Finally found my 205 water leak!

Finally found my 205 water leak!

Author
Discussion

TimmerTVR

Original Poster:

387 posts

222 months

Tuesday 27th February 2007
quotequote all
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.

TECHNOPUG

59 posts

213 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
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.

TimmerTVR

Original Poster:

387 posts

222 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
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.

simes205

4,651 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
The rear passenger footwells are te lowest part of the car.
I've had leaks from the matrix and rear windows and the water always collected there.

Rob_the_Sparky

1,000 posts

245 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
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...

TECHNOPUG

59 posts

213 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
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.

simes205

4,651 posts

235 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
I bought new ones.

TECHNOPUG

59 posts

213 months

Thursday 1st March 2007
quotequote all
“…if I was a rich man…..”

Rob_the_Sparky

1,000 posts

245 months

Thursday 1st March 2007
quotequote all
simes205 said:
I bought new ones.


Where from + how much?

simes205

4,651 posts

235 months

Thursday 1st March 2007
quotequote all
Rob_the_Sparky said:
simes205 said:
I bought new ones.


Where from + how much?


Andrew knows the answer!

Rob, I bought them in France about 3 years ago. €55 euros I think....each.

TimmerTVR

Original Poster:

387 posts

222 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
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.

Rob_the_Sparky

1,000 posts

245 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
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


Edited by Rob_the_Sparky on Friday 2nd March 09:43

simes205

4,651 posts

235 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
Heater matrix is about £35.
If you have a radio, remove it before it turns orange with rust. When my matrix went it pretty much destroyed the radio.

TECHNOPUG

59 posts

213 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
Where are you Timmer? I'll be back at my "workshop" at the weekend and can remove a matrix from my spare GTi then.

TimmerTVR

Original Poster:

387 posts

222 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
Im afraid im all the way in Swansea at the moment, not back in Reading for a few weeks yet.

Cheers anywho and for all your help guys.


Rob_the_Sparky

1,000 posts

245 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
TimmerTVR said:
Im afraid im all the way in Swansea at the moment, not back in Reading for a few weeks yet.

Cheers anywho and for all your help guys.




Forgot you are in Reading, in that case you can have the spare o-rings I have if you need them.

TimmerTVR

Original Poster:

387 posts

222 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
Thats cool man- It's totally up to you, i can get the parts when i get some money at the end of april. Like i said i'm not going to be back in reading till April the 1st ish anyway.