Water nuisance!
QHave you any suggestions as to how to solve a water leak into the driver’s footwell of my Volkswagen Fox? I’ve removed the wiper arms and the plastic cover beneath them, and I’ve checked the drains are clear.
David Atkins, Ludlow
Ed says
AWater leaks always require some perseverance, but it’s worth the effort. Not only is the condensation on the windows inconvenient, but the interior goes mouldy, the sound insulation starts to compost itself and panels can start to rot.
You’ve made a sensible start by checking the scuttle drains. The next most likely culprit is the plastic weathersheet that should cover the inside of the door frame. Remove the door card and check the sheet is still there – it’s often inexplicably thrown away during repairs. If not, cut another from polythene sheet. This should be completely sealed to the frame round all the apertures. Use either contact adhesive or panel sealant to attach it.
Don’t use silicone, which loses its grip on the plastic after a while.
If this is all in order the windscreen seal may be leaking. On an oldfashioned rubber seal, this is best tackled by placing a discreet smear of clear sealant around the outside of the seal where it touches the glass and the body. It’s more effective than stuffing sealant under the seal, and you can keep an eye on its condition, easily replacing it as necessary. Bonded windscreens are problematic: rust or poor replacement technique may lead to gaps opening up. Again, the best solution is a thin bead of sealant to cover the decorative rubber trim around the glass, both on the glass screen and on the
bodywork side.
Finally, you’re left with a leaking spot-welded seam somewhere. In this case, the only thing you can do is to remove as much sound insulation as possible where you think the leak is, and then try to find its source on a wet day. When you’ve found it, wait until a dry spell and seal the offending gap with polyurethane panel sealant. If you can access the other side of the seam, seal that as well. Clean up any rust that might be present, too.