, the opposite leg gets a soaking with ice cold water at shin height... ....I have taken to driving in wellies for the first five miles after a rainy night.

Mine does that too! I now carry a towel which I put over my left leg for the first half mile then it's ok. Must get around to sorting it.

[pb450]

Timja said:

What is the best sealant to buy for this?

Regular black bathroom sealant. Works a treat and comes off easily when you need it to. Do NOT use Sikaflex as this is more for glueing.

[shake n bake]

Did you fix it? It was always very common for the seal around the door to leak. Has it got a pinched point on it to allow the water to drain out and is it sealed to the body with some sealer?