Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but a search seems to lead to a quagmire of other unrelated things.

My Octavia I has suddenly started filling up with water in the rear passenger footwell. The carpet in the front seems dry, and there is no apparent leaks through the door or from the sunroof. A google search took me to a thread on this forum, but it's over three years old. That thread mentions a grommet by the pollen filter; I don't know where the pollen filter is, and what to look for with relation to the grommet. I have had a dehumidifier running in there for a couple of days, but would really like to stop the leak. I will be eternally grateful if some kind soul could give me some advice please..

1. The grommet is where the cable for the bonnet release goes through the firewall to the engine bay. "It" isnt really the cause of water, just the way it gets in.

2. Remove your wheel arch liners and remove the years of built up dirt and leaves. This dirt stops water draining from the windscreen properly and builds up until it reaches the same height as the grommet then flows into the car.

3. If the door cards have ever been removed (door lock issue for example) and the plastic liner not replaced/sealed properly, water runs down the window, passes the seal at the bottom, into the door. A hole or gap in the liner will then let water into the car from under the door card.

4. Reason you find water in rear seat not front (with item 1. Above) is the shape of the floor pan. Water gathers in the back end as it is lower than the front.

 

Hope that helps

 

Edited 20 October, 20187 yr by mac11irl

Thanks so much for your speedy reply - I'm most grateful

There have been two electric window cable mechanisms replaced in the past, and the membranes are more than likely damaged.  Having said that, the door seals and inside sills were dry (or appeared to be). I believe the bonnet release cable traverses the bulkhead on the drivers side (in the UK) which doesn't seem to be the source of the problem as it's on the other side of the car. I will remove the wheel arch liners as you suggest, and check for accumulation of gunk - (the car is 16 years old, only failed one MOT on a broken spring, and has 186K miles on it! I shall be sorry when it finally has to go ;-)  ). I'll get back to you and let you know how I get on - maybe a day or two as I have a haematoma on my leg and can't kneel at the moment, but will obtain assistance from a sympathetic friend :-)

Thanks again - will let you know.