Soggy Passat rear footwell

[matt21]

Just picked up a 54 plate Passat highline Estate which has a soggy rear passenger footwell.

Any ideas of common causes and fixes?

Thanks

[Daniel1]

obvious first question is:

does it happen when it has rained?

[Scraggles]

remove all the carpet and then wring out the underlay, leave it removed until it rains and have a good torch to find the hole

[matt21]

no idea, just picked car up friday so trying to work out if its been stood and rain is the cause.

Heard it could be something to do with pollen filter pulling it into the cabin?

[roscozs]

If you have a water leak in the rear footwells theres a good chance its coming from the front and sitting at the lowest point of the car, being the rear footwells.

[EvoBarry]

Its a common fault, the drain holes under the battery tray get blocked, and when it rains heavily the water fills up there, then overflows into the underfloor heater tunnels that run to the back into the rear footwells. Search for it, quite common, my dad has a Passat 4Motion and had the same problem.

My dad poked the little rubber gromets out of that catch area and hasn't had the problem since.

[matt21]

EvoBarry said:

Its a common fault, the drain holes under the battery tray get blocked, and when it rains heavily the water fills up there, then overflows into the underfloor heater tunnels that run to the back into the rear footwells. Search for it, quite common, my dad has a Passat 4Motion and had the same problem.

My dad poked the little rubber gromets out of that catch area and hasn't had the problem since.

thanks that what i had heard.....is it easy to get to these rubber grommets?

[Deva Link]

The usual VAG cause is a blocked drain under the battery - water runs in through the heater floor vents and runs to the back of the car. The front will be wet under the carpets.

If it's not that, there are other causes, such as leaking rear doors. Google for it, there's are *loads* of hits.

[Gurbinder]

If it ain't the drain holes check the pollen filter seal on the n/s of the bulkhead these can weaken causing water to pass onto the n/s footwell. Some had a service measure she if your was covered by this at your local dealer, just remember this was not a recall.

[matt21]

Thanks guys, are all these faults easy to fix, I wouldnt know where to start. Is a as easy to take it to dealer or indy?

Finally I gather there was a recall for this fault in the US, why not the UK?

[v8will]

EvoBarry said:

Its a common fault, the drain holes under the battery tray get blocked, and when it rains heavily the water fills up there, then overflows into the underfloor heater tunnels that run to the back into the rear footwells. Search for it, quite common, my dad has a Passat 4Motion and had the same problem.

My dad poked the little rubber gromets out of that catch area and hasn't had the problem since.

Indeed and there will be loads of water on the floor, maybe a good 1/2"

Only solution is to strip the carpets and seats out to thoroughly dry the car

[Mattygooner]

EvoBarry said:

Its a common fault, the drain holes under the battery tray get blocked, and when it rains heavily the water fills up there, then overflows into the underfloor heater tunnels that run to the back into the rear footwells. Search for it, quite common, my dad has a Passat 4Motion and had the same problem.

My dad poked the little rubber gromets out of that catch area and hasn't had the problem since.

Tis true, had the same with the S6.

[Ed.]

v8will said:

EvoBarry said:

Its a common fault, the drain holes under the battery tray get blocked, and when it rains heavily the water fills up there, then overflows into the underfloor heater tunnels that run to the back into the rear footwells. Search for it, quite common, my dad has a Passat 4Motion and had the same problem.

My dad poked the little rubber gromets out of that catch area and hasn't had the problem since.

Indeed and there will be loads of water on the floor, maybe a good 1/2"

Only solution is to strip the carpets and seats out to thoroughly dry the car

There was a UK recall of some sort, my dad got a letter late last year suggesting he visit a dealer to rectify it. Better late than never I guess... water leaked in about 4 years ago, auto gearbox solenoids had to be replaced. The dealer at the time suggested a new gearbox