Water leak into footwell - dodgy seal info and DIY repair guide (Image links dead)

[irishmanr26]

You might want to check behind the rear quarter trim on your passenger side in case you have a washer leak from a union in that area. My carpets feel bone dry too but I still managed to pull a 1/2 litre from the dehumidifier last night...

DubSteve

I checked there as well but couldnt find anything, the only place I can think it is coming from is down the top of the wheel arch but I dont now how the water would get there in the first place and its impossible to get in there to check it out properly

 

[DubSteve68]

Got a dehumidifier today, will use that tonight, do you close the Air vents as well? Going to tape the top of the doors where the window meets the sill on the drivers side later, just until i can do the door, looking at Monday if the weather is o.k. I poured some water down the outside of the window, and you could see the water coming from under the speaker. Bioman

Closing the air vents is a good idea but not critical as the dehumidifier is just circulating the air in the vehicle without drawing any in from outside. You could also use cling film to temporarily seal your window without leaving any sticky crap on your paint or glass. The speakers seem to be the most common failure point on the front doors, that's exactly where mine failed...

I checked there as well but couldnt find anything, the only place I can think it is coming from is down the top of the wheel arch but I dont now how the water would get there in the first place and its impossible to get in there to check it out properly

That's a puzzler. Are you a good lad and use screenwash? If so then see if your damp boot smells of screen wash or not, might give you a clue as to whether you have an external or internal leak...

DubSteve

 

[Bioman1966]

Good idea with the clingfilm, off to do that now. Bioman

 

[irishmanr26]

Just heading out now to buy some screenwash so will give it a go

 

[GreigAKAHendo]

had a quick read thru this thread as i found a huge puddle in the rear pasenger footwell today very helpfull and hope to start reparing the seals this week sometime another great thread top marks thanks guys

 

[Hilary Field]

Hi - I have a 203 Seat Leon

For well over a year, every time it rains, my passenger side foot well gets full of water! At first we thought the radiator was leaking into the well as water came in from two areas. We fixed the radiator and the problem seemed to go away. Now however, the passenger side is very wet again. Some times during heavy rain, you could almost swim in the water that has accumilated in the well.

Would Seat repair this as I can see Leons were recalled with this type of problem in 2006.

Or, should I get this repaired myself and how is that done?

Hils

 

[Grippo]

Hi - I have a 203 Seat Leon

For well over a year, every time it rains, my passenger side foot well gets full of water! At first we thought the radiator was leaking into the well as water came in from two areas. We fixed the radiator and the problem seemed to go away. Now however, the passenger side is very wet again. Some times during heavy rain, you could almost swim in the water that has accumilated in the well.

Would Seat repair this as I can see Leons were recalled with this type of problem in 2006.

Or, should I get this repaired myself and how is that done?

Hils

If your door sills spill water out when youopen them then it is probable the carrier plate in the door - if so this guide is pretty good for a cheap DIY option although im yet to give it a go. I think i need some help so just waiting until my dad can give me a hand. Until then ive been keeping a bin bag with one half of the opening inbetween the door and the sill. during heavey rain this fills up with a least 2 drink cans worth of water. it has prevented my wells from getting soaked.

Seat quoted me £500 for the job so sod that.

 

[andycupra]

im not aware that there was ever a recall, - seat did send out a note to dealers on how to fix the problem, but im pretty sure it was never a recall.

Mind you, the fix the dealers were doing was a bit of a bodge.

Im not sure which radiator you refer to that could leak into the passenger footwell as the radiator is at the front of the engine bay. DId you mean heater matrix?

But anyway, it is most likely the door seal, but regards the dealer you could call one and ask, the worst they can say is no its not a recall, i suspect they will give you a price for the work.

If you are handy id do it yourself, first time may take a liitle while, but it sounds like more than one door may be leaking..

bit of an open offer of help here, if anyone is in or around hertfordshire and wants a hand then i may be able to help.

 

[FortCupraR225]

Just heading out now to buy some screenwash so will give it a go

Hey does your rear washer jet work properly? Read earlier that can be a cause of leaking in the boot!

 

[FortCupraR225]

Ok so here goes, bought my Lcr225 about a month or so ago during the really cold weather, a few weeks into owning it i did notice the condensation in the car but assumed it was snow off ma trainers getting the carpet a bit wet!

