Skoda replaced the sunroof cassette 18 months ago following serious driver's side footwell water ingress. No more ingress until a few weeks ago, same footwell, but no sign of entry from roof.
Can anyone please help me find the source of this unwelcome guest? All else about the car is perfect - surely there's a solution to this issue?
All bright ideas welcome 

Difficult, but the most likely suspect if not the sunroof would be the windscreen.

Thank you Urrell.  I'll take a good look...

Are you sure it's not the sunroof? Seems suspicious that the same footwell is wet and it is a problem that has plagued many Yeti owners with sunroofs.

3 hours ago, Expatman said:

Are you sure it's not the sunroof? Seems suspicious that the same footwell is wet and it is a problem that has plagued many Yeti owners with sunroofs.

Thanks Expatman... I had the drain tubes blown through with an air line recently to rule out blockages. Today I've poured a full pint of water down each of the drain holes at the front of the sunroof cassette and the water has easily drained through the A-pillar grommet, finishing with a characteristic slurp!  

Are there any other potential points of entry into the driver's footwell?

5 hours ago, Urrell said:

Difficult, but the most likely suspect if not the sunroof would be the windscreen.

Thanks Urrell... I've checked that the windscreen is the original Skoda one bonded in place and not a replacement...  How might I check the windscreen further?

Scuttle plenum chamber drain holes blocked by leaves & detritus?

48 minutes ago, karpayn said:

Thanks Urrell... I've checked that the windscreen is the original Skoda one bonded in place and not a replacement...  

How can you tell it's the original screen?
When I had mine replaced even though it never leaked the fitter commented and showed me a 2" gap in the bonding.

54 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Scuttle plenum chamber drain holes blocked by leaves & detritus?

Thanks J.R....  I've had this cleared out and drain holes checked for good drainage within the last month. I think therefore this can be ruled out.

9 minutes ago, Urrell said:

How can you tell it's the original screen?
When I had mine replaced even though it never leaked the fitter commented and showed me a 2" gap in the bonding.

Good point Urrell :-)

Ok, I cannot be absolutely sure, but bought the car 18 months after manufacture and it had the VAG marking on it.

How might I check the windscreen further?

 

3 hours ago, karpayn said:

How might I check the windscreen further?

How about running a hose over it during dry weather to see if a leak occurs.
When mine was replaced I was asked if I wanted an OEM screen but agreed a Pilkington one would be fine, so it may be a replacement.

5 minutes ago, Urrell said:

How about running a hose over it during dry weather to see if a leak occurs.
When mine was replaced I was asked if I wanted an OEM screen but agreed a Pilkington one would be fine, so it may be a replacement.

Good plan Urrell.  Have already begun the process...but it's Very Wet out there...so will continue after the dry weather arrives.

Thanks :-)

I had a distant memory that this had been raised before and the conclusion was that it is almost inevitably caused because the bulkhead vent well drains either side of the vent well have become blocked with debris, leaving rainwater nowhere to go except via the pollen filter into the car, the pollen filter may also be cracked or otherwise displaced. The pollen filter is on the passenger side just below the glovebox so ideally placed to leak water into the car if vents are blocked. Have a quick search on this forum for info on how to replace pollen filter.

Edited 27 October, 20205 yr by Expatman

Are you sure it's not from the sunroof? Have you dropped/felt inside the roof lining? Is it dry? If wet - is it a drain tube come loose, or has the 'new' cassette failed? I had my 'leaking' sunroof cassette changed and the design on the replacement looked identical. If my observations are correct, then what's to stop the replacement leaking. Hope I am wrong, by the way.

7 hours ago, Expatman said:

I had a distant memory that this had been raised before and the conclusion was that it is almost inevitably caused because the bulkhead vent well drains either side of the vent well have become blocked with debris, leaving rainwater nowhere to go except via the pollen filter into the car, the pollen filter may also be cracked or otherwise displaced. The pollen filter is on the passenger side just below the glovebox so ideally placed to leak water into the car if vents are blocked. Have a quick search on this forum for info on how to replace pollen filter.

The water is in the drivers side, nowhere near the pollen filter.

Appears leaks and Skoda run hand in hand,there also appears to be leaks issues with the Skoda Karoq ,how a manufacturer can produce models over  so many years and still not have solved the issue is very disappointing (had my yeti 5 yrs and no sunroof or boot leaks,lucky me)  usually the trapped/ blocked drain pipes from the sun roofs are an issue and it is hard to believe in all this production time it has never been resolved.

 

A sheet of newspaper or length of kitchen towel laid in the footwell and checked frequently might identify a drip/leak from above and, if no evidence, suggest that the water is coming in/up from behind the side/floor trims/carpet.

