noticed bonnet catch warning light on for past couple of months, then last week front interior lights went out - on lifting passenger footwell carpet very damp underneath and had dreaded leak past pollen filter seal but fortunately no penetration to black plastic box undernaeth or signs of corrosion - have cleaneed/removed drain plugs under battery etc and refitted pollen filter with generous silicon seal so should have fixed leak - however despite drying out everything with hot air blower and cleaning all contact blocks in footwell and generous application of WD40 still no lights in front and bonnet warning still illuminated - are they likely to fix themselves now everything dry or is it autoelectrician job to fix? cheers

:: .:: WeirdLittleBiscuit dot Com ::. .:: Fixing Passat Leak ::. ::

Corroded wires at the node near the CCM.

rotodiesel.

I have looked at these pics and I'm a bit confused. whilst I agree that the two main drain holes being bloked will be a problem surely this isnt the cause of water ingress through the pollen filter housing, the reason why is I ask this is when I looked the pollen filter housing its situated right on the top of the bulkhead about 20cm above these drain holes, If they were the problem that would mean the whole of the bulkhead would have to fill up with water to get near the pollen filter housing!

I had this problem on a previous Superb and was told it was a poorly spec'ed seal between the housing and the bulk head, After taking out the filter and on inspection of the housing I could see the seal was no different to door draft excluder you can get from B&Q. I would sudgest that it is the sludge in picture 3 thats the problem, like is shows in the link, this sludge is stopping water draining from the side of the housing causing it to back up and them if you have got a poor seal then leaking underneath the housing.

Anyone agree?

I have seen a plenum chamber on a B5.5 (Passat) full of dirty water. The pollen filter seal is deficient in terms of its material specification and the design is wrong in that drainage from the filter housing area does not always occur at all vehicle attitudes and when dirt is present in the chamber.

Consequent problems include both extensive electrical system damage and also engine damage due to water being sucked into the (now rusty) vac chamber of the servo.

In short, a complete **** up which VAG know all about:

UKpassats.co.uk • View topic - Pollen Filter Confidential dealer documentation

They should recall the lot. I trade honestly, why can't VAG?

rotodiesel.

I had the same problem, have a look at my photo's of my repair. click on the link, hope it helps.

http://briskoda.net/superb/pollen-filter/137139/#post1601259

I had a similar problem. The bonnet catch light was on and water in the footwell.

I opened the black box and there was no water but there was condensation on the circuit board.

I carefully dried it with a water repellant spray and the problem now solved.

I also left water absorbent pads in the footwell just in case