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VW Golf MK4 Water leaking in passenger footwells

  • 28-01-2014 07:48PM
    #1
    Nodferatu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,378 ✭✭✭


    Hey all, looking for advice on this, i have a VW Golf MK4 2002 reg,
    i have noticed the last few weeks all of a sudden rear passenger both sides footwells under the mats the carpets are wringing wet, i mean soaking with water. the same on the front passenger side also. checked underneath car and can't see any holes, even if there was any i missed its too coincidental and specific an area/s to make the floors covered in water.

    help/advice?!


Comments

  • #2
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,488 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Common enough VW problem, probably one of the drain channels is blocked. Try using a twisted metal close hanger to free it up.


  • #3
    Jimmy Conway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45 ✭Jimmy Conway


    Had that problem myself. Mine had a sunroof and it turned out the drainage channels where blocked which run down the A pillar. Two little rubber grommits at the bottom of each pillar and when they where opened blew a shot of high pressure air down to release lots of crap.

    Water can get in through the pollen filter too apparently so look into that also.


  • #4
    buzzkill88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 ✭buzzkill88


    Hi guys, I have a very similar problem with my MK4 2001 Golf.
    The Passenger side front AND back footwells are soaking wet, but everything seems to be dry. The car doesn't have a sunroof so that can be ruled out. Where should I be checking and what should I be looking out for? Sorry I'm not very good with cars so if ye could give a plain description , or even better, pictures, that would be great! Thanks for your help.


  • #5
    sunnysoutheast
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,072 ✭✭✭sunnysoutheast


    Nodferatu wrote: »
    Hey all, looking for advice on this, i have a VW Golf MK4 2002 reg,
    i have noticed the last few weeks all of a sudden rear passenger both sides footwells under the mats the carpets are wringing wet, i mean soaking with water. the same on the front passenger side also. checked underneath car and can't see any holes, even if there was any i missed its too coincidental and specific an area/s to make the floors covered in water.

    help/advice?!

    I think pretty much all VAG cars suffer from the "plenum chamber drain" problem, basically the drains get blocked and the water comes in through the pollen filter housing, damaging the electronics. Check on google for your particular car.


  • #6
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    buzzkill88 wrote: »
    Hi guys, I have a very similar problem with my MK4 2001 Golf.
    The Passenger side front AND back footwells are soaking wet, but everything seems to be dry. The car doesn't have a sunroof so that can be ruled out. Where should I be checking and what should I be looking out for? Sorry I'm not very good with cars so if ye could give a plain description , or even better, pictures, that would be great! Thanks for your help.
    See here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057144348


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  • #7
    PrettyBoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,213 ✭✭✭PrettyBoy


    buzzkill88 wrote: »
    Hi guys, I have a very similar problem with my MK4 2001 Golf.
    The Passenger side front AND back footwells are soaking wet, but everything seems to be dry. The car doesn't have a sunroof so that can be ruled out. Where should I be checking and what should I be looking out for? Sorry I'm not very good with cars so if ye could give a plain description , or even better, pictures, that would be great! Thanks for your help.

    292950.jpg
    292951.jpg


  • #8
    buzzkill88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 ✭buzzkill88


    Thanks for the pictures, I'll take a look tonight and see if those hoses are plugged.


  • #9
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    buzzkill88 wrote: »
    Thanks for the pictures, I'll take a look tonight and see if those hoses are plugged.
    I'd also be checking the drains under the bonnet, as per my link.


  • #10
    lomb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,016 ✭✭✭lomb


    If its not that then its the door seals. My 2003 MK4 had the seals between the door card and metal of door degraded and basically the water which falls on side glass normally traces a path inside door along door cards and down into drains at the bottom. When the rubber degrades the water enters the car. Its
    a very common problem. The solution is a repair kit VAG sell and taking the door cards off or a tube of roofing silicone although you may never get the cards off again if you use that( I did)
    Mine hasn't leaked in 3 years. It was like a boat inside some weekends after a lot of rain before.
    http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=5&t=775912


  • #11
    vectra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,680 ✭✭✭✭vectra


    Can leak in around the cabin filter as well under the bonnet
    Door are prone to leaking as well,


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  • #12
    buzzkill88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 ✭buzzkill88


    I just checked around the door hinges (as in the photos above). Mine is a 5 door Golf with no sunroof, so I think that's why it doesn't have the tube sticking out. Will check the bonnet once it's dry out.