Incidentally, when my original heated screen was replaced (stone damage) the fitter commented on how poorly he thought the original sealing had been carried out. Certainly not the 'robot perfect' that you see on videos. That said, it had never leaked.

12 hours ago, Expatman said:

I had a distant memory that this had been raised before and the conclusion was that it is almost inevitably caused because the bulkhead vent well drains either side of the vent well have become blocked with debris, leaving rainwater nowhere to go except via the pollen filter into the car, the pollen filter may also be cracked or otherwise displaced. The pollen filter is on the passenger side just below the glovebox so ideally placed to leak water into the car if vents are blocked. Have a quick search on this forum for info on how to replace pollen filter.

Thank you Expatman.  Appreciate your ongoing interest.

The 'bulkhead vent well drains' have been cleared earlier this month when some leafage and detritus was removed.  Additionally, the water is collecting in the driver's side only...

 

 

2 hours ago, Sad555 said:

Appears leaks and Skoda run hand in hand,there also appears to be leaks issues with the Skoda Karoq ,how a manufacturer can produce models over  so many years and still not have solved the issue is very disappointing (had my yeti 5 yrs and no sunroof or boot leaks,lucky me)  usually the trapped/ blocked drain pipes from the sun roofs are an issue and it is hard to believe in all this production time it has never been resolved.

 

I'm right with you, Sad555 !  Frustrating or what ?

 

 

12 hours ago, Martinb100 said:

Are you sure it's not from the sunroof? Have you dropped/felt inside the roof lining? Is it dry? If wet - is it a drain tube come loose, or has the 'new' cassette failed? I had my 'leaking' sunroof cassette changed and the design on the replacement looked identical. If my observations are correct, then what's to stop the replacement leaking. Hope I am wrong, by the way.

Thank you Martinb100 for your reply.

Yep, pretty sure it's Not from the sunroof. I've checked inside the roof lining which is dry.  

[18 months ago there was evidence of leakage from the drain tube junction in the roof lining.  Additionally there were tell-tale signs beneath this with water drops on the dashboard and seating.  Following much persistence with videos/photographic evidence  Skoda renewed the cassette as a goodwill gesture and I paid for 4 new drain tubes. ]

We press on... :-)

58 minutes ago, Bexhillian said:

A sheet of newspaper or length of kitchen towel laid in the footwell and checked frequently might identify a drip/leak from above and, if no evidence, suggest that the water is coming in/up from behind the side/floor trims/carpet.

Incidentally, when my original heated screen was replaced (stone damage) the fitter commented on how poorly he thought the original sealing had been carried out. Certainly not the 'robot perfect' that you see on videos. That said, it had never leaked.

A good plan Bexhillian and worth carrying out !  

As explained though in an earlier reply I'm tending to the conclusion that the water ingress is seeping INTO the footwell and not dropping ONTO it from above.  

We'll see (eventually) :-)

 

28 minutes ago, karpayn said:

Thank you Martinb100 for your reply.

Yep, pretty sure it's Not from the sunroof. I've checked inside the roof lining which is dry.  

[18 months ago there was evidence of leakage from the drain tube junction in the roof lining.  Additionally there were tell-tale signs beneath this with water drops on the dashboard and seating.  Following much persistence with videos/photographic evidence  Skoda renewed the cassette as a goodwill gesture and I paid for 4 new drain tubes. ]

We press on... :-)

I hope you sort this out Karpayn. Having myself experienced water ingress, i know it can be very stressful, never mind the damage it can potentially do to the interior, if not addressed. Good luck identifying the problem.

Edited 28 October, 20205 yr by Martinb100
Insert extra detail

29 minutes ago, Martinb100 said:

I hope you sort this out Karpayn. Having myself experienced water ingress, i know it can be very stressful, never mind the damage it can potentially do to the interior, if not addressed. Good luck identifying the problem.

Thank you Martinb100 !

On 26/10/2020 at 22:11, karpayn said:

Skoda replaced the sunroof cassette 18 months ago following serious driver's side footwell water ingress. No more ingress until a few weeks ago, same footwell, but no sign of entry from roof.
Can anyone please help me find the source of this unwelcome guest? All else about the car is perfect - surely there's a solution to this issue?
All bright ideas welcome 

 

Just to conclude...

My engineer-friend removed some detritus from the container into which water drains from the windscreen (name?), ensured all accessible drain holes were clear (including door).. and having dried out the interior with a fan (accelerated by my wife's hair-dryer), no further ingress has occurred after 2 weeks outside with several visitations of rain.  Living near several trees, I now know I need to keep on top of leaves, pine needles, etc, and remove them all promptly from the windscreen and bonnet entrances.

 

Thank you all you helpful contributors.

 

Keep safe.

Technical name of this container is - appropriately - water box.

Various parts that it's made up from shown here, item 13, 20, 25 https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/yeti/yet/2012-666/8/803-803000/