Water in Footwell

[Deon]

Hi everyone

I am a new member, with an 03 plate Galaxy 1.9 TDI Ghia.

I used to be a mechanic, but my water ingress issue is getting the better of me.

I have have had a wet carpet mostly on the drivers side for a few weeks now, and have cleaned the scuttles, removed the liners on both wheel arches and cleaned drainage holes, as well as checked the rear window washer pipe on the passenger side, but to no avail. The water is still getting in somewhere.

My model does not have a sunroof, but I did notice something odd when clealing the scuttles.
I found two plastic bags containing some foam below the pollen filter (one on each side).
The plastic bags were puntured, and the foam saturated with water.

I drained the water from the foam, wrapped them in extra plastic bags and put them back where I found them, but the carpet keeps getting wet !

The water does not smell like coolant, and I have not had reduction in the coolant level, so I am ruling out the heater matrix, does anyone have any ideas ?

The carpet is starting to smell, and I have no idea what to check next.

Please help....

[Chrispb]

Hi Deon 

I see you have done the first places to look, would suggest you remove the A pillar trim(s) to reveal the lower edge of windscreen for leakage.

Also check around edge of door trim in case leaking in from there.

[Mirez]

Hi Deon and welcome to the forum

Sounds like you've covered most of the things we would recommend but the plastic bags intrigue me as they shouldn't be there! Is the foam white/ light yellow? Its possible they have been put there by someone else trying to cure your fault I guess but there shouldn't be anything in this area at all as water needs to flow freely out of the scuttle exits. (There are some white/yellow foam bags in the bottom of the A pillar region but they are for noise suppression)

A couple of things you could check, on the drivers side of the scuttle (Behind the felt insulation) is a large foam bung (It's where the pollen filter would be on a LHD vehicle). If the scuttles are backing up with water its possible it could be running down into the footwells from here. Another area you could look at is the door membrane, you'll have to pop the door card off the drivers door and you'll then see the membrane - they can become unstuck at the bottom allowing water in the door to enter the cabin.

Finally, it may be worth covering the foot well in newspaper - you should be able to get an idea for roughly where the water is entering the cabin then.

[Chrispb]

The plastic bags with foam in I had in mine, I dislodged them when blowing out the the dead leaves, I do believe the bag has a part number on it IIRC, needless to say they are not there now

[gregers]

 
i too had these on my mk2,as i thought they were there for a reason i left them there,lucky for me i never had any bother with them.

[Mirez]

Well you learn something every day! Neither of mine have had them, will have to rummage more in the scrappy! Anyone got a pic?

[Chrispb]

My first thought was drugs had been hidden in there lol.
Have since found similar on the mk3 in the pockets by rear light clusters.

[SPIKEY]

Im also having the same problem as you, cleared the scuttled and the drains yet still have eater getting into the drivers footwell.
I'm presuming its probably the windscreen as I noticed it once the weather got bad, guess ill have to get it checked out.
As for the little bags of foam I also had these and thought the same as Chris that they were drugs
Will check the A pillars and door if I find anything that may help ill post it back here

James

[Deon]

Hi guys

Thank you all for your advice.

I will check all that you have recomended and report back.

As for the little plastic bags containing the grey foam, I spoke to a technician at my local ford dealership, and he recons they are only there for noise suppression.

Thank you all once again.

Deon

[dg2642]

My Mk 1 galaxy had this problem a few years ago and after much searching I discovered there was a TSB for this fault which hadn't been carried out by my local garage. I went there armed with the info and lo and behold never had a problem again.  I can recall 3 main parts to this TSB but sorry I don't have the actual number it was something like 12/95...they had to remove and replace the pollen filter and its housing and there is now a different housing fitted. They also had to fit those 2 curious plastic bags with foam triangles!? I was told they were part of ensuring any rain water ingress was deflected to the proper drain gullets. And they had to fit a new resistor to the heater to ensure proper demisting.  I know you have a MK 2 but if you could get hold of that TSB or even check that there isnt a further TSB for your vehicle it might just give you a bit more of an idea or clue as to what to do. Hope that helps.