Finally found my 205 water leak!
Discussion
Ok, it's many weeks after first posting about a leak in my car but i finally stripped it to the bare bones last week, today after a quick trip in the rain i have found where its coming from. It's actually from the front and must have just pooled in the rear footwells. Behind the padding on the firewall behind the pedals, on the inside of the car there is some rust on both the drivers and passengers side of the car.
Can i just remove the rust and fill it?
I'll try and put a pic up tommorow if that helps.
Can i just remove the rust and fill it?
I'll try and put a pic up tommorow if that helps.
I doubt that’s where your leak is coming from. I can’t imagine the water getting all the way to the rear footwells unless the whole carpet is permanently saturated.
Also, how is the water getting into the engine bay, dripping down the bulkhead and into the cabin?? Maybe when you are driving and you get spray thrown up but not to the extent that water would pool in the cabin (not unless you don’t have a bonnet or have a hell of a lot more rot in the shell).
However, does your heater work? It could well be that the heater matrix is leaking and has been for sometime if the car has developed rust in that area. Pics will help.
Do you notice that its wet inside after it’s been raining and the car has just sat without being driven? 99% of 205 leaks come from 2 places. Firstly the rear windows because rubber seals shrink over time and water drips down behind the trim and pools in the rear footwells. You can try and replace them but they are stupidly expensive new and of course second-hand ones will be just as old and as likely to have shrunk. Best to run some sealant all round the rubber and that should cure it. The second place is the rear hatch. Again the rubber seal can shrink/perish. But the most likely cause will be water getting in behind the external plastic trim and also the lock. Again, sealant is your friend.
Also, how is the water getting into the engine bay, dripping down the bulkhead and into the cabin?? Maybe when you are driving and you get spray thrown up but not to the extent that water would pool in the cabin (not unless you don’t have a bonnet or have a hell of a lot more rot in the shell).
However, does your heater work? It could well be that the heater matrix is leaking and has been for sometime if the car has developed rust in that area. Pics will help.
Do you notice that its wet inside after it’s been raining and the car has just sat without being driven? 99% of 205 leaks come from 2 places. Firstly the rear windows because rubber seals shrink over time and water drips down behind the trim and pools in the rear footwells. You can try and replace them but they are stupidly expensive new and of course second-hand ones will be just as old and as likely to have shrunk. Best to run some sealant all round the rubber and that should cure it. The second place is the rear hatch. Again the rubber seal can shrink/perish. But the most likely cause will be water getting in behind the external plastic trim and also the lock. Again, sealant is your friend.
Hey, well the underlay was completely rotten. There was water in both the front and the back footwells when i had carpets in and since ive removed the carpets i've only had water in the front footwell. I did see water coming from the rust holes in the firewall but i was driving at the time, so like you said it could be the spray.
The heater fan hasnt worked for a long time so maybe if it is the heater matrix then they could be related problems?. I will try and get a picture up this evening.
Cheers for your help so far.
The heater fan hasnt worked for a long time so maybe if it is the heater matrix then they could be related problems?. I will try and get a picture up this evening.
Cheers for your help so far.
If you suspect heater matrix then take out the radio. At the back and avove the radio is the joint in the heater where it will leak out if you have a mtrix leak.
Check the rear quater windows seals. On both of my GTis I've checked and found the seals to be smaller than the opening (I have no idea why). On one of them I moved the seal around and fixed the leak, the other is currently flooded...
Check the rear quater windows seals. On both of my GTis I've checked and found the seals to be smaller than the opening (I have no idea why). On one of them I moved the seal around and fixed the leak, the other is currently flooded...
Rob_the_Sparky said:
Check the rear quater windows seals. On both of my GTis I've checked and found the seals to be smaller than the opening (I have no idea why). On one of them I moved the seal around and fixed the leak, the other is currently flooded...
As I say, the rubber shrinks, that's why they no longer fit properly and leak.
Quick update, there was water in both the front footwells again even though it hadnt rained. Nothing in the rear really. Now the centre console has been removed i could see streak lines sorcing from where you guys said the heater matrix would be. This seems to be the main source of water although it is coming in from the rust parts i mentioned as well i think.
The heater matrix, is it a swine to replace? I wont be able to afford one for a while so it wont be changed till may'ish. Definately cannot afford to replace the fan!.
Cheers, Tim.
The heater matrix, is it a swine to replace? I wont be able to afford one for a while so it wont be changed till may'ish. Definately cannot afford to replace the fan!.
Cheers, Tim.
The matrix is a piece of P*ss to replace once you have thrown the Haynes manual in the bin!
Drain teh system, take off covers under dash on driver's side
Undo bolt that clamps the pipes ot the matrix to the heater
Undo bolts holding pipes to matrix and move them out of the way
Undo screws holding matrix in and slide out.
Follow procedure in reverse.
I fitted new seals to the end of the pipes (an O ring) just in case.
Rob
P.S. Get one second hand matrix on 205GtiDrivers for a few quid and you can easily afford it...
P.P.S. Fan is even easier to replace and also not expensive second hand
Drain teh system, take off covers under dash on driver's side
Undo bolt that clamps the pipes ot the matrix to the heater
Undo bolts holding pipes to matrix and move them out of the way
Undo screws holding matrix in and slide out.
Follow procedure in reverse.
I fitted new seals to the end of the pipes (an O ring) just in case.
Rob
P.S. Get one second hand matrix on 205GtiDrivers for a few quid and you can easily afford it...
P.P.S. Fan is even easier to replace and also not expensive second hand
Edited by Rob_the_Sparky on Friday 2nd March 09:43
Gassing Station | French Bred | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff