98 Passat - Water ingress

[VW_cab]

I have a 98 passat, which has water in the drivers side passenger footwell, there does not appear to be any other damp spots.

I can't work out were this is coming from, can anyone help to throw some light on this?

[mikesmat1]

Open your passenger door and check all rubber seals are free of any dirt/mud. Also check along the A-pillar (where the door is hinged) and make sure it's all clean.
It may seem like nothing but the smallest bit of crap can divert the usual rain water channels so it ends up getting inside.

[Rattie]

Hi,

I'm not sure you meant water in the drivers side or the passengers side. If its the passengers side it is 99.9% coming through the pollen filter under the bonnet - i'll explain - the water runs down the widscreen and into the rain troughs under the bonnet , this should escape from a drain hole under the battery - unfortunatley as the hole has a funny rubber dirt trap in it is catches leafs etc and it blocks up. the water trough fills up and starts flowing through the pollen filter and then into the foot well. If this is drain holes is not unblocked soon the water in the footwell start corroding your electrics/ computer thats under the passenger carpet and you will get window and locking problems. To unblock the drain hole you can just (with a small hand feel around under the battery trough to empty it - if not i'm afraid you have to remove the battery. You may notice on newer VW passats and Audis they have now fitted a leaf guard over the battery to stop them blocking this said hole. I hope this helps - this is the first time I've answered a forum question so I would be interested to know if it has helped if you could post how you get on that would be great

All the best!




I have a 98 passat, which has water in the drivers side passenger footwell, there does not appear to be any other damp spots.

I can't work out were this is coming from, can anyone help to throw some light on this?

[monkfishdan]

Hi,

I'm not sure you meant water in the drivers side or the passengers side. If its the passengers side it is 99.9% coming through the pollen filter under the bonnet - i'll explain - the water runs down the widscreen and into the rain troughs under the bonnet , this should escape from a drain hole under the battery - unfortunatley as the hole has a funny rubber dirt trap in it is catches leafs etc and it blocks up. the water trough fills up and starts flowing through the pollen filter and then into the foot well. If this is drain holes is not unblocked soon the water in the footwell start corroding your electrics/ computer thats under the passenger carpet and you will get window and locking problems. To unblock the drain hole you can just (with a small hand feel around under the battery trough to empty it - if not i'm afraid you have to remove the battery. You may notice on newer VW passats and Audis they have now fitted a leaf guard over the battery to stop them blocking this said hole. I hope this helps - this is the first time I've answered a forum question so I would be interested to know if it has helped if you could post how you get on that would be great

All the best!

This is my first post on this site and firstly a big thank you to Rattie...nice one. I've been trying to get the battery out of my passat with no luck - massive and wedged under the scuttle - so to know theres a small gap underneath it will mean I can try something else before handing it over to the garage to spend 10 mins doing the same thing and charging me £90.

Anyone with this problem, do not sit on it - get it sorted immediately. I've had 2 instances were after a very heavy downpours (and I live on a steep hill with the car facing upwards) I've been greeted with a 2 inch deep lake in the back seat (passenger side) footwell. The electrics for all convenience controls and ecu are under the passenger seat so its a VERY expensive thing to leave. Parking on the flat seems to stop it.....now, wheres my torch???