Skoda Mk 1 (52 plate) 1.9tdi 130 Comfort, UK

I've been so rpeoccupied with looking out for wet capets at the front pasenger side, that I did not notice the soaking wet carpet literally behind the driver. Nowhere else, but the whole flat section (where the passenfer would put his feet) is soaking. Probably only noticed it today with the rain. Any suggestions where it could be coming from?

Just so you know, in case it is relevant, the plenum chamber grommets seem to be blocked, but the built up water is well below the bottom of teh battery as I keep on checking. The front passenger carpert is dry - even in this rain.

Any help/suggestions please?

have placed loads of towels on the back

sy

the plenum chamber grommets seem to be blocked, but the built up water is well below the bottom of teh battery as I keep on checking.

Clear them or remove them asap, the brake servo will be sitting in water and these have been known to allow water to be sucked into the engine through failing seals and servo vacuum chamber.

the plenum chamber grommets seem to be blocked, but the built up water is well below the bottom of teh battery as I keep on checking.

Clear them or remove them asap, the brake servo will be sitting in water and these have been known to allow water to be sucked into the engine through failing seals and servo vacuum chamber.

Cheers. Taking it in at the weekend. Will try and clear out as much water as I can this evening. Will that explain the water only behind the driver seat?

Syanide

If it has an electric sun roof, check that the sun roof opening drains are clear of debris. I think these tend to leak into the back of the car if they're obstructed with debris.

If it has an electric sun roof, check that the sun roof opening drains are clear of debris. I think these tend to leak into the back of the car if they're obstructed with debris.

Cheers. No sunroof. Strangely, there is no wet path from front if car to the back...could it be the air vent that is below the driver seat?

I just hope it can wait til the weekend now.

:-(

Syanide

Cheers. No sunroof. Strangely, there is no wet path from front if car to the back...could it be the air vent that is below the driver seat?

I just hope it can wait til the weekend now.

:-(

Syanide

I'm guessing you're probably right about the air vent. Check the pollen filter housing seal isn't leaking and that all traces of debris are cleared from around the route that water runs away from the seal. I use a paint brush to remove the debris that builds up surprisingly quickly around there and allows water to lie around the seal which is a very bad thing. I cleaned mine again last weekend, it was really mucky and only a 5 minute job.

I'm guessing you're probably right about the air vent. Check the pollen filter housing seal isn't leaking and that all traces of debris are cleared from around the route that water runs away from the seal. I use a paint brush to remove the debris that builds up surprisingly quickly around there and allows water to lie around the seal which is a very bad thing. I cleaned mine again last weekend, it was really mucky and only a 5 minute job.

Thanks, This will ahve to be this evening as I am work, but very worried. I only emptied some of the water from under the battery the other day (with those super absorbent cloths). I actually got rid of a lot of water, but the rain we've had today and no doubt throughout last night has probably built it up again. could do with syphoning some of it off from under the battery....

Forecast is heavy rain again on thursday, so hopefully I'll get some respite until then.

Ah, lovely Skoda!..

(to be fair, sorting out that plenum chamber has been my only worry and I think once tha'ts done, I'll be fine and the car will be fine...)

Syanide

Thanks, This will ahve to be this evening as I am work, but very worried. I only emptied some of the water from under the battery the other day (with those super absorbent cloths). I actually got rid of a lot of water, but the rain we've had today and no doubt throughout last night has probably built it up again. could do with syphoning some of it off from under the battery....

Forecast is heavy rain again on thursday, so hopefully I'll get some respite until then.

Ah, lovely Skoda!..

(to be fair, sorting out that plenum chamber has been my only worry and I think once tha'ts done, I'll be fine and the car will be fine...)

Syanide

make sure you have the mod on the Pollen Filter carried out as per the sticky "Water ingress solved" - not that expensive and well worth the prevention better than cure scenario.

make sure you have the mod on the Pollen Filter carried out as per the sticky "Water ingress solved" - not that expensive and well worth the prevention better than cure scenario.

The one with the sealant around the housing? Yeah, top of the list as soon as the water has all gone....Might rent one of those hoovers from the supermarket to suck up the water from teh back seat and try and suck up as much as I can from under the batttery again!

:-)

Skoda Mk 1 (52 plate) 1.9tdi 130 Comfort, UK

I've been so rpeoccupied with looking out for wet capets at the front pasenger side, that I did not notice the soaking wet carpet literally behind the driver. Nowhere else, but the whole flat section (where the passenfer would put his feet) is soaking. Probably only noticed it today with the rain. Any suggestions where it could be coming from?

Just so you know, in case it is relevant, the plenum chamber grommets seem to be blocked, but the built up water is well below the bottom of teh battery as I keep on checking. The front passenger carpert is dry - even in this rain.

Any help/suggestions please?

have placed loads of towels on the back

sy

When my car went in for the usual damp in the front footwells they told me thay had also stripped down the doors and cleaned out the drainage holes in the bottom of the doors and the resealed the inner door plate, they told me apparently when the door drainage holes get blocked the door will fill with water then drain out of the inner door plate and door card in to the footwells, apparently yet another Superb water ingress problem, might be worth checking.

