Water dripping from scuttle panel to engine bay

Water dripping from scuttle panel to engine bay

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James Hartnall

Original Poster:

21 posts

14 months

Wednesday 3rd January
quotequote all
Hello,

I've a 2016 Tourer and occasionally when it's been raining the next time I drive I hear a little squeak from the engine bay. It's been Serviced/MOT'd etc. and all ok in November. The sound comes after rain and the garage thought it's likely some drips are getting onto the belt and as it comes under tension it slips slightly causing the squeak, but nothing to worry about. They had a good look around and all fine.

It went away almost after I took it in, but it's only just come back. I opened the engine bay today and can see it's dripping in from either side of the scuttle tray (see photos) I'm not too concerned as it's a good garage and trust what they say, but is this normal for Zafira's? It's only been this year I've noticed it. I can't really see how to make that join tighter.


Once I'm out my street (it's downhill so you don't hear it until you're on the level quickly) you don't hear it again. Even if you're out in the morning then hours later it doesn't happen. No performance issues etc, just a really annoying brief squeak sometimes.

The side scuttle drains are fine/clear.

Anyone else have this?



Edited by James Hartnall on Wednesday 3rd January 14:14

GreenV8S

30,482 posts

291 months

Wednesday 3rd January
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James Hartnall said:
it's dripping in from either side of the scuttle tray (see photos)
Where are the drips coming from? I don't know that car and it isn't obvious from the pictures. If it's just rain draining off the windscreen and bodywork then look at the path the water would normally take to drain away. Quite often there are drains around bonnets and boot openings that only work when the vehicle is completely flat. It is not at all unusual to see cars that overflow the drain channels and flood the interior when they're parked on a slope in the rain.

James Hartnall

Original Poster:

21 posts

14 months

Wednesday 3rd January
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
Where are the drips coming from? I don't know that car and it isn't obvious from the pictures. If it's just rain draining off the windscreen and bodywork then look at the path the water would normally take to drain away. Quite often there are drains around bonnets and boot openings that only work when the vehicle is completely flat. It is not at all unusual to see cars that overflow the drain channels and flood the interior when they're parked on a slope in the rain.
Hello,

Sorry, it's dripping from the two circular clips on the scuttle panel in the photos. They appear to hold two parts together and it's just seeping through there. My wife was out earlier, engine warm and all ok. She's back, engine cooled down, rain's been on heavy, and only a little bit, so looks like a really slow drip. It's not coming straight off the windscreen and down, those drains are working, it's the bit that's semi under the bonnet.

It doesn't appear to be overflowing but their is some debris so maybe that's causing them to separate slightly and the rain get in? The side drains are clear and no water inside the car.

I'd be none the wiser if it wasn't for that little squeak, and I'd never really have a reason to open the bonnet in the rain. Guess I don't really want expensive damage occurring and or water freezing on a belt perhaps. Starting the car is fine, and in idle, it's only once it's under tension that you hear it. You can move the clutch etc. and no noise, just when you're initially pulling away for not even a second you'd hear it.

Scrump

22,940 posts

165 months

Wednesday 3rd January
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My parents motorhome has a similar issue with water leaking on to the scuttle panel and then dripping down onto the engine.
We made a sort of rain deflector from a piece of plastic we had lying around. Directs the rain water away from the engine so it drips in an area where it won’t cause any issues. Maybe you could try something similar.

James Hartnall

Original Poster:

21 posts

14 months

Wednesday 3rd January
quotequote all
Yeah, I did wonder but not sure how to do that I wondered about some kind of sealant to plug the gap but not sure that would work or what.

Equally if it's not going to damage the car I'm not too concerned.