For some while I have been trying to sort out a water leak in my wife's 2001 Fabia hatch. The leak was first noticed in the rear passenger footwell but the source is the front passenger footwell at the bulkhead. Water is building up behind the bulkhead and getting in around the grommets and a panel join where sealant was not applied during manaufacture. Does anyone know how the water is getting into this area and how to stop it or drain it?

Another issue I need advice on is how to remove the splined bolts holding the front seats in place when the splines are rounded off. Skoda us a locktite product which is hard to break and even using a Torq 50 bit it is hard to avoid rounding.

Are you 100% that you have found the source to be that? There are two know issues with water in the footwell which should show up on searching -

Rear door inner skins leak.

Rear washer pipe becomes detached.

Use the search button at the top and do a search for the leaks, or wet carpets in the fabia:

Leaks in the rear footwells are a common problem, and are quite well documented in other threats, ranging from:

Leaking door ancilliary carriers

Leaking door seals

Leaking rear wash pipe.

Yes it's definitely coming from the front bulhead. I have had the carpet and underlay out and the water is coming from a compartment behind the bulkhead and leaking through the grommets. I took one of the grommets out completely and the water just ran into the passenger footwell.

Here's a picture of the area in the front passenger footwell. I've removed the upper grommet to show the water backing up in the compartment behind the bulkhead.

There will be some helpfull info going up on Stus website soon.

Just an idea -

Have you checked to ensure you have all the grommets under the car? There are a few located near the front and back wheels that can be knocked out by jacking up or lifting on a two post lift.

hi I have recently noticed on my Fabia VRS 53 plate that all 4 door seals are wet at the bottom and it seems to seep into the footwells! this is something to do with the membranes i am told? any ideas? also it is still covered under warranty but i am told leaks are sometimes not? i am new to this site so forgive me if i have posted it on wrongly!

Have you checked that the drain holes in the bottom of the fresh air intake plenum between bottom of windscreen and the bonnet are clear? Mine were all blocked with leaves. When lurching around a corner in a rainstorm suddenly a great wall of water was sucked through the fan into the interior as there were pints of water in the plenum.

I also had the detached rear washer pipe problem which also wetted the carpets.

hi I have recently noticed on my Fabia VRS 53 plate that all 4 door seals are wet at the bottom and it seems to seep into the footwells! this is something to do with the membranes i am told? any ideas? also it is still covered under warranty but i am told leaks are sometimes not? i am new to this site so forgive me if i have posted it on wrongly!

defo covered inder warranty, had both rear doors done on mine, took 2 goes to fix the passengers side one, but took 4 goes to fix the drivers side, all good now though:thumbup: