Aaaarrrggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Water ingress

[Burnzybubbles]

As above, it's happened a few times, I'm not sure where it's coming from, first of all the windscreen looks to be original, iv checked air con drain, only one left is scuttle drains, but I checked today after a heavy downpour and the scuttle wasn't full, I'm getting a wet front passenger footwell, it looks to be dripping off the underneath of the dash, first time round the fuse box was also wet on the passenger side, it's only happened after heavy rain and not when jet washing the car

The first time I noticed I got in the car early morning started off and had esp warning light on dash with abs as well iirc, didn't realise it was due to water till daylight and I looked into the pass footwell and seen the water, cleared faults and it'd dried out and everything went away.

I need to get it sussed as its not bad but it needs fixing, today it rained heavy checked scuttle as mentioned, looked fine, then I get in the car to go home later on and iv a small wet patch on the passenger mat

[Architex_mA8tey]

Check out plenty of previous posts for the scuttle drains both sides - there is a strangely ended orange drain pipe on either side of the transmission tunnel plus the infamous botangs hole which also causes water ingress to the passenger footwell

[Burnzybubbles]

Thanks I have checked previous posts, iv already done the drain next to the tunnel that was clear, the only onesi haven't physically inspected are the scuttle drains that you access from underneath, but as stated the scuttle isn't full of water, the botangs? Now iv not heard of that one yet, I'll search that word and see what it comes up with, cheers.

[Delboy]

Botangs he iirc relates to d2 bodies.

But as mentioned the three main areas of ingress are sunroof, scuttle and air on drains.

Personally I have never done the aircon ones but the sunroof is quite easy to do.

Scuttle is a pain but has to be done, I do mine with a long slender hose attachment to a vax and suck out all the leaf debris then slowly pour hot water into scuttle area and you should see it pour out either side of transmission tunnel.

But from what you have said it sounds like it's either air con or scuttle drains

[mannyo]

When my D3 let water in, the problem was with the sunroof drains. They had both blocked at the wheel arch end, leaving me with a swimming pool in the sunroof itself.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by Delboy

Botangs he iirc relates to d2 bodies.

My bad, I wasnt paying attention, but now thats made me wonder if there is an equivalent to Botangs hole in the D3 as well. . . . hmmmm

[IT]

The only signs of water ingress I've ever seen on the D3 have been sunroof related.

On the D3 however, sunroof was optional. If you have one, I would definitely be focussing my attention there first.

[Burnzybubbles]

Thanks chaps, yea Iv already checked the air con drains by the tunnel and they are clean as a whistle, the scuttle is mucky but water will dribble out after Iv washed away the screen wash if I get a bit overzealous when filling the bottle, I say dribble as to me I guess it should come out faster than that, the hose idea sounds good, Iv some 19mm silicone somewhere that's of no use anymore, could duct tape it too the vacuum as that stuffs sticks anything together haha!

Iv not been blessed with a sunroof by the original owner so that's something to not have to worry about, otherwise as correctly stated I'd of looked there.

How much of the scuttle is accesable to be cleaned? have any of you guys given it a detail?

Thanks.

Edit: oh and I'm aware I need to get access underneath to prod a long screwdriver into the rubber bungs for the scuttle drains, on passats these bungs whee removed as part of a recall, has anyone removed them on the D3 to stop reaccuring issues of them blocking?

[Delboy]

I would focus on the scuttle drains then, I don't think you can't see them from below as the gearbox might be in the way.

Like I said before Hoover out all the big stuff or if you have a compressor maybe blow all the crap out from under the plenum etc.

Then boil the kettle and pour that into the scuttle area, when I first did mine there was a dribble to start with then the rubber most have softened with the hot water and it all came gushing out, repeated a few times to make sure I flushed as much organic debris out as possible.

[HPsauce]

But don't overdo it!
Not sure how D3 compares to D2 but doing the same thing (which eventually worked) I put in too much water and rather a lot got into the cabin.