Hello everyone,

 

After having not used my Octavia MKII for a while (due to lockdown) I went to use it only to find the footwell was soaked with rain water. After some investigation - removing carpet accelerator etc and putting the hose pipe on the windscreen I found that the water is somehow getting into the subframe. The water is getting into the subframe via the windscreen/scuttle panel but I cannot see what happens after that - alot of the water goes onto the road as it should but some is going into the subframe.

 

I sealed the seam of the subframe so water does not enter the car (the red circle) but when it rains water still enters the subframe - hence having to drain it with that suction device seen in the picture.

 

I took it to a local garage and they said they have never seen this problem and suggested drilling a drain hole. The problem is I cannot seem locate this area from under the car, as it all seems boxed in?

 

Any ideas suggestions? Ideally I want to solve the real problem before randomly guessing where to  drill a hole.

Much appreciated in advance!

What are the drain channels like in the scuttle panel area. Any bulkhead seals not seated correctly? Sometimes it takes very little to block a channel and let the water build up under the windscreen cowling causing it to flow into areas it should never manage to reach. 

Wow thanks for such a quick reply! How would I check what you mentioned out? I removed the scuttle panel and could see the water run down the side into the front wing area but couldn’t see any more. I imagine it is something as simple as some drainage hole somewhere not quite draining properly. So the water simply goes where it is not supposed to as you say. Would I have to remove the wing? 

The inner guard out is sometimes enough to get a better look. Normally I’d have found cars building up water in the scuttle area and overflowing into the footwell, or the drain channel blocked or leaking into the car from a sunroof and doing the same thing. An airline around the area can sometimes pin point the general location as it’ll push water through with a bit more force. Any bulkhead seals are also suspect. The one I found to cause the most hassle was the drain in the scuttle under the battery box in Vag cars. It then let water build up and run inside. The other area was door seals, but you’d have seen that dripping in while hosing with the carpets pulled back. 

Edited 2 April, 20215 yr by UndertheRadar

Much appreciated again! as soon as I get chance I will do some more investigation.

Forgot to say mine doesn’t have a sunroof and I don’t think it is the door seal as you said. So I will look around the inner guard and bulkhead.

Check the grommet for the electrics coming from the door on the pillar. I’ve seen those getting dislodged sometimes when people have been cleaning in around the hinges as well. 

I will check that too. thanks again!!