Water under passenger side floor

Gurbz · Feb 13, 2020

Hi joined the forum in hopes to find a solution to my recently discovered problem.

I will try to keep this condensed as possible.

I have a 2008 coupe, its not really driven too much as I car pool to work.

I drive it probably a couple of times a week, but for the past 3-4ish weeks I haven't driven it much.
Awhile ago I noticed a lot of condensation on the windows, especially the windshield, found out the seal was bad, a few months ago had it replaced.

I was still noticing condensation on the windows but not as much, but it slowly seemed to be getting worse. A few days ago after work I noticed quite a bit of condensation so I decided to soak up all the water in case the temperature dipped to the freezing mark. While I was cleaning I needed to adjust the passenger side seat but it didn't work, I finished cleaning the windows and decided to check the seat the next day.

Next day looked up possible causes for the power seat not working etc, while checking the plugs and wiring and stuff I lifted up the cover to all the connectors under then seat and notice drops of water all over, I was like huh? I kept poking around and lifted the carpet up a bit so I could try and see anything, I was shocked to see that cavity filled with water! I'm guessing that the cause of why the seat wasn't working.

It seems to be only the passenger side, I took it for a drive yesterday and could hear the water sloshing around under the floor...I hit a small bump on the road and water flew out into the foot well. I tried to park on a hill facing up in hopes the water would drain out, but instead water started pool in the rear passenger foot well!

I live in British Columbia, Canada. In the previous few weeks it had snowed and rained quite a bit and during that time the car had been mostly been parked.

What are any possible causes of the ingress of water and how is the best way to drain it? If there are any other details needed please let me know.

Main priority right now is to drain the water.

I have searched the forum and read through this thread https://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1144209&p=6421297&hilit=drains#p6421297

searched through the MK2 TT Knowledge Base and anything to do with drainage and water, no luck

FNChaos · Feb 13, 2020

Double-check the drains under the windshield cowl. You'll probably need to remove your wiper arms to get good access (and will likely need a wiper-arm puller to get them off).

If water collects there, it will run down through your interior vent, down through your blower motor (behind your glovebox) and ultimately down to the floorboards soaking the passenger carpet.

Gurbz · Feb 14, 2020

Okay thanks, I will look into that. But what about draining the water sitting under the carpet and insulation? Are there any drainage holes under the car I can look for that might be clogged or something?

Tditt · Feb 14, 2020

Have a check that it's not coming from the bottom of the door card. The speaker seal can perish and the water drops to the wrong side of the door seal and into the footwell. I had this happen on mine and sealed the speaker to the door with silicone sealant. All is fine now, takes a while to dry out through.

Gurbz · Feb 14, 2020

Tditt said:
Have a check that it's not coming from the bottom of the door card. The speaker seal can perish and the water drops to the wrong side of the door seal and into the footwell. I had this happen on mine and sealed the speaker to the door with silicone sealant. All is fine now, takes a while to dry out through.

Okay I will have a look at that as well, thanks. I just finished sucking out almost 18.9L/5gallons of water with a shopvac from under the carpet/insulation.

MarksBlackTT · Feb 14, 2020

That is a serious amount of water ingress. I thought my previous mk2 roadster was bad when soaking it up via cardboard under the drivers side mat. A real PITA and it stinks :x

Tditt · Feb 15, 2020

I would think that it's more likely to be a blocked drain hole under the windscreen cowl as FNChaos suggested if is there's as much as that. You can carefully prize the cowl up to check without removing it and unblock them with a stiff zip tie, then flush it through with water.

TiAvant · Feb 15, 2020

agree - cowl blockage is most likely issue here.

Jasonl · Feb 16, 2020

Mine is coming in through the doors...ive changed all the clips ,cleaned all drains holes ,ive had so many different cars no wet at all this audi is the worst car by far for water getting in...

Gurbz · Feb 18, 2020

I got to the cowl drains, they actually didn't seem too bad, I cleaned as much as I could and flushed them with water with a hose. The water seemed to be draining fine. Any other areas I should check before reassembly?

Also what is that above the passenger side drain? (cover removed) Air intake?
Is it possible that water froze blocking the drain and any water trying to drain overflowed into that?

Here are some pics before cleaning them.

Driver side

Passenger side

FNChaos · Feb 18, 2020

Remove your interior air filter an check for any signs of water intrusion. If it is wet (or shows signs that it was wet) then the water is probably coming through your windshield cowl area. If it is bone dry then you need to start looking around your door seals, etc

Note: If you remove your glovebox for access, do not insert your key into the ignition with the passenger airbag disconnected unless you have the tools to clear the resulting airbag failure error.

Gurbz · Feb 19, 2020

FNChaos said:
Remove your interior air filter an check for any signs of water intrusion. If it is wet (or shows signs that it was wet) then the water is probably coming through your windshield cowl area. If it is bone dry then you need to start looking around your door seals, etc

Note: If you remove your glovebox for access, do not insert your key into the ignition with the passenger airbag disconnected unless you have the tools to clear the resulting airbag failure error.

Pulled out the cabin air filter seemed dry, but it may have dried out.

I decided to pulled up the carpet a bit, it seems to be wet more to the right side of the passenger side.

Gurbz · Mar 7, 2020

I think I have found a possible source for the leak, the speaker opening on the passenger door, I have read about other people having this issue. The seal on the speaker housing is deteriorated. I have taken the door card off and removed the speaker, sprayed water on the passenger side window and water drips through the opening.

Is possible to order a new seal (seal part #?) or is a suitable alternative? I was looking at ordering this
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07K5MM8LH/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3INZAIP0WOV8&psc=1

would that work?

Water under passenger side floor

Our Vendors

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities