rickydiver

Whilst cleaning out the inside of the car yesterday I noticed that the passenger front carpet mat was damp. I had left a bottle of water on the carpet a few days ago so presumed it must have leaked so dried the mat last night at work. Checked the carpet this morning and it is pretty wet!!
On inspection there appears to be a fan under the passenger side dashboard and there is a small amount of water dripping/trickling onto or from the fan. As it may be coming from above or from the fan does anyone have any ideas where the **** the leak could be coming from??
Has anyone experienced this before?
Thanxs in advance for any help
Ricky.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like the heater matrix has rusted through to me. How old's the car?

rickydiver

Sorry should have said the car is a 1999 uk turbo. Hope it aint the heater matrix, is that not a nightmare (and costly)replacement?

rickydiver

bttt someone must know!

scoobimax

Could possibly be the windscreen seal. Had this go on my wifes Wagon Sport.

greasemonkey

Of the possible options, a leaky windscreen is probably the likeliest. Has this ever been replaced?

Assuming your car has always had proper coolant in it, it's unlikely to be the heater matrix going on a car of this age. Either way though, you need to get under the dash with a torch and see if you can follow the leak up to its source.

rickydiver

Thanx guys, I have just spoken to the dealer who services the car for me and they have informed me if it is the matrix I am looking at a full dashboard out and around £600 for the pleasure! Hope its the window seal.

greasemonkey

It's a bit of a sod if it's a leaky windscreen as well TBH, although it's more annoying than expensive...

[Edited by greasemonkey - 1/20/2004 4:00:03 PM]

rickydiver

bttt for any more comments

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

might be an idea to get the car on a dry day, and shower water around the windscreen while checking under the dash for leaks.. maybe point you in the right direction.. if it is, RAC windscreens will re-fit your screen for about 40quid..

can`t think of many ways to check the matrix.. but if it has plenty of anti-freeze/coolant then a residue should show up where the leak has been..

hope you get it sorted..

greasemonkey

Yip. If your coolant is bright green or shocking pink, but the drips coming off the fan are clear, you can be pretty confident it's a leaky windscreen.

rickydiver

well I have tested the water on the carpet and it is clear, as my coolant is bright green I hope I can safely rule out matrix. As I have had the car for 8months and not replaced the front window in that time is it really likely to be the screen? (not sure if the window has been changed before or not) Have dried the car out completely and will try soaking the windscreen to see if I get any water ingress.
Thanks for the comments, will let you know what I find tommorrow.


Well had a quiet nightshift and found that the water is coming in via the bottom nearside corner of the windscreen. The plastic trim was not fitted correctly and some of the plastic pins were missing (which would indicate windscreen replaced at sometime). I replaced the trim correctly and poured water back on the screen and hey presto no leak !!!! Have I cured the problem or should I get the screen looked at??

[Edited by rickydiver - 1/21/2004 4:37:54 AM]

greasemonkey

Unfortunately it's unlikely that you've cured it completely. Even without the trim fitted correctly, the screen should be sealed all the way round by the bonding rubber. If water could get in before, there's obviously a gap somewhere, and that gap will still be present underneath the trim panel. You'll probably find that air pressure still forces water in if you drive at speed in the rain.

It's unlikely that this leak has developed on an original screen, so overwhelming likelihood is that the screen has been replaced and the new one shoddily fitted in the past. As well as the potential for leaks, this reduces the stiffness of the bodyshell, as the bonded front and rear screens are an integral part of the monocoque on modern cars.

If I were in your shoes I'd take it to a local reputable windscreen place and get them to take a look. If the rest of the job looks okay they may be able to seal the offending part by shooting some bonding agent into the gap, but OTOH if they suggest a removal/refit, it's probably worth doing, for the strength and handling of the car as much as anything else.

WRX-Mark

people don't realise how much a structural part of the the car the windscreen is....make sure its refitted properly.

rickydiver

Thanks greasemonkey your help has been brilliant, I will ask in the Scottish forum who they would recommend to have a look at the screen and do as the screen company tell me to rectify leak. What does OTOH mean though??
Cheers Ricky.

scoobimax

On The Other Hand?