Audi RS6 - wet driver’s footwell

Audi RS6 - wet driver’s footwell

Author
Discussion

nofuse22

Original Poster:

210 posts

182 months

Saturday 27th November 2021
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Last few times that it has rained (heavily) i have found quite a deep puddle in the driver’s footwell. Has happened three times now and is definitely not due to windows being left open. It is down by the pedals so doesn’t appear to be from a leaking sunroof. It seemed to be a bit damp around the bonnet-release lever, but not sure if this is the cause.

Any ideas??

Thanks in advance

Zarco

18,497 posts

216 months

Saturday 27th November 2021
quotequote all
Blocked drain hole at foot of windscreen? Might be causing water to pond in heavy rain and seep in somewhere.

Discombobulate

5,132 posts

193 months

Saturday 27th November 2021
quotequote all
Hopefully a blocked drain - so check there first - but could be the dreaded leaking sunroof cassette if you have pano roof.
Don't ask how I know... ££££

nofuse22

Original Poster:

210 posts

182 months

Saturday 27th November 2021
quotequote all
Thanks both.. let me try the drains (I do have the pano roof so you are making me nervous now 🤪 )

Batleyred

689 posts

126 months

Saturday 27th November 2021
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Hope it isn’t the roof. I had a pan roof service on my 2017 rs6, it was something I was not aware of before I bought the car.

Glassman

23,140 posts

222 months

Thursday 2nd December 2021
quotequote all
Have removed and refitted a few RS6 windscreens due to non-adhesion. It's not common but have seen it on a handful.

Might be something in the polymer or curing mechanism because the adhesive peeled off (body side, not glass). May even be a [substrate] prep issue.

DaveA8

681 posts

88 months

Tuesday 7th December 2021
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Glassman said:
Have removed and refitted a few RS6 windscreens due to non-adhesion. It's not common but have seen it on a handful.

Might be something in the polymer or curing mechanism because the adhesive peeled off (body side, not glass). May even be a [substrate] prep issue.
Definitely worth considering, the passengers footwell was soaked and it was the windscreen on that side, he managed to get it out without breaking, re seal etc.

nofuse22

Original Poster:

210 posts

182 months

Tuesday 7th December 2021
quotequote all
Thanks all - now just trying to work out where the water ingress is coming from!

DanPhoto

159 posts

129 months

Friday 10th December 2021
quotequote all
I had this issue with an A6 many years ago. It was because of a blocked drain in the engine bay - right up close to the bulkhead below the windscreen. There were leaves and 'compost' blocking it so water was pooling in heavy rain and I think trickling into the cabin through the footwell ventilation channels.

Dr G

15,403 posts

249 months

Saturday 11th December 2021
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First place I'd look too - they're often blocked with leaves, twigs, muck...

Yertis

18,684 posts

273 months

Monday 13th December 2021
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DanPhoto said:
I had this issue with an A6 many years ago. It was because of a blocked drain in the engine bay - right up close to the bulkhead below the windscreen. There were leaves and 'compost' blocking it so water was pooling in heavy rain and I think trickling into the cabin through the footwell ventilation channels.
I had this in a C5 AllRoad. Water kept entering the passenger footwell from no obvious source, but one day I decided to investigate the plenum (having deduced the water was coming in from a vent). It's not immediately easy to see the water because getting the plastic plenum cover off isn't the work of moments. But anyway once off the problem was quite obviously the several gallons of rainwater I'd been carting about. Still not easy to fix as it sounds because the battery on that car was huge, and the plenum drain hole was immediately beneath it. Nearly put my back out. But popping the slimy rotting plug of leaves and wotnot to let the water gush out was very satisfying.

nofuse22

Original Poster:

210 posts

182 months

Monday 20th December 2021
quotequote all
Unfortunately it does seem to be due to the sunroof - when the sunroof is open the internal gully is damp which seems to be unusual (i presume that water drains from the sunroof gully down through the car internals and is then coming out through the bonnet release mechanism in the footwell)

Any thoughts on likely cost to get it fixed?

Thanks

Oliiiiiiiii

87 posts

153 months

Thursday 23rd December 2021
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I recently got a 2016 performance with a pan roof and had this happen. I first noticed water in the two front footwells. I assumed it was coming from the scuttle area, so cleared all crap out of that (it was full of leaves and debris) and the area below it within the back of the engine bay. This all seemed to be draining OK.

Some heavy rain the next day and i literally had pool in my footweels, i realised i could see water tracking down past the bonnet catch (and equivalent location on passenger side) which is the route it is known to come when the sunroof leaks. On the passenger side the headlining between the sunroof corner and A pillar was also damp but on the driver's side the headlining was dry.

Opening the sunroof, I noticed i had very wet channels, the wind baffle material was soaking wet too. When i poured water into the channel it appeared to track to the draining holes and pour out the other end of them (by the door hinges), so it didn't seem the drains were blocked.

Anyway, as it was within 6 months of purchase through a dealer I contacted them (consumer rights and all that) and dropped it into my local Audi dealer.

Audi first came back to say they couldnt see a history of a sunroof service, so suggested this as a first action at something like £350 (can't remember exact figure but started with a 3). I came back to them to show it had a sunroof service at Audi in Oct 2020 (i believe this is cleaning out the channels and lubing runners etc..). At this point they didn't seem to know what to do next and i had to wait about a day before they came back to ask me to authorise 2hrs labour for them to investigate - which i did.

I then got a phone call the next day to tell me my car was ready to collect. I was a bit skeptical, thinking well what have you done as you were authorised time to 'investigate'. They said they couldn't work out how it was leaking but they had cleaned all the channels, cleaned the 4 drain tubes, lubed it all up etc.. (essentially performed a sunroof service from what i can tell). They'd then done their water ingress test where they leave it under heavy water for a few hours and couldn't see any signs of leaks. Their assumption based on this, is that either the tubes were partially blocked and filling faster than they could drain or some debris in the channel was diverting or blocking water, causing the channels to eventually flood and leak into the car.

I was still skeptical but couldn't really argue against the water ingress test not having any issues, so collected the car. it's been a few weeks since then, with some really heavy rain and me cleaning the roof with pressure washer and rinsing with a hose, and touch wood i've had no signs of water ingress so far. So i am very much hoping it was just some rogue debris blocking something and now it is ok.

I first noticed the wet footwells the weekend after Storm Arwen, which living surrounded by woodland, absolutely plastered my car with dirt and crap, so it could well have been this and they then cleared it.

Anyway, assuming mine is fixed i think i got away lightly as it was 2hrs Audi labour (dealer paid anyway without any issues, so other than some inconvenience, stress, and fuel it didn't cost me), the 2hrs was cheaper than their original quote for a sunroof service but from what i can tell basically the same work was done. I've heard of others where the cassette had cracked and i think then you are then looking at 2k-3k for replacement.

Does it have a service history for the sunroof? I think this can help in negotiating some goodwill from Audi UK, if it does come to that.

Batleyred

689 posts

126 months

Thursday 23rd December 2021
quotequote all
Jeez 350 for a sunroof service. Got mine done for 50 quid from from gc motors where I bought the car from. Leeds audi quoted less than 350 but still a lot of money for a small job.

catso

14,854 posts

274 months

Thursday 23rd December 2021
quotequote all
Batleyred said:
Jeez 350 for a sunroof service.
yikes but presumably is an easy DIY? (if you have the motivation).

I've never had the sunroof on myS4 serviced, nor has any dealer/indy suggested it, not sure of the interval?

Fortunately it lives in the garage and is low mileage so not likely to be blocked.

Oliiiiiiiii

87 posts

153 months

Saturday 25th December 2021
quotequote all
Yeah I think the sunroof service is a fairly easy DIY. That said, I believe Audi use it to get out warranty issues with the sunroof if it’s not been done at the intervals, it also sounds like they’re very poor at informing people it’s even a thing and the consequences of not doing it (warranty invalid). Just checked the price they did send through, see for yourself below. Like I said, in the end it was 2hrs labour.

In my cars history it has the sunroof service previously as £70 at Audi and it seems a lot got quotes for about £240, so not sure why the variance in price.

