Driver footwell water leak
Discussion
I noticed my driver's floor mat was quite wet.
There is a drip collecting around the clutch pedal boot. It's definitely water and not clutch / brake fluid... Doesn't smell or taste of anything and the clutch reservoir is filled to the brim.
However, when I took the cover off of the wing, it didn't seem to be stuck down with sealant suggesting it hadn't been resealed. So, I sealed around this and also the brake reservoir.
I just checked this morning and still seem to have a small trail of water appearing from above the steering column and up behind the pedal box though. I wiped it away last night and it's reappeared this morning
What's up behind there? Guessing most likely the wiper spindle or washer, but I thought those were in an enclosed area?
https://ibb.co/54WMSd1
There is a drip collecting around the clutch pedal boot. It's definitely water and not clutch / brake fluid... Doesn't smell or taste of anything and the clutch reservoir is filled to the brim.
However, when I took the cover off of the wing, it didn't seem to be stuck down with sealant suggesting it hadn't been resealed. So, I sealed around this and also the brake reservoir.
I just checked this morning and still seem to have a small trail of water appearing from above the steering column and up behind the pedal box though. I wiped it away last night and it's reappeared this morning
What's up behind there? Guessing most likely the wiper spindle or washer, but I thought those were in an enclosed area?
https://ibb.co/54WMSd1
Best way to narrow it down is with a watering can, but everything above the wheel will result in water coming through there. Brake fluid reservoir, bonnet stay clip, both cables and that hatch cover. On the bright side it's probably not the windscreen as that normally drips onto your shins.
I’ve been chasing this problem on and off for years. The clutch panel, brake reservoir, rivets and cables entering the wing all seems properly sealed. I was convinced that they couldn’t possibly be the leak points as I’d re-sealed them a few years ago after the original sealant began to fail. So, I’ve been driving myself nuts trying to find the alternative source of the leak.
My mistake when re-sealing was to use regular silicone sealant, the stuff you buy from Halfords for sealing windscreens. A couple of weeks ago I realised that the sealant I’d used wasn’t bonded properly to the wing, particularly around the brake fluid reservoir. Although the sealant looked perfectly fine, water was wicking between the sealant and wing around the reservoir. I’ve re-sealed again using Sikaflex 291, which is similar to what the factory had used. Since then, and with the recent heavy downpours, the footwell has stayed dry…. finally.
So, it could be down to using the wrong type of sealant, at least it was in my case.
My mistake when re-sealing was to use regular silicone sealant, the stuff you buy from Halfords for sealing windscreens. A couple of weeks ago I realised that the sealant I’d used wasn’t bonded properly to the wing, particularly around the brake fluid reservoir. Although the sealant looked perfectly fine, water was wicking between the sealant and wing around the reservoir. I’ve re-sealed again using Sikaflex 291, which is similar to what the factory had used. Since then, and with the recent heavy downpours, the footwell has stayed dry…. finally.
So, it could be down to using the wrong type of sealant, at least it was in my case.
GJR said:
I’ve been chasing this problem on and off for years. The clutch panel, brake reservoir, rivets and cables entering the wing all seems properly sealed. I was convinced that they couldn’t possibly be the leak points as I’d re-sealed them a few years ago after the original sealant began to fail. So, I’ve been driving myself nuts trying to find the alternative source of the leak.
My mistake when re-sealing was to use regular silicone sealant, the stuff you buy from Halfords for sealing windscreens. A couple of weeks ago I realised that the sealant I’d used wasn’t bonded properly to the wing, particularly around the brake fluid reservoir. Although the sealant looked perfectly fine, water was wicking between the sealant and wing around the reservoir. I’ve re-sealed again using Sikaflex 291, which is similar to what the factory had used. Since then, and with the recent heavy downpours, the footwell has stayed dry…. finally.
So, it could be down to using the wrong type of sealant, at least it was in my case.
^^^ I had exactly the same issue. Sealant looked good; well bonded, etc. but was in fact letting shed loads of water in around the brake reservoir. Peeled it all off and resealed (can't remember what with but it wasn't Sikaflex as an expression involving poo and blankets comes to mind - regular black matic I think) and all was bone dry thereafter.My mistake when re-sealing was to use regular silicone sealant, the stuff you buy from Halfords for sealing windscreens. A couple of weeks ago I realised that the sealant I’d used wasn’t bonded properly to the wing, particularly around the brake fluid reservoir. Although the sealant looked perfectly fine, water was wicking between the sealant and wing around the reservoir. I’ve re-sealed again using Sikaflex 291, which is similar to what the factory had used. Since then, and with the recent heavy downpours, the footwell has stayed dry…. finally.
So, it could be down to using the wrong type of sealant, at least it was in my case.
Thanks for all the replies. I had used some Screwfix own brand gutter and roofing sealant around the brake reservoir and clutch panel. It seems to stick well... Horrible messy stuff that doesn't really seem to set as such!
Sealing around the pipes, do you mean where the pipes go through the grommet I assume?
When you say top curve.... You mean the dash top inside the car, or the 'cowl' at the bottom of the windscreen outside the car, which looks to be riveted on for me!?
Sealing around the pipes, do you mean where the pipes go through the grommet I assume?
When you say top curve.... You mean the dash top inside the car, or the 'cowl' at the bottom of the windscreen outside the car, which looks to be riveted on for me!?
I had this issue that became apparent in a period of super heavy rain this autumn.
I eventually used Sikaflex 221 to re-seal everything I could see except the clutch reservoir inspection hatch which I anticipate needing to access every 2-3 years to replace the fluid.
Sikaflex on:
Brake fluid reservoir (looked ok but the seal came out too easily
Grommets all around that engine bay wing for various pipes and cables, including the one for the bonnet catch on the inner wall - largely loosened them, cleaned/chipped/peeled off whatever was there and resealed
Low modulus silicone (standard builder's silicone): in fairly generous amounts around the clutch reservoir hatch, seals well enough, and peels off relatively easily.
The other area to look at is where wiper fixings and water spray pipes go into the body by the mesh at the bottom of the windscreen. Mine don't seem to have any issues, but people have found them to leak for the same reason. Also the rivets that fix the mesh in place - one of mine is missing (though on the passenger side), so I used Sikaflex to fill the tiny hole and to help bond the mesh - thankfully this is barely visible when the bonnet is down.
So far so good, no more leaks. And now I can work on persuading the wife to let me replace the carpets...
I eventually used Sikaflex 221 to re-seal everything I could see except the clutch reservoir inspection hatch which I anticipate needing to access every 2-3 years to replace the fluid.
Sikaflex on:
Brake fluid reservoir (looked ok but the seal came out too easily
Grommets all around that engine bay wing for various pipes and cables, including the one for the bonnet catch on the inner wall - largely loosened them, cleaned/chipped/peeled off whatever was there and resealed
Low modulus silicone (standard builder's silicone): in fairly generous amounts around the clutch reservoir hatch, seals well enough, and peels off relatively easily.
The other area to look at is where wiper fixings and water spray pipes go into the body by the mesh at the bottom of the windscreen. Mine don't seem to have any issues, but people have found them to leak for the same reason. Also the rivets that fix the mesh in place - one of mine is missing (though on the passenger side), so I used Sikaflex to fill the tiny hole and to help bond the mesh - thankfully this is barely visible when the bonnet is down.
So far so good, no more leaks. And now I can work on persuading the wife to let me replace the carpets...
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