  • #13
    Carson10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 556 ✭✭✭Carson10


    Have a Mk4 3dr 2003 Golf. I got it back when it was 4 years old. The floors have been wet in it since i got it. Started off with the drivers foot well. On a heavy day of rain it would be soaking wet. The water was running in from up behind the brake pedal. I jet washed the inner drivers corner under the bonnet (see pic) seemed this was blocked clogged. The water runs out here behind the wing onto the ground. Since i done that the floor has been bone dry since last year. but more recently now i Notice a moist/damp patch when I lift up the mat on the passenger floor, but its only a tiny bit. Before I fixed the water issue on the drivers floor, my car always smelled really mouldy and the mats were soaking. Always thought my car must have been in an accident and repaired before I bought it. Buts obviously its a common fault. Just one You'l have to try and fix yourself. Waste of money going to a garage.
    VW_Golf_GTI_eng_690x459.jpg


  • #14
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    What I did for my Golf was cut the front door drains and then open the sunroof. At the front corners you will see where those drains start. Pour a little water in and gunk will flow out of the cut pipes. Actual advice I got was to massage the nipples. :-\ weird. That was only preventative work there.

    I never had to do anything to the rear, though I have an estate so maybe that doesn't suffer problems.

    I also had to strip and silicone seal the inner door panels. They perish over time as my drivers side was letting water in.

    They are fierce leaky cars, perhaps the only real issue with them. I'd take a look at the rear window washer and replace the tubing/plastic joinys with something more heavy duty and glue/secure it as a preventative measure. Mine popped off a few years ago as VW designed a water pump that was too powerful for the pipe connections. No problem now.


  • #15
    lomb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,016 ✭✭✭lomb


    bbk wrote: »
    What I did for my Golf was cut the front door drains and then open the sunroof. At the front corners you will see where those drains start. Pour a little water in and gunk will flow out of the cut pipes. Actual advice I got was to massage the nipples. :-\ weird. That was only preventative work there.

    I never had to do anything to the rear, though I have an estate so maybe that doesn't suffer problems.

    I also had to strip and silicone seal the inner door panels. They perish over time as my drivers side was letting water in.

    They are fierce leaky cars, perhaps the only real issue with them. I'd take a look at the rear window washer and replace the tubing/plastic joinys with something more heavy duty and glue/secure it as a preventative measure. Mine popped off a few years ago as VW designed a water pump that was too powerful for the pipe connections. No problem now.

    I think duck tape is your friend when it comes to the rear washer pipe. It wont stay together if just clicked in. Especially in icy weather the rear washer freezes and if the wash is switched on the pipe connector lets go.
    The cover over the charcoal cabin filter being not put on properly is another area that is common for leaks.


  • #16
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    lomb wrote: »
    I think duck tape is your friend when it comes to the rear washer pipe. It wont stay together if just clicked in. Especially in icy weather the rear washer freezes and if the wash is switched on the pipe connector lets go.
    The cover over the charcoal cabin filter being not put on properly is another area that is common for leaks.

    That could work alright. I replaced the plastic 90 degree snap on things with a tight rubber pipe, like much smaller fuel pipe from a lawnmower. Maybe it was from a lawnmower, I wanted to fix it and fix it good so duck tape didnt pop into my head. Could work well!


  • #17
    buzzkill88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 ✭buzzkill88


    bbk wrote: »
    What I did for my Golf was cut the front door drains and then open the sunroof. At the front corners you will see where those drains start. Pour a little water in and gunk will flow out of the cut pipes. Actual advice I got was to massage the nipples. :-\ weird. That was only preventative work there.

    I never had to do anything to the rear, though I have an estate so maybe that doesn't suffer problems.

    I also had to strip and silicone seal the inner door panels. They perish over time as my drivers side was letting water in.

    They are fierce leaky cars, perhaps the only real issue with them. I'd take a look at the rear window washer and replace the tubing/plastic joinys with something more heavy duty and glue/secure it as a preventative measure. Mine popped off a few years ago as VW designed a water pump that was too powerful for the pipe connections. No problem now.