But now the heavens opened and it hasn't stopped raining up here in sunny Scotland for 3/4 days now, yesterday i noticed a hell of a lot of water in the rear passenger foot-well and the front passenger foot-well was also wet...not nearly as wet as the back but damp all the same, i was reading through some of the earlier posts and was ready to pull the back door card off and check out the pollen filter the next dry day we get, then thought its possible for the leak to be coming from the drivers door and leaking into the back but also getting the drivers side a little wet in the process!

Also is it better to use silicone or the sealant stuff you get from Seat?

I have a small window of time to get this sorted as we all know its never dry for long in the Highlands of Scotland, and the more it rains the more water is getting into my car, i want to get this sorted a.s.a.p!

 

[Rauer]

Best to use the stuff from seat ,silicone will break down

 

[dholdi]

Also is it better to use silicone or the sealant stuff you get from Seat?

It would be better to use the butyl strip as recommended a bit further back in this thread.

 

[FortCupraR225]

Yeah was reading some people saying that the Buytl is what is originally on the car and will just break down again, is that right?
I've used silicone for leaks on my older cars before and it takes alot to get it right first time, i want to get it right first time, don't think i've ever had a car that doesn't leak!

 

[LEE69]

No what is on the car is like a spongy foam afair...crap!!

Get the buytl from ebay far cheaper.

 

[DubSteve68]

Yeah was reading some people saying that the Buytl is what is originally on the car and will just break down again, is that right?
I've used silicone for leaks on my older cars before and it takes alot to get it right first time, i want to get it right first time, don't think i've ever had a car that doesn't leak!

Check the links to the wee guide I did at the bottom of this and most, if not all of your questions will be answered. Don't use silicone if you want to do a proper job first time, it's not worth the pain later.

Foam seals were originally used and it's these that perish and fail. VAG started using butyl when they realised how crap foam was after loads of cars started springing leaks. The butyl sealing strips mentioned here are like blu-tak and never set, always remaining flexible and watertight.

DubSteve

 

[FortCupraR225]

No what is on the car is like a spongy foam afair...crap!!

Get the buytl from ebay far cheaper.

Check the links to the wee guide I did at the bottom of this and most, if not all of your quetions will be answered. Don't use silicone if you want to do a proper job first time, it's not worth the pain later.

Foam seals were originally used and it's these that perish and fail. VAG started using butyl when they realised how crap foam was after loads of cars started springing leaks. The butyl sealing strips mentioned here are like blu-tak and never set, always remaining flexible and watertight

Cheers guys will have a look on ebay just now, and will almost certainly refer to your leaky doors guide!

 

[irishmanr26]

Hey does your rear washer jet work properly? Read earlier that can be a cause of leaking in the boot!

Yip, its working fine i think. It sprays about half way up the back window. Is that normal?

 

[Nick-21]

Well as i said after the deep freeze we had it seemed to kill my passenger side door seals so obviously i need to get them fixed but i have also bought these: http://www.tooltime.co.uk/shoppingcart/products/Twin-Pack-Rechargeable-Reusable-Dehumidifier.html

to try and combat the moisture in the car. I dont get a problem with the windows misting up really but hopefully these will help draw the water out from the sodden underlay. Will let you know if they help or not.

 

[FortCupraR225]

Well as i said after the deep freeze we had it seemed to kill my passenger side door seals so obviously i need to get them fixed but i have also bought these

to try and combat the moisture in the car. I dont get a problem with the windows misting up really but hopefully these will help draw the water out from the sodden underlay. Will let you know if they help or not.

Thats a great idea, i'll get on that right now!

I thought myself it was the big freeze that done in the seals, was close to -20 up here at some points!

Let me know how you get on with your carpets though because mine are ringing, thats after sucking out a few litres of water with a handheld vax!

 

[DubSteve68]

Thats a great idea, i'll get on that right now!

I thought myself it was the big freeze that done in the seals, was close to -20 up here at some points!

Let me know how you get on with your carpets though because mine are ringing, thats after sucking out a few litres of water with a handheld vax!

Here's a tip that's helped me, park on a slope if you get the chance, nose uphill. Any water will drain to the back which makes it easier to deal with. You won't have the driver's heel pad getting in the way and you can get more water out if it's concentrated in one place. Most of the water will have drained to the back in an hour or so so you can then tackle it with towels or your trusty Vax. Another thing to do if you get the chance (and you live in a fairly safe area), leave your windows open by 5-10mm each as often as possible if you don't have a dehumidifier. It will help with the drying process and your windows should remain clear most of the time.

DubSteve