Leaking (for the first time!)

[pepsi_x]

Guys,

My Chim has been out in all weathers, and each time it rains I check the carpet, and for 6 months, it's been utterly dry inside.

However, after a bad down pour a few days ago, I've got a soaking wet carpet on the driver side, directly under the steering wheel, although under the pedals it's only slightly damp (as is behind my seat, but I was parked on a slope, so maybe it ran down a bit!!)

Assuming the roof isnt leaking (cos I'm sure it doesn't), and the reservoir in the inside driver wing is still sealed, where should I look first, and what can I do to prevent it in the future?

Thanks in advance....

[taylormj4]

Pepsi,
I had this trouble recently - damp/water in the same places as you mentioned. I followed advice from the guys on this site and plastered every possible entry point in the wing with sealant - reservoir bottle, all cable entries (such as the brake reservoir electrics for the sensor) and any rivets / bolts / mounting points. Take the drivers carpet out and allow to dry naturally in the house. You can just stand on the plastic floor in the meantime. This will stop it getting damaged whilst you find the leak.

The problem now seems resolved and back to dryness in the footwells! Yipee!

Matt

[CraigAlsop]

Very likely to be the seal around the brake fluid reservoir or the clutch reservoir (the piece of rubber that looks like an elbow-pad) I know you said assuming it's not this, but it's worth doublechecking.
Wiggle them both to see if the sealant is 100% attached.

Alternatively it could be coming in over the bottom door seal (pinch the rubber about 15cm in from the front & superglue it, so that water as a way of draining, rather than pooling over the inner plastic rim.

[martynt]

Mine occasionally suffers from this - usually its the seal around the break reservoir. Resealing usually cures this.

I once had water in the place you mention - transpired the window caught on the roof seal didn't shut properly and hey presto water in the footwell.

[hut49]

Guys,

My Chim has been out in all weathers, and each time it rains I check the carpet, and for 6 months, it's been utterly dry inside.

However, after a bad down pour a few days ago, I've got a soaking wet carpet on the driver side, directly under the steering wheel, although under the pedals it's only slightly damp (as is behind my seat, but I was parked on a slope, so maybe it ran down a bit!!)

Assuming the roof isnt leaking (cos I'm sure it doesn't), and the reservoir in the inside driver wing is still sealed, where should I look first, and what can I do to prevent it in the future?

Thanks in advance....

You mention a down pour - were you driving through this or was the car stationary? If the latter then you're probably right to look elsewhere than the typical underbonnet seals, brake, clutch etc. How about the seal at the bottom of the windscreen or where the wiper spindle emerges through the bulkhead?

A hose, a good torch and a good masseuse are required for the next bit. You'll need the torch to see upwards once you get your bum on the seat and your head down each footwell. Your friend will need the hose to wash down the windscreen area so you can see the drips, and you'll possibly need the friend to help you back out of the footwell. If you've done the job properly you'll need the masseuse so you can go to work the next day!

Happy hunting!
Hutch

[antonyb]

I've had this problem recently... I have had the seals checked, extra sealing done and spent over a hour doing the aforementioned test with a watering can and a torch... but to no avail! Cant find where the water is coming in (although it is only a very small, but well spread out, amount). It's very strange! All the usual places in the engine bay have been checked and so has the roof and door seals... nothing.

I remain very mystified!

[pepsi_x]

hut49,
The car was parked up. It's never leaked when I've been driving it, or in fact when its been parked on a flat surface or facing down the slope on my drive.

I have a feeling, that because I parked facing up the slight slope on the driveway, the water ran back down towards the windscreen and in through whichever way was easiest, rather than running away off the front, and by all accounts the weather was REALLY very bad!

Anyway, the carpet has been drip-drying all nite, and it looks like I'll be having fun this weekend looking under the dash etc...

[simon.b]

I checked my inner wing reservoir seal and grommets etc. by building a wall with blue tack round each one in turn and filling the area with water. This was easier than performing acrobatics with a watering can and it was soon obvious which one was leaking.

Cheers,

Simon.