    After the rain today I noticed a stream of water from under the interior plastic trim of the front passenger door into the cabin. I suspect it's the seal around the inner door panel, do you think this is right?
    I read that VW sells a repair kit for this problem, is it worth the money or would it be easier to use silicone like you did? Don't have much tools or expertise, I just want to find the easiest/cheapest fix for the problem:)


  • #18
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    buzzkill88 wrote: »
    After the rain today I noticed a stream of water from under the interior plastic trim of the front passenger door into the cabin. I suspect it's the seal around the inner door panel, do you think this is right?
    I read that VW sells a repair kit for this problem, is it worth the money or would it be easier to use silicone like you did? Don't have much tools or expertise, I just want to find the easiest/cheapest fix for the problem:)

    Try taking a look at the door seal first. Its the black rubber seal around the door frame on the car (rather than the door itself). See if there are any suspect water marks on it. It is definitely not a 100% accurate way of checking but it could be possible that the door seal is not doing its job.

    Chances are though, it is the seal of the inner door panel behind the door cards. When I did it, I wasn't very mechanically savvy. The hardest thing to do it, in terms of expertise, is getting the door card off as making sure the door handle cables and light wires are detached properly.

    I think I got away with not taking the panel off the second time for the other door. Since the upper part of the seal was fine, but the bottom was perished and it perished because of the water, I scraped away the perished seal with the knife/flat thing, then put the end of the silicone gun and wedged it between the inner panel and the door itself (the door itself is the colour of the car) and then applied the silicone. I would say I went half to 3/4 way up the seal vertically to make sure the water didn't start leaking through any gap between the old seal and my bodge job. That worked quite well as the bolts which I didnt need to touch was then applying all the force required to create the new seal.

    The upside of taking the panel completely off is that you can check and clean the drain holes inside the door which can get clogged. You can also do this without doing anything to the door by putting a tooth pick or something up through the drain holes. They may get reclogged easier though as its not a complete clean.

    10 quid and a few hours work at most I'd say.


  • #19
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-dQoBTQ2yQ
    4:20 onwards.

    That chap has another video where the door card is removed, but this video is the most important one for this fix to show you what to do if you removed the whole door panel off.

    I am almost certain I did the second door the quicker way though.

    EDIT.
    I remember that I loosened the lower retaining screws to do it the quick way and then tightened them up again.


  • #20
    C3PO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,814 ✭✭✭C3PO


    Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I've just been given a really clean 01 Golf by my sister! Only problem is that it's been sitting up for a couple of months and the interior is covered with mould and there is literally 2 inches of water in the passenger side front and rear footwells! Where would people suggest I start to look for the source of the leak?


  • #21
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    C3PO wrote: »
    Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I've just been given a really clean 01 Golf by my sister! Only problem is that it's been sitting up for a couple of months and the interior is covered with mould and there is literally 2 inches of water in the passenger side front and rear footwells! Where would people suggest I start to look for the source of the leak?

    Does it have a sun roof? If so, open the front doors and check the rubber drain hoses.

    I didnt put anything down the drains like in the pictures, I just slit open the end of the drains by the door and flushed it with water.

    sunr1.jpg
    sunr2.jpg

    The drain holes under the door could be worth getting a toothpick to.

    Inner door skins could be perished - not easy to check though.

    Pollen filter mounting.


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  • #22
    C3PO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,814 ✭✭✭C3PO


    bbk wrote: »
    Does it have a sun roof? If so, open the front doors and check the rubber drain hoses.

    I didnt put anything down the drains like in the pictures, I just slit open the end of the drains by the door and flushed it with water.

    sunr1.jpg
    sunr2.jpg

    The drain holes under the door could be worth getting a toothpick to.

    Inner door skins could be perished - not easy to check though.

    Pollen filter mounting.

    No sun roof!

    Where is the pollen filter?

    Thanks for your help!


  • #23
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    C3PO wrote: »

    Where is the pollen filter?

    Thanks for your help!

    On the passenger side. You will have to open up the bonnet, use a screwdriver to take of a small plastic panel under the windscreen and the filter will be there.


