I've read lots of threads regarding water ingress but they all seem to be concerned with either the sunroof or the windscreen. If there has been an answer to the problem I have, then I apologise for not finding it.

 

I own a 2010 Yeti  (a 1.8 TSi 4x4 Elegance) that I have had from when it was 6 months old. It has always, up till recently, been parked in the garage or under cover.

 

Recent newer cars mean that it is now parked on the drive, which has highlighted a water ingress problem into both rear footwells. It is not huge amounts of water, but sufficient to cause the windows to steam up. A moisture meter shows the carpets have a reading of approx 35%.

 

The car does not have a sunroof, the door seals are in good condition and the door drains are not blocked.

 

Does anyone have an answer to where the water is likely to be getting in please?

Leak from rear washer pipe which runs inside car?

15 hours ago, kenfowler3966 said:

Leak from rear washer pipe which runs inside car?

Thanks for the reply, but no. It is both rear footwells that have the problem.

Rear door drain holes clear ? Sill drain holes clear?

The door drain holes and the holes in the bottom of the rubber seal are clear. What do you mean by 'sill' drain holes please? 

+1, following

There are slots on the welded seam of the sills, that are for drainage (often mistaken for jacking points) ... if blocked can allow water to enter the car interior.

Thanks guys, I wasn't aware of those sill drains. However, I've checked them and, other than a small amount of soft 'muck', they are clear.

 

What I did notice for the first time is a slight gap in the window seals.

 

The seals wrap around and come together in a butt joint. They have both shrunk back slightly, leaving a gap of 1-2mm in the bottom rear corner. This would allow rain water to run down the glass and inside the door.

 

I'm wondering whether it is feasible that this is somehow tracking down, defeating the seals on the inside of the door, and making its way into the footwells? It seems like a bit of a stretch, but........

 

I've sealed the gap with clear silicone and I'll see whether the situation improves.

 

Any further suggestions most welcome.

 

 

2 hours ago, Cee-B said:

'm wondering whether it is feasible that this is somehow tracking down, defeating the seals on the inside of the door, and making its way into the footwells? It seems like a bit of a stretch,

That happened to my Fabia that uses the same system, designed for the windows not to be watertight but to let water run thru the doors and out the bottom.
Cured by resealing the inner door seals where the adhesive has come away.

23 hours ago, Urrell said:

That happened to my Fabia that uses the same system, designed for the windows not to be watertight but to let water run thru the doors and out the bottom.
Cured by resealing the inner door seals where the adhesive has come away.

Cheers for that; I'm a little confused by the reference to adhesive though. The Yeti door seals are a 1-piece seal that fits onto a metal flange - there is no adhesive involved.

 

I've been experimenting.

 

I've slotted newspaper in all around the insides of the door and played a hose (and even a pressure washer) around on the car. No leaks evident.

 

I'm beginning to wonder whether the water ingress actually is from it being out in the rain, or simply that a longer-term existing problem has been highlighted because it is now out in the cold and so it is steaming up.

 

I'm wondering whether the water is actually getting driven/sucked in when driving on wet roads, not when stationary in the rain?

I'll leave the paper in place and see whether it shows any wet spots after having driven in wet conditions - I shouldn't have to wait long for that!

1 hour ago, Cee-B said:

Cheers for that; I'm a little confused by the reference to adhesive though. The Yeti door seals are a 1-piece seal that fits onto a metal flange - there is no adhesive involved.

 

It is a plastic sheet that seals roughly the area in pic below inside the door card not the door outer seal.

On 30/11/2020 at 14:25, Urrell said:

It is a plastic sheet that seals roughly the area in pic below inside the door card not the door outer seal.

Thanks, now I'm with you. I haven't had the door cards off to look inside - perhaps that will be next depending on the result of the newspaper test.

Two thoughts, neither with much hope:

Are the windows closing properly?

Does my fading memory hint at something, waaaay back, about a plug in the floor going missing?  Anyone? 

4 hours ago, Brijo said:

 

Are the windows closing properly?

 

Seriously?

Yes, seriously.  Perhaps 'completely' would have been a better word in this context.  There was an issue back in the earlier days about the window limiting system - do a forum search for 'Dancing Windows', perhaps. 

Thanks Brian, I wondered if you just thought I might be a total numpty!

 

They are fully closing though, thanks.

Since sealing the small gaps in the seal corners, plus treating all seals with Gummi Pflege, the car has been sat in very heavy rain and I've done a couple of long trips on wet roads.  I haven't had a recurrence of the problem.

 

Here's hoping it stays that way. Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.