Yes its YET another problem

mcgregor · Post by **mcgregor** » 31 Oct 2005, 12:00

This has not been a good last few weeks for my Xantia. This morning we found the passenger footwell storing quite a large quantity of water. It may well have been coming in for a while but today is the first time I have had a passenger for a while. Its definately fresh water and presumably the downpours of the last few days have found a way in. Has anyone else suffered such a leak and any idea where its coming from? Fist impression is windscreen area as the under dash sound proofing is wet. After nearly 5 years of reasonably trouble free Xantia ownership she is severely testing my bottle just recently with a string of problems.
Any ideas as to where the water is comming in would be welcomed.
Thanks
DAve

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 31 Oct 2005, 12:34

Under dash sound proofing, do you mean the felt cover above the passenger footwell ?
If it's wet there, then the water may go in through the air inlet under the bonnet behind the LHM tank.
Once I squirted water in there when washing the engine compartment, and water went through the cabin air filter and down onto the carpet.
There is meant to be a rubber seal going half way around the edge of the air intake to keep water or engine fume out.

If you mean the padding under the plastic dash top, then the windscreen may need resealing in places with some sort of goo.

mcgregor · Post by **mcgregor** » 31 Oct 2005, 12:40

The bit that you remove to change the pollen filter. It was wet as well as the footwell.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 31 Oct 2005, 12:53

The water then may come in through the filter housing.
Next would be to remove the filter to see if it's wet inside there.
If it's been wet for a while, some of the filter cover screws may be slightly corroded, indicating that they were in the wet from above.

mcgregor · Post by **mcgregor** » 31 Oct 2005, 12:59

Cheers. But where's it coming from? The seal you mention is still in place. I had my windscreen replaced just over a year ago and its been fine till recently. I wonder if its going under the plastic finishing trim at the bottom of the screen and then into the heater air intake. Mmmm??

Post by **RichardW** » 31 Oct 2005, 13:05

Yes, I'd chack that the scuttle panel has not come unbonded from the windscreen. If it does, the water runs down the back of it and straight through the heater fan. It can also come in through the heater if the scuttle drain is blocked with leaves etc, causing the water to build up and overflow the blower inlet.

The good thing is it's unilkely to be the heater matrix, as that much water would be causing steam out of the vents / strong smells / possible overheating by now given the loss of water

mcgregor · Post by **mcgregor** » 31 Oct 2005, 13:14

Thanks lads. Another busy evening for me I guess.
Cheers
Dave

mcgregor · Post by **mcgregor** » 01 Nov 2005, 07:30

At least this one was fairly easy to solve. I played a hose on the screen last night and sure enough the water was going under the scuttle trim into the heater air inlet. Removing and resealing the trim with silicone has cured it. Thanks for the advice lads.
Dave