Water ingress !

[horkin]

Having given up on my mk 1 Fabia because of the water ingress through the door carriers I was delighted to at last have a car that was nice and dry with good door seals. I extolled the virtues of the Mk 11 model and even assured members on here who asked questions about water ingress that all is well with the new model. Oh dear!! I think it's called tempting fate. Today I was cleaning the car inside and out ready for my impending trip to Suffolk at the weekend when I noticed the rear nearside seat was wet. I had only cleaned the car with a bucket and sponge due to the hose pipe ban and could not understand it. On further investigation in the boot I was horrified to find the wheel well full to the brim and carpets well and truly soaked. The underside of the spare wheel cover was moulded so obviously the water has been there some length of time. I am lucky to have a Skoda specialist only 2 miles away and so took the car, water and all, for him to look at. All the seals appear to be as new but he did find the rear light cluster felt loose (nearside). On removing this a black plastic vent can be seen sitting behind the bumper and there is a seal around it which in my case was 'squeezed and not sitting properly. This 'vent' is above boot floor level so he thought it might be the culprit. He used a set of various hooks and pins to reach in and correct the seal and now it's a case of wait and see. I will report back but please, if anyone has had this problem of water in the wheel well I would be glad to hear. Needless to say I totally emptied and thoroughly dried the inside using my hot-gun (with care)! and so I now have fingers crossed. By the way I measured the water I removed...2 gallon bucket nearly full !!

Edited 3 May, 2012 by horkin

[frobb]

I had water coming under the doors on my vrs the other day. Just been in, they've tried it out and say there are "no signs of water ingress".

It looked like a very slow leak as the rain was extremely heavy there was a sliver of water but nothing major. I'm hoping cleaning out the sills have sorted it out. Was the same place on both the passenger door and driver door though.

[horkin]

I had water coming under the doors on my vrs the other day. Just been in, they've tried it out and say there are "no signs of water ingress".

It looked like a very slow leak as the rain was extremely heavy there was a sliver of water but nothing major. I'm hoping cleaning out the sills have sorted it out. Was the same place on both the passenger door and driver door though.

Thanks for the reply and sorry to hear of your problems. It is not the doors on mine but I suppose it could be the hatch but the seal looks fine. It has rained since I dried it out and I can see a small leak under the boot floor cover and in the left rear corner. It is certainly in a spot where it could be the vent seal hidden behind the bumper and only visible once the tail light cluster is removed as mentioned in my post. It would be nice to hear if anyone else has water leaks as I thought I had seen the last once I parted with the Mk1 fabia :(

[horkin]

I am surprised but pleased not to have had many replies. It points to the fact my problem is most likely an isolated case and that once sorted should be okay. Thanks for looking.

[32KOFDATA]

I get a bit of water from the front doors - both of them. Good thing is that I got rubber mats so not all the water goes on to the carpet. It happens when it rains heavily and for hours. Not sure where the issue lies but I expect it to be the rubber seals.

[mrgf]

I have not noticed any obvious sign of water ingress aside from a small "Splosh" When opening and shutting doors furing rain, etc but folling this thread, I will have a better look next time it rains to any larger degree as I most certainly do not want two gallons of corrosion accumulator in my rear end, thank to very much!

[fabia55]

Thanks, I think I better check mine as i don't want the stuff in my boot getting wet

Edited 6 May, 2012 by fabia55

[horkin]

Okay guys, thanks for the replys, I have just returned from a 280 mile round trip to Suffolk from Louth in Lincs. Incidently 4 adults and 3 suitcases and the Fabia was great. We have had plenty of rain both in transit and where parked but on thoroughly checking the boot when I got home it's SNUFF dry!! It kind of points to the seal which the garage corrected as in my OP or, I just wonder, if I have left the boot not fully closed would that have let water past the seal? Either way all is well so far and I will of course report any further issues.

[Can]

Just to check you are sure it was rain water and not the rear screen washer line joint?

There are posts about it in the forum somewhere

[horkin]

Just to check you are sure it was rain water and not the rear screen washer line joint?

There are posts about it in the forum somewhere

Hi , yes it had crossed my mind at first. That problem was more prolific on the Mk1 version. I decided it couldn't be that as there was almost a bucket full nad also I always use a good mix of VW screen wash which has quite a pong! but it was clear rainwater I had.

[Wilko251088]

I can't help here mine sleeps in a garage all week :-) but its out in the rain tonight so shall see

[John N]

I've recently got a Fabia, I like it, the shape, size & space.

When parked & after rain I have noticed I get a bit of water sitting on top of the sills & a fair bit drops off from the underside of the doors, I presume it collects there & then remains due to surface tension. I was out driving yesterday when it was bouncing down for hours & everything else appears OK. Is the sealing of doors something specific to the mk1 Fabia. I also looked in the boot spare wheel well & that is dry.

I would say to the OP that his poorly sealed light cluster was most likely his problem. Plently of years ago my mum's Polo saloon suffered the same from a cracked light cluster, all the water ran forward & was absorbed by the back seat, as no one sat in the back it was not evident until I looked as to why it was always steaming up, having put it down to lots of short trips - it pays to check everything over at least once a month.

[jonny boy]

I've had the odd drip of water overnight when it's been persisting down on the passenger seat, but in normal circumstances, it's all OK.