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by bryanp

When my car went in for the usual damp in the front footwells they told me thay had also stripped down the doors and cleaned out the drainage holes in the bottom of the doors and the resealed the inner door plate, they told me apparently when the door drainage holes get blocked the door will fill with water then drain out of the inner door plate and door card in to the footwells, apparently yet another Superb water ingress problem, might be worth checking.

Cheers for this. Can you just help me out with the terms you've used? Im assuming you mean take off teh seal that goes round the inside of te door as it is open. And then, do you mean there are holes in the bottom of the doors? Also, what is the "inner Door Plate" and the "door card"? I'm sure t might be obvious, but I'd ratehr make sure than assume. Thanks

syanide

Cheers for this. Can you just help me out with the terms you've used? Im assuming you mean take off teh seal that goes round the inside of te door as it is open. And then, do you mean there are holes in the bottom of the doors? Also, what is the "inner Door Plate" and the "door card"? I'm sure t might be obvious, but I'd ratehr make sure than assume. Thanks

syanide

The door card is the trim you see that has the door handle, window switches and fabric on, unlike most cars I have had that have just had a thin plastic film behind the door card the Superb has an aluminium plate bolted to the inside of the door that hold the likes of the window mechanism and speakers etc, it is this that is seal to the main structure of the door which is what i was lead to beleive they resealed, the drain holes are under the bottom of the door and allow and rain water that runs through the bottom window seal to just drain away, its these holes that Skoda told me that do get blocked and can cause the door to fill up with water and then leak out and cause the damp in the rear footwells, hope that helps

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by bryanp

Check the bonnet cable release grommit is in position correctly. To find it with the bonnet up - it is on the opposite side of the car to the pollen filter - right up the corner. If its not position right it will let water in on the drivers side (and lots of it).

From what I could tell when I sorted my car out the water likes to 'collect' at the rear passenger footwells of the car first.

door membrain either front or rear prob front had the same with my vrs octy

If the water cant clear then it will come in through the seal on the bottom of the ECU box, this is a mirror of the pollen filter housing. Water runs down the drivers carpet but notices at the back as the carpet is much thinner and soaks through first.

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by Tech1e

Thanks a lot guys, really helpful. Had a really crap day, worrying about the wet carpet. I rented a carpet cleaner for 2 days and i already had a thin 'vacuum attachment'. So i hooked the two up and sucked up as much water as I could from around and beneath the battery. I'm sure the machine was empty when my wife picked it up, but by the time I finished there was a lot of mucky water in the machine.

Also, the grommet around the bonnet cable seemed ok, but it was very wet around there (no longer submerged - if it ever was). I then sucked up all the water in the back. Today and tomorrow are planned to be dry - It's just Thursday that is going to be heavy rain. I just need to last until saturday when I can take it in to the guy i bought it from - who, thankfully, has agreed to deal with the Plenum chamber grommets - something I was planning and expecting to do myself!

As I have only had the car for 4 weeks, I'm just wondering if the gradual 'wetness' at the back footwell might be the cause of why the fuel cap only opens intermittently? Are there any electrics under there somewhere? Or is that just a coincidence? The guy thinks he knows whats wrong as going to 'fix' it on Sautrday anyway, but I was just wondering - (He thinks it is the Solendoid or something).

Anyway, thanks again guys.

At some point, I'll look at the doors seal too. Couldn't feel/see anythign on that front, so i'm hoping it's due to the water build up in the Plenum Chamber.

Syanide

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by syanide

Further observations/questions/suggestions..

Today all seems ok on the carpet front, although we didn't have any rain - but at least there is no condensation inside the car!

1. One other thing I did notuice yesterday, but thought it was just a faulty switch, was that when I tried to open/close the rear window behind the passenger door (from the switch on teh driver's door), it was very juttery, and I would really have to pull on teh switch really hard to close the window. Strangely, the switch on teh door itself was much better, although the window was still a bit juttery. ANyway, I thought it must be teh switch.

Anyway, this morning....it's working perfectly! No more or less pressure required than normal! Is this linked to the cause of the wet carpet?

Im still having trouble understanding how the water from the door (if that is the culprit) would get into the rear footwell in the first place. Even if the door itself is full of water, when it is closed, car body provides a lip where the doro closes, so how does the water get into the footwell?

2. As for the bonnet release grommet....is it possible to 'mod' this with some silicon too? Again, I am a bit confuised how the water from this collects in the rear footwell whereas the front footwell is dry?

Please believe me, I'm not doubting anyone's suggestions, but just curious as if I understand the problem, it's easier to prevent!

Cheers guys

Syanide

So here is my update.

The car went back to the place where I bought it for him t fix teh fuel filler cap.

As a result of teh wet carpet, he said he would also deal with the grommets for me. He managed to remove the grommet on the bottom - ful of gunk and black powdery stuff! He didn't completely remove the other one (the one under the brake servo), but he managed to move it out of the way completely he says. Apparently there was a pip running through it so he couldn't remove it fully.

As for the fuel filler cap - He'd already bought a new motor and was ready for me. Anyway, the new one didn't work either! He tried the old one 'out of the car' and it works! So nothing wrong with the motor/solenoid. Next he tried the switch in the driver's door....and that seems to switch the power! So he thought that the the 'computer' might not be dealing with the earth load to the switch.

At this point, he also noticed that the iterior light above the rear passenger door was not working. (They have all been working fine when I bought it, but to be honest, I've only really been checking the ones near the mirror and the puddle lights on a daily basis. All workign fine), so the suspicion is with the ECU Comfort module (if that's what its called!).

He thought that water may have got in in the past. We both though it was strange that water only collected behind the driver's seat and not the passenger seat, but that in the past, it may have done? Anyway, he is going to lift up the carpets and have a look.

At this stage, I'm just playing the waiting game. and loking for a bit of reassurance...

1. Is there any chance the water could still build up with the bottom grommet removed and the other grommet 'moved out of the way''?

2. If my puddle lights and all interior (except one) work - could it still be a wet and knackered ECU? Or would I expect to see more faield lights before coming to that conclusion?

3. Any other suggestions to the 'not-so-failed' faield fuel filler cap?

Many thanks...sort fo feel good that the grommets are out, but want the rest to be alright!

Thanks guys,

syanide

It would be a good idea to read up on the Forum about this problem.

Unless you remove the plenum chamber bungs (you have to push the one under the servo downwards as it doubles as a grommet) AND replace the pollen filter housing outer seal with mastic strip, you will have further problems.

The release cable grommet usually gets broken because inept mechanics pull the front panel to change the belts without splitting the release cable. There's a coupler in the cable - put there for the purpose.

rotodiesel.

It would be a good idea to read up on the Forum about this problem.

Unless you remove the plenum chamber bungs (you have to push the one under the servo downwards as it doubles as a grommet) AND replace the pollen filter housing outer seal with mastic strip, you will have further problems.

The release cable grommet usually gets broken because inept mechanics pull the front panel to change the belts without splitting the release cable. There's a coupler in the cable - put there for the purpose.

rotodiesel.

Thanks Rotodiesel.

I promise, I have looked and printed off every version of the water ingress fix there is. My questions were more 'follow-ons' out of fear more than anything.

The mechanic has got back to me and confimred that there were traces of water damage under the passenger seat area, although this looks to have been in the past as the carpets were still dry - or maybe it is/was just the early stages. Anyway, the bungs are removed and he has dealt with the pollen filter housing seal - so I should be ok for future 'wet-events'.

However, the 'drying out' of the ECU hasn't sorted out the rear interior light (above the rear door behind the driver seat) He has looked and the wires look ok too - no traces of green powdery stuff. Nor has it sorted out the fuel filler cap. He says the "earth keeps dropping" when the switch is pressed in the driver door.

My only question now are:

1. Assuming the ECU has been properly dried out (and the Water Ingress problem has been sorted) could my electrics get worse or is this it? If this is it, then I am happy to live without the rear interior light for now, until the weather gets better.

2. Could the Fuel Filler cap be another problem that someone is aware of?

Many thanks for your help and patience guys.

Syanide

Edited 17 November, 201015 yr by syanide

You need to check the wire splices in the loom. Any that are permanently live will corrode by electrolysis when this lot gets damp.

Have a look here:

http://www.headfuzz.co.uk/?q=vw_ccm

It can be a longish job finding all the corroded nodes and bad connections. Who in their right mind would put this lot on the floor?

rotodiesel.

Who in their right mind would put this lot on the floor?

rotodiesel.

Skoda? And Then VW after they become responsible!

Thanks, I will make a note and have a look once the weather starts getting a bit better.

Syanide

Have a look here:

http://www.headfuzz.co.uk/?q=vw_ccm

But ffs whatever you do do not replace any wires / joints by using scotchlocks like that user did - you are just asking for trouble, do it properly and solder them up and then shrink wrap the joints.

But ffs whatever you do do not replace any wires / joints by using scotchlocks like that user did - you are just asking for trouble, do it properly and solder them up and then shrink wrap the joints.

syanide,

I have looked at the VW passat Hayes electric circuits diagrams (which are similar) and it does show that the fuel flap lock is via a wire that is noded (jointed) somewhere under the carpet most likely.

The light above the drivers rear door is noded behind the passenger seat where a lot of red wirs are joined togeather. As above comment this joint requires to be very good for all the lights to work properly including the boot light.

syanide,

I have looked at the VW passat Hayes electric circuits diagrams (which are similar) and it does show that the fuel flap lock is via a wire that is noded (jointed) somewhere under the carpet most likely.

The light above the drivers rear door is noded behind the passenger seat where a lot of red wirs are joined togeather. As above comment this joint requires to be very good for all the lights to work properly including the boot light.

Guys..very helpful indeed. I will take on this project once the weather is better. As long as the water issue has been sorted, I can rest easy for now. Thanks a lot guys.

Syanide

Edited 18 November, 201015 yr by syanide