[carboncow]

OK kids...trying to get rid of the wet front carpets in my 2008 T2. A few observations for those who don't want to answer my question...

1. When the AC is running the condensation is pouring out of the proper drain...so we know it's not clogged. I will be getting to the pollen filter regardless soon to make sure it's fully draining properly.

2. I've checked both drains for the plenum and they were operating fine (but yes very dirty).

I blew air try the drivers (port) side and could hear air exiting the bottom but not so on the passenger (starboard) side. So I now have several gauges of wire and tubing down the inlet and they seem to stop about 2.4ft down the channel and can go no further. I'd like to now tackle this from the bottom but I cannot figure out where the drains exist...

Can someone supply a photo or a damn good explanation of where to be looking?

Thx!

 

[carboncow]

While the sunroof drains need to be checked, it is not the usual problem area for leaks.

Thanks. They are short so my 2.5ft of pipe bottoming out is explained. I did a water test and they drain just fine.

So here is my issue. Both plenums drained fine and the drivers side has already had the rubber part removed, the condensor for AC is draining just fine and both sunroof drains are working fine...

How am I getting water up front?

I pulled up the carpet on the pass. side and it's VERY wet. I had to tear out the foam at the foot well and I watched the drain for the evap for 30 minutes while the AC dumped fresh water directly onto the ground...no leaks at that drain or fittings. Drivers side was wet but not nearly as much as passenger. Backs are dry as is the rear and under tire.

Is this just a freak because I parked the car up hill during a monsoon weekend?

Do I have a leaking windshield?

How do the plenums even leak into the interior if they fill to the top (or close)...what is the ingress point?

Foam under carpet is not moldy or smelly...if this was happening for a long time I would expect to see/smell either. The wiring loom was soaked (pass side) and if it's been getting wet for some time I would expect more issues, no?

I also read the ECUs sit under the pass seat in a low spot (great design engineers...go back to school). Should I pull that seat (and how) to see if they are laying in a pool of water? I cannot tell trying to peek.

I know that's a lot but I'm pretty frustrated with no smoking gun. About to leave the carpet/foam out and drive thru a car wash and look for ingress!

 

[carboncow]

Have you pulled the A pillar covers to see if the water is coming in from the top. Also check the body plugs under the rocker panel, if they are missing or busted water can come up through the bottom.

To be clear these are the blues in the door as Nooby has talked about on many occasions? As rockers to me mean the exterior below the foot sills.

Also, I can pull the A pillars tonight but what is the ingress point if any? Drain tube? Would I need see water marks and a wet A pillar? We are talking many liters of water here!

 

[carboncow]

Is your car windshield heated?

I believe the answer is no.

 

[carboncow]

Pulling the trim is to try and locate the path of the water if it's the windshield or sunroof or sunroof frame. The rocker panels if are full of water will make its way to the carpet under the floor mats.

Thanks...but very disheartening to hear so many possible common entry points for water in a vehicle that is supposedly water proof up to the window line!

Will report back findings...

 

[carboncow]

For those who say that the sunroof drain is rarely the cause, I beg to differ. .

I think your point is very valid...as you may know there was a class action against Vw for many models and well over a decade worth of design issues for leaks. I think the boys are saying that the plenum leaks are the bigger concern here and the sunroof drains which are an issue are usually the lesser of two evils of what is turning out to be 101 leak locations. I'm already shopping for a used non-Vw as I type...

My neighbor said maybe I was hitting a connector of a two part drain hose when snaking it with a wire...so I better watch out how much I push. If it's in fact a two part (or any vehicle) what a terrible design. Having a lip in there is guaranteed to catch debris for a small tube.

Now I already talked to my insurance guy (buddy) and he said he'd have no trouble making a claim for me if a couple $1K modules go bad on me as I'm documenting with photos the extent and amount of water I'm finding. So for those who find this thread...keep that option in mind. You may be out only a deductible if your insurance is quality like mine. My car is running with no current codes since fixing the corroded can bus wire but who knows if those modules got soaked in the low point under the seat...and at the moment I don't have the energy to pull the seat.

Today's plan is to pull the A pillar covers, leave the passenger side carpet rolled up and hit the local car wash (I'm terribly overdue) and sit back and observe!

Once I get this ticking time bomb dried out...it's off to the auction! Before anyone rants on me that all cars have similar or different issue, they don't. I have been around the block with everything European and a few domestic and although many makes and models have systemic issues nothing is more terrible then Vw customer service, electronics (especially) and reliability. Plus parts for Vw shouldn't be so expensive...they are the freak'n GM of Europe. The culture and styling are great and so are most forums. I just like different vehicles and I thought a T2 fit the bill. This was a one owner vehicle and only maintained at the dealer...even oil changes. I have all the records. You win some, you lose some...but used Vw are always a bigger risk IMHO. I know these cost more to maintain...but I didn't expect the frequency to be so high.

 

[carboncow]

Yes the grommets I refer to are in the bottom of the panel that runs along between the wheel arches below the doors themselves.

Those are the door sills for me, rocker panels for others!

So water leaks in the doors too...and then also the frame (sills) below it too get filled?

 

[carboncow]

Well kids I pulled the A pillar covers and took the T2 through an automated and very high end car wash as well as a manual high pressure car wash. Not a drop of water from the windshield area that I can see.

Additionally, I pulled the rocker panel plugs...not one drop came out.

So basically everything I've researched as come back negative with water tests. Drying her out and crossing my fingers until I can get it traded in!

 

[carboncow]

I chased wet carpets for a couple of months on my wife's 04 last summer. Pulled pillars, dropped headliner enough to see the nipples/adapters to the drain hose and tested front and rear sunroof drains. NADA. I had fixed the stupid adapter piece from the drain nipple to the hose with RTV and small hose clamps on my Audi, so I was used to the drill.
Finally went to local dealer, with a great relentless tech. He found the bad seals at the top of the rear hatch opening near the hinges. There are plastic plates with awful foam seals that rot. The water worked its way down to the front carpets. Cost me $300. It was worth every penny.

Thanks for the info. $300 seems reasonable and a crap shoot unless you got that "relentless tech" working for you.

So you back carpet was clearly wet to then, no? I'm not sure how I can see back drains making to the front w/o everything in between getting wet. I only ask because I triple check that the back hatch, under the tire as well as the back foot wells were dry as I had read another thread saying back drains can clog too.

 

[carboncow]

This may be a dumb question but how do these drains get clogged?

How much debris is in draining water that can cause a blockage?

Great question that I cannot answer but looking at these posts it seems pretty cronic for Vw's compared to other makes/models so I must guess their use of connectors and angles as well as drain tube diameter are to blame.

Usually these happen with cars that spend their life outside and especially around trees. In the case of my T2 it's been a garage queen so if it's in fact due to dirt...bad design must be to blame.

 

[carboncow]

Yeah my wonder when I read these threads are...does this car see a lot of trail time? Is it garaged? Parked under trees? Etc.

I don't want to tempt fate but having many Audi/VW cars over the years (almost all parked in the elements their entire lives) I've never had this problem but have always seen threads like this for all the different models I have owned.

Just makes me wonder why I haven't had the issue others seem to have.

Do some googling and you'll see there was a class action lawsuit against VW over a half dozen models over 10+ years. Obviously a systemic problem in their engineering. Some will come on here and eventually say it happens to call cars...but out of the 20 makes/models I've owned over the last 15 years I haven't seen so much discussion as water in cars as Vw get!