Certainly not enough to see the dealer.

[WillWord]

My 9 month old Elegance(ex Manager Car) on Monday came up with 3 warnings, bulb,(garage confirmed all bulbs were working)ESP,ABS. Hill hold also stopped working. On inspection the Computer Says "check wiring loom", turns out water has been trickling in since new, and caused the problem, now after 5 days garage confirms water is getting in but no nearer to finding point of entry. Possible theory is coming from roof bars so they are stripping head linings etc, any ideas how long this process can go on for? Skoda UK have supplied hire car

[horkin]

Can't help "willword " (previous poster) but as the thread has been re-opened I might just report back. We have had some of the worst rain for 100 years according to the forecasters and heavy thundery prolonged rain has poured down on the little fabiasince my original post. Either the adjustment to the gasket ( as mentioned in my previous posts)has worked or the problem I had was of my own making,( not closing the boot lid securely), as the boot and wheel well have remained as dry as snuff. Absolutely no problems so I am well pleased and the love affair with my little Fabia goes on!

[2tite]

Hi Horkin

I had small amounts of water trickling into spare wheel well on my brand new estate Ii seems to have stopped & I suspect it was getting in at the back of the light cluster through the fixing hole.

that is the hole that the bolt on the cluster passes through that you then screw on the plastic nut on the inside

this hole is elongated for adjustment / positioning of the cluster and the seal on the back of the bolt not big enough to cover the hole if the bolt is at the top or bottom of the slot

I still have some problem with water ingress (always surprised how much comes out of the bottom of side doors when I open them ) the dash board bulb failure warning light illuminates when I drive in the wet & apply the brakes. so my brake light electrical circuit is getting wet somewhere but I can't find out where

my local dealer was asked to check this & couldn't find any fault , they couldn't understand why I asked if they had tried to reproduce the fault with a hose pipe which they hadn't, it was a dry day when it went into them :(

[John N]

Regarding 2tite's post.

That's typical of of dealers these days, they expect to just plug a gizzmo into the car to direct them to the fault & if it doesn't then they say there is no fault. They never appear to use common sense & often have no greater knowledge of 'their' brand of car than a local independant. My last Skoda dealer/garage repair was for replacement front discs (under warranty), not long after my pad-wear indicator lamp came on. I looked at it myself, it was for the work they had done & the mechanic (haha) had trapped the lead from the pad inbetween the pad & caliper, hence the short & also causing that pad to not function correctly - brakes are kind of important & replacing pads is not at the upper levels of the trade!

So I drive all the way back there, have a little row with them & let them know how unimpressed I was. AND the worse thing! They did not even have a pair of replacement pads in stock - still I suppose that was my fault for having current model vehicle!

On another occasion I was buying parts for my first Octavia & really struggled to get through to the guy serving me that some parts are handed depending as to which side of the car they are for, ie the window mechanism I required.

I think it went wrong as Skoda grew in size, my first Octavia, bought new in 1999, came from a smaller garage, been dealing in Skodas for years, knew their stuff etc. But ulimately had to give up as they could not justify turning their premises into a corporate glass palace as per VAG wishes. The same thing happened to my next dealer of choice, been dealing in Skodas for years & would have considerd the investment if he had been on a main road & near to centre of town etc.

I see the only benefit in dealer servicing is that stamp in the book come trade-in time.

Not so many years back all I ever did was monitor my fuel consumtion at every fill & change my fluids, look at air filters & see how dirty they were, I've even spoken to time-served mechanics who don't change their own spark plugs until they wear out. The wife's Hyundai has just had it's second serivce, 14k miles & they've changed the plugs, I drove it the other day & it appears not as smooth - so that's going back, especially after being parked up for a week it fired up on only 3 cylinders so I'll be getting them to check the cat.

Rant over, although I'm sure there will be more!

[The Plumber]

Found water today sitting on top of the nearside rear door inner rubber seal of my lads 59 plate Fabia 1; akin to how his previous Mk I was when it let water through the door carrier seals. He hasn't used the car this week (been down with a bug and off work), so likely cause would be the heavy rain a few days back. Have to keep an eye on it, particularly as the windows are well condensated inside :wonder:

TP

[Brian69]

Found water today sitting on top of the nearside rear door inner rubber seal of my lads 59 plate Fabia 1; akin to how his previous Mk I was when it let water through the door carrier seals. He hasn't used the car this week (been down with a bug and off work), so likely cause would be the heavy rain a few days back. Have to keep an eye on it, particularly as the windows are well condensated inside :wonder:

TP

Well, at least you're a plumber ;-)

[Petrova]

On further investigation in the boot I was horrified to find the wheel well full to the brim and carpets well and truly soaked.

Recently found the Wheel Well on mine full of water as well. Will be doubly checking the light cluster, but having noticed anything amiss. Wondered if there was anything else I should be checking? Thanks

[Petrova]

On further investigation in the boot I was horrified to find the wheel well full to the brim and carpets well and truly soaked.

Recently found the Wheel Well on mine full of water as well. Will be double checking the light cluster, but haven't noticed anything amiss. Wondered if there was anything else I should be checking? Thanks

Edited 12 January, 2013 by Petrova