Leak in footwell, soggy carpet - help!

DD265

We bought my car in April, it's a 1997 Fiesta Ghia. I bought it from my auntie but it was owned by my granddad before her.

I knew when I bought it that there was a leak into the driver side footwell, but that it had been checked out by a few mechanics (inc my cousin who is really good) and that they never found anything so a hole had been put in to allow it to drain out.

I'm not sure whether it rains more in Yorkshire than it does in London or what, but today it must've been sat in the sun whilst I was at work because when I came out there was condensation all over the inside of the windows - not like misting up, but proper big droplets of water. I also noticed that there is mould growing under the car mat which is seriously gross, and the carpet is very soggy.

It is going into the garage sometime before Christmas so I think I'll ask them to look for the leak, as soggy carpet is one thing, but that much condensation is another.

1. How can I dry it out? Provided I'm not out and about, my car is up the drive with Dad's blocking it in so I'd probably be OK to leave a window open a bit.

2. I'd like to shampoo the carpet to get rid of the mould. Any product suggestions?

3. Any ideas on where the leak might come from? I've just googled and it looks like a relatively common problem but I don't understand most of the terminology. If it helps, the air vents are constantly kicking out hot air but I haven't yet been able to afford to put it into a garage to get that looked at.

ali-t

My old jazz had this problem and the seals on the window were leaking which caused it. the garage fixed it as the warranty was extended to cover it.

Gloomendoom

Has it got a sliding sunroof?

Wig

It's sometimes the door seals especially if you park on a steep hill.


What I do is remove the seats, remove the carpet, refit the seats and drive without carpets. This allows you dry up any water easily with a cloth. You could if you wanted to , do what I suggest and then put some rugs/carpet cut to size back in, which are just placed inside the footwells so they can be easily removed and dried when needed.

Huomenna

Sounds odd but try a bowl of salt - helps to soak up the moisture. My car has a leak in the drivers footwell and salt helps to draw the water out. Leave the bowl in the car and the salt will go hard where it's sucked up the water.

emmell

You may need a valeter who can extract the water out of the carpet and clean and deodorise them. But you need to find the source of the leak aswell. Leaving the windows open slightly may help with the condensation but if it's very cold it may freeze the inside glass.
The first thing to do is remove the mats as they will stop the air getting to the carpet
ML.

sassy_one

Wig wrote: »

It's sometimes the door seals especially if you park on a steep hill.


What I do is remove the seats, remove the carpet, refit the seats and drive without carpets. This allows you dry up any water easily with a cloth. You could if you wanted to , do what I suggest and then put some rugs/carpet cut to size back in, which are just placed inside the footwells so they can be easily removed and dried when needed.

That made me LAUGH OUT LOUD :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

:T

davemorton

Check the drainage in the middle of the bonnet is not clogged up with old leaves too.

sassy_one

Look at your door sills, I had this problem!

darich

I've had similar problems.
Turns out it was the membrane inside the door. It's like polystyrene - BMW call it sound insulation - and it's shaped to fit the nooks and crannies of the door. The butyl tape which secures it, perishes through time and loses its watertightness so the water leaks into the car.
I was on the forums and it seems to be quite a common fault on certain BMW cars - definitely one on mine.
Got the membrane replaced using new butyl tape and it was watertight from then on.

Many years ago I had a 1975 VW Beetle - It would be soaking inside after rainfall but the door to window seals were a bit perished so no degrees for figuring out how the water got in - anyway I usde to go to the local garage and use their vacuum cleaner to remove most of the water from my carpet. Worked a treat but probably didn't do the vacuum any good!!

mikey72

Huomenna wrote: »

Sounds odd but try a bowl of salt - helps to soak up the moisture. My car has a leak in the drivers footwell and salt helps to draw the water out. Leave the bowl in the car and the salt will go hard where it's sucked up the water.

But not good if you knock it over.