And if you think that’s bad, look at £285 to visually inspect the rear pads, as they couldn’t see the amount of pad left with the visual health check. Not sure what that involves for that price, obviously said no to that. Swapped from summer to winter wheels other day and could easily see the amount of rear pad on outside and inside.


nofuse22

Original Poster:

210 posts

182 months

Saturday 25th December 2021
quotequote all
Oliiiiiiiii said:
I recently got a 2016 performance with a pan roof and had this happen. I first noticed water in the two front footwells. I assumed it was coming from the scuttle area, so cleared all crap out of that (it was full of leaves and debris) and the area below it within the back of the engine bay. This all seemed to be draining OK.

Some heavy rain the next day and i literally had pool in my footweels, i realised i could see water tracking down past the bonnet catch (and equivalent location on passenger side) which is the route it is known to come when the sunroof leaks. On the passenger side the headlining between the sunroof corner and A pillar was also damp but on the driver's side the headlining was dry.

Opening the sunroof, I noticed i had very wet channels, the wind baffle material was soaking wet too. When i poured water into the channel it appeared to track to the draining holes and pour out the other end of them (by the door hinges), so it didn't seem the drains were blocked.

Anyway, as it was within 6 months of purchase through a dealer I contacted them (consumer rights and all that) and dropped it into my local Audi dealer.

Audi first came back to say they couldnt see a history of a sunroof service, so suggested this as a first action at something like £350 (can't remember exact figure but started with a 3). I came back to them to show it had a sunroof service at Audi in Oct 2020 (i believe this is cleaning out the channels and lubing runners etc..). At this point they didn't seem to know what to do next and i had to wait about a day before they came back to ask me to authorise 2hrs labour for them to investigate - which i did.

I then got a phone call the next day to tell me my car was ready to collect. I was a bit skeptical, thinking well what have you done as you were authorised time to 'investigate'. They said they couldn't work out how it was leaking but they had cleaned all the channels, cleaned the 4 drain tubes, lubed it all up etc.. (essentially performed a sunroof service from what i can tell). They'd then done their water ingress test where they leave it under heavy water for a few hours and couldn't see any signs of leaks. Their assumption based on this, is that either the tubes were partially blocked and filling faster than they could drain or some debris in the channel was diverting or blocking water, causing the channels to eventually flood and leak into the car.

I was still skeptical but couldn't really argue against the water ingress test not having any issues, so collected the car. it's been a few weeks since then, with some really heavy rain and me cleaning the roof with pressure washer and rinsing with a hose, and touch wood i've had no signs of water ingress so far. So i am very much hoping it was just some rogue debris blocking something and now it is ok.

I first noticed the wet footwells the weekend after Storm Arwen, which living surrounded by woodland, absolutely plastered my car with dirt and crap, so it could well have been this and they then cleared it.

Anyway, assuming mine is fixed i think i got away lightly as it was 2hrs Audi labour (dealer paid anyway without any issues, so other than some inconvenience, stress, and fuel it didn't cost me), the 2hrs was cheaper than their original quote for a sunroof service but from what i can tell basically the same work was done. I've heard of others where the cassette had cracked and i think then you are then looking at 2k-3k for replacement.

Does it have a service history for the sunroof? I think this can help in negotiating some goodwill from Audi UK, if it does come to that.
This sounds exactly like what I had.. will pop over to the dealer in between Xmas and new year to see what they can do. Fingers crossed…

nofuse22

Original Poster:

210 posts

182 months

Tuesday 18th January 2022
quotequote all
To follow up on this… i got the sunroof serviced (c. £150..), and (fingers crossed..!) it seems to have done the trick: no water in the footwell

Thanks to everyone for the advice and tips

Oliiiiiiiii

87 posts

153 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
quotequote all
That's great news, and not a bad price for the work at Audi. Did they say what exactly they thought it was, like a specific channel or drain blocked?

Mines not leaked since the service, though i still find myself checking inside after heavy rain and washing the car.

CSLchappie

438 posts

211 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
nofuse22 said:
To follow up on this… i got the sunroof serviced (c. £150..), and (fingers crossed..!) it seems to have done the trick: no water in the footwell

Thanks to everyone for the advice and tips
Do you mind me asking which dealership that was with? I've been quoted £250 at Nottingham Audi for the sunroof service and I also need discs and pads replacing all around so any little saving that can be made would be very welcome!