My car drivers side carpet is soaking wet??

Claire28 · 27-03-2006, 13:35

The car in question is a mk4 polo. R reg.
I've recently noticed when I was hoovering the car that the drivers side ONLY is wet. Soaking.
Please tell me its not bad news!

Dicko · 27-03-2006, 14:05

Probably a small leak letting in rain. Depending on the angle your car is parked it may only run to one side of the car. Have you got a sunroof?

Cyclone · 27-03-2006, 14:13

I had one once where the heater matrix had a hole in it, leaked through the air vents and left the passenger side all wet through. Does it smell like it has antifreeze in it, or is it just rainwater?

Ginner · 27-03-2006, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claire28

...Please tell me its not bad news!

Could be....
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=75987

Topic is SEAT specific but SEATs are mainly VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group) parts.

Best of luck.

Jivester · 27-03-2006, 14:15

It could be that your heater matrix is leaking. This is a little radiator behind the centre console that has air blown over it to vent into your car. have you noticed a drop in the coolant level in your car? as it uses water from that to heat the radiator.

Mantaspook · 27-03-2006, 14:20

Also check the drivers door seal, it may have been damaged by trapping the seat belt buckle in the door, if it looks damaged or displaced you could sit in the car and get a friend to play a hosepipe on the suspect area to reveal any leaks.

This thread should have been called "Polo - the car with a hole"

Claire28 · 27-03-2006, 14:24

Sunroof fine. just checked. Heater matrix.. umm.. couldnt check that!! In any case, its not likely to be too serious is it??

AstroKath · 27-03-2006, 14:26

I have the exact same problem with a peugeot 106. Thanks for starting this thread, Claire - I've got lots of ideas to check now!

Everyone else - if you've any peugeot-specific suggestions, I'm all ears...

willman · 27-03-2006, 14:31

old cortinas used to rot under the battery which then leaked into the bulkhead.
my mg midget is permanantly soaked - soft top & old age.

Jivester · 27-03-2006, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claire28

Sunroof fine. just checked. Heater matrix.. umm.. couldnt check that!! In any case, its not likely to be too serious is it??

if you have anti-freeze in your coolant (enough to turn the water Blue/Green) then you could try to blot some up from your carpet, if it is Blue/Green on the tissue it is the matrix

Claire28 · 27-03-2006, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jivester

if you have anti-freeze in your coolant (enough to turn the water Blue/Green) then you could try to blot some up from your carpet, if it is Blue/Green on the tissue it is the matrix

Very good suggestion. I've just done that andits just wet. No colour or anything. But discovered its slightly damp everywhere, passenger side & the back. What the hell could this be???????

Skatiechik · 27-03-2006, 15:00

You are unlikely to see the colour just by blotting it on a bit of tissue. The easiest method is to taste it on your tongue (obviously don't swallow it). If it is sweet then it is antifreeze, probably from a leaking heater matrix. You could go the cheap and nasty route and shove some rad weld in and hope for the best or get it fixed properly.

Assuming it isn't antifreeze, then it is just water and it must be getting in somewhere.

Do all the obvious check first, i.e make sure all the windows were up and the sunroof was closed during all that rain last night.

You will need an extra body for the next exercise, sit someone in the car to look for leaks whilst you are using a hose or pressure washer on the car at every conceivable angle, this should tell you where the leak is coming from.

Cyclone · 27-03-2006, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claire28

Sunroof fine. just checked. Heater matrix.. umm.. couldnt check that!! In any case, its not likely to be too serious is it??

Well, it will mean you loose coolant (although it shouldn't empty your radiator), but it will also mean that your heater stops working (chilly) and that your screen fogs up (dangerous).

RoyalRegular · 27-03-2006, 15:01

Lift the bonnet and see if there's any paper or anything that may have been used to wipe the dip stick. I did this to my wifes car (a golf)....wiped the dipstick and stuffed the paper in a suitable place under the wipers......next time it rained, her carpets were wet through. I must've blocked a drainage channel or something.

Tricky · 27-03-2006, 15:05

I believe every Polo ever made has had this problem. My old B reg certainly did.

My problem was caused by my parking on a hill with a lot of camber. If the car was parked pointing downhill with the driver's door opening onto the road, the car would fill up with water when it rained..

I suggest parking the car in the opposite direction for a bit and seeing whether that makes any difference

Claire28 · 27-03-2006, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalRegular

Lift the bonnet and see if there's any paper or anything that may have been used to wipe the dip stick. I did this to my wifes car (a golf)....wiped the dipstick and stuffed the paper in a suitable place under the wipers......next time it rained, her carpets were wet through. I must've blocked a drainage channel or something.

Funny you should say that because where pollen filter is, and on drivers side, there is old manky leaves and a bit of a puddle. Should there be one at all??

crookesey · 27-03-2006, 15:11

Wifes Audi did the same, it was the drain hole between the bonnet and the bulkhead (next to windscreen). Just lift bonnet and see if its full of water, if so it's hand under and pull out drain pipe, remember to blast it out before you put it back, a bike or foot pump would do the job fine.

Claire28 · 27-03-2006, 15:22

Where are the drain pipes exactly?I'm sorry I'm so useless!

Shiesh · 27-03-2006, 15:40

I had this problem with a 205 it came in through the wheel arch/wing water drain...I pulled the carpet back and poured a jug of weak ribena down the sills and found it coming in through the side floor weld!! I dried it out and used bathroom sealant along the joins and didn't have anymore problems...

Good Luck!

saxon51 · 27-03-2006, 15:42

Between the windscreen and the engine compartment, there's a channel. It may be under a decorative plastic capping. At either end of this there are drain ports which channel water down through tubes to either the inner front wing or outer front door surrounds. Is there a puddle sitting over the one to the side that your car might be leaning? If not, try parking the car leaning the other way. If either is blocked, and standing water forms, then when driving along the water may 'slosh' into the heater vent.....and into the car.

I had this with an old Peugeot 309 once.

I poked it clear with a coathanger, then flushed it through.

You could pour water over the windscreen and look for water pouring out to the lower rear of the front wing ... just in front of the front doors.