  • #24
    buzzkill88
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 ✭buzzkill88


    C3PO wrote: »
    Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I've just been given a really clean 01 Golf by my sister! Only problem is that it's been sitting up for a couple of months and the interior is covered with mould and there is literally 2 inches of water in the passenger side front and rear footwells! Where would people suggest I start to look for the source of the leak?

    I've had leaks from every possible place you can imagine, so I've unintentionally become an expert at this :rolleyes:

    First of all, shop vac all the water from your car and open all the doors to let it dry out. I didn't have a shop vac so I just threw many cloths + weights on top of the cloths to soak it up, and then let it air dry. Literally took me weeks to get it completely dry.

    The places for a possible leak are :
    Pollen Filter
    Door Card seals
    Tail light seals
    Rear vent seals inside rear bumper
    Sunroof (if you have one)


    From what you said, it sounds like the leak is coming from either Pollen Filter or Door Card seals. Most likely it is the latter.

    To check Pollen Filter, open the bonnet and look on passenger side. Remove the 4 screws and filter cover. Look at the cover to see if it is broken anywhere (common fault because it is easy to break the cover while replacing it after a service). Under the pollen cover is a filter. Check if it is seated on the seal properly. Feel it to see if it is soaking wet. If it is, you have a leak there. Here's a photo.
    http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/Imagewerx/PF1.jpg

    If Pollen Filter is dry, check the passenger side door cards. Ideally you need 2 people for this. Have 1 person sit inside the car with all doors closed. 2nd person slowly pours a large bucket of water (or hose) on both the passenger side doors. You would see water trickling into the cabin from the spot where the door card seal is worn out. I actually skipped this whole step because I spotted a dried water stain on the sill of my door where the water was trickling in from. You then need to follow these steps to dismantle your door panel and use silicone to seal up the broken seal.
    http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/door-card-panel-removal-on-a-mk4-jetta-or-volkswagen-golf/

    If you spot water in your boot area/spare wheel well, or constantly have a foggy rear window, you have a leak at the rear lights or rear vent seals.

    Hope that helps!:D


  • #25
    Interslice
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,505 ✭✭✭Interslice


    There is a drain at either end of that gutter beneath the wind screen where the pollen filter is that can get blocked with leaves and crap too.


  • #26
    C3PO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,814 ✭✭✭C3PO


    Thanks for all the advice guys!
    Looks like the pollen filter cover is the likely culprit - took it out this afternoon and it's badly cracked! As suggested I'm guessing somebody damaged it after replacing the filter in the past! A new one will cost only €11.50 but I'm dreading trying to dry the car out and then cleaning the mess!! Still hopefully I've a least sourced the problem ..... I hope!!
    Thanks again!


  • #27
    Nodferatu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,378 ✭✭✭Nodferatu


    Mine was a seal in passenger door. Now.my interior lights wont work when i open doors. Front or rear interior lights not working. Electrics must be destroyed. Is it just a case of getting new cables/wires replaced?


  • #28
    Quicktwo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭Quicktwo


    hi all, i recently put a roof rack on the mk4 and the leaks started. what i need is a new trim piece that clips to the roof above the door and runs down to the bonnet along the side of the windscreen. the one i have is not sealing and is rusting on the inside. i will try seal it for the moment but will need a new on. anybody know where i can get a new one?
    micks garage dont do them


  • #29
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    Hatchback? OEM or aftermarket rack? I know more about the estates, but I would imagine you could get those rubbers (I am guessing you mean rubbers rather than plastic trim) from a breakers.

    What do you think the roof racks did which cause the leaks? Where are the leaks?


  • #30
    Quicktwo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭Quicktwo


    thanks for reply. its a 3 door hatch. I've had it for 3 months, had plenty wet days in it before the rack went on. put the rack on last week and today, water dripped in the door. Its a genuine vw rack. what i have tried with a bottle of water lightly pouring in to the roof rack base is water travels along by the clip, but there are dips in the steel where the trim clips too. i reckon the trim is worn and not sealing proper and water passes in here into the car.


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  • #31
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    Does the rack install like this?

    http://hub.samuelskelton.com/pictures/bikerack/rack7.jpg


  • #32
    Quicktwo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭Quicktwo


    yeah, thats the one. its the trim that you see raised there over the foot is perished and not working proper where it joins the steel roof clip. can't seem to get them new. will try a breakers but would prefer new.


  • #33
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    Okay, I can imagine how that could happen but that is where the roof drains are anyway. But to be sure, check if there is wetness along the "lip" which I have highlighted in the picture attached. You can run some clothes line wire into that lip to bulk it up and force it against the door.

    That said, if the roof rack attaches like the thread linked below, then I am not convinced there is enough force to push the seal off in such a way which would allow water in.

    http://uk-mkivs.net/topic/63997-roof-rack-fitting-help/

    But, you have said there is rust so there must be something up. Were the seals definitely forced back into position after installation? My initial thought is that the water let in behind the seal would just run down the secondary inner seal where water leaking through the highlighted lip would adhere to the door frame (painted) and then along the outside of the inner seal and into the cabin which was something I had to fix on mine.

    The MKIVs are leaky sods.


  • #34
    Quicktwo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭Quicktwo


    thanks for the pic. an original vw rack doesn't have any hole in the steel bar. it has 2 bars with slots out, and as you tighten it, they spread out and grip the two studs.
    That guy also says that you have to remove the trim. he says its a pain. mine just lifted off, no resistance at all! problem there. will try breakers yard for one monday. cheers bbk


  • #35
    GTE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,919 ✭✭✭GTE


    Grand. Though, in the heavy rain today I have noticed a leak in the passenger door. At the top, just as it starts to curve down towards the front of the car. Almost certainly the lip I mentioned but I will check more closely tomorrow.

    Estate for me, so no roof rack as you would have it. Hopefully it is a coincidence for you and not an issue caused by the rack.


  • #36
    Quicktwo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭Quicktwo


    What I'm going to do tomorrow, temporary solution but if it works, bonus, pull off the trim. you will see the steel lip which the trim clips to, has slots removed from it. Im going to fold tape down over the lip and block the slots. don't see a real need for the slots. Then i'll get a tube of tiger seal, squeeze it into the trim, and slip the trim back onto the lip. won't block the water route exit, but should give a new good seal to the trim to steel lip.
    Will keep you posted!


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  • #37
    bluedoor27
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 96 ✭✭bluedoor27


    Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have the exact same problem with a brand new 151 golf. The ground on drivers passenger side is soaking wet. It was like that from day one. But we thought the car mat was wet, dried it and thought nothing more of it. Normally it's just two people in the car but tonight I happened to be sitting in the back of the car and noticed the ground was soaking wet again. What should I do/ be looking for to try and fix the problem.


  • #38
    crasy dash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭crasy dash


    As yours is a 151 go back to dealer you bought it from surely its still in warranty.

    Any half decent garage should find the fault and rectify it for you


  • #39
    Carson10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 556 ✭✭✭Carson10


    crasy dash wrote: »
    As yours is a 151 go back to dealer you bought it from surely its still in warranty.

    Any half decent garage should find the fault and rectify it for you

    I would be so mad if I had a 151 Golf and the floors were soaking wet. Id want a replacement new one. Thats terrible. Id be looking for their 152 Demo.


  • #40
    vectra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,680 ✭✭✭✭vectra


    Carson10 wrote: »
    I would be so mad if I had a 151 Golf and the floors were soaking wet. Id want a replacement new one. Thats terrible. Id be looking for their 152 Demo.


    I had this happen to me on a new vRS Octavia. ( The red one )
    Though the floor was not soaked it was getting wetter by the day.
    I noticed it damp on the second day of ownership and reported it to the dealer. They said keep an eye on it as it may be damp from my shoes as it was winter. a week later it was a lot worse.
    Car went back to them, If there were any serious issues wit hit then the car would be rejected,
    They stripped out most of the interior and could not find the issue. They eventually got some form of smoke machine the put into the car and filled it with smoke. Eventually they saw a small trickle of smoke coming out be the bulkhead under the windscreen on the drivers side where there is a hollow and a seam running across,
    What had apparently happened was during assembly the "Robot" stopped short of sealing the full length of the seam by a couple of millimeters and because of the hollow (Pocket ) that was just at the point water collected there and was dripping into the car.
    They sorted it 100% with seam sealer. I never had an issue with it after.

    One thing though.
    I did insist on new carpet and pads on the floor as I wanted no strange smell to appear later on.
    I also insisted on seeing the old ones after the work was completed.


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