Hi
My 06 roadster (hardtop fitted) has recently decided it wants to be a swimming pool. The drivers side footwell is absolutely saturated below the carpet so I've resorted to driving in flippers. This affects the carpeted areas below the pedals, below and behind the seat. My guess is torrential rain has impressed from points unknown and is holding in the sound deadening / insulating matting below the carpet.
I've checked the side air intake vent drains and they are free and clear. I flushed the inside of the sills below the intake vents with a hose and warm water and rodded them through to clear all the compacted debris and muck and observed water running freely through the drain points at the base of the sill. I lifted the carpets behind the drivers seat and I saw no water ingress whilst flushing. The issue only appears to be affecting the drivers side footwell. Having sat in the car for an hour when it was tipping it down I couldn't see any obvious ingress via the roof or door seals. What am I missing? Are there any other obvious places I can check where water is known to ingress on a roadster. i.e. Blocked drains, missing seals or bungs. I'm at a loss and could really use some wisdom and guidance from the forums gurus and the initiated alike.
Many thanks in advance
Andrew
Quote from: AndPow68 on March 9, 2020, 15:37Hi
My 06 roadster (hardtop fitted) has recently decided it wants to be a swimming pool. The drivers side footwell is absolutely saturated below the carpet so I've resorted to driving in flippers. This affects the carpeted areas below the pedals, below and behind the seat. My guess is torrential rain has impressed from points unknown and is holding in the sound deadening / insulating matting below the carpet.
I've checked the side air intake vent drains and they are free and clear. I flushed the inside of the sills below the intake vents with a hose and warm water and rodded them through to clear all the compacted debris and muck and observed water running freely through the drain points at the base of the sill. I lifted the carpets behind the drivers seat and I saw no water ingress whilst flushing. The issue only appears to be affecting the drivers side footwell. Having sat in the car for an hour when it was tipping it down I couldn't see any obvious ingress via the roof or door seals. What am I missing? Are there any other obvious places I can check where water is known to ingress on a roadster. i.e. Blocked drains, missing seals or bungs. I'm at a loss and could really use some wisdom and guidance from the forums gurus and the initiated alike.
Many thanks in advance
Andrew
The boot around the steering union joint is known to perish/tear. Possibly wouldn't explain that volume of water though.
I've suffered a bit of this. If you have a hardtop fitted then the hood drains don't really come into play.
When you next have the hardtop off though it'd be worth removing the plastic bins & checking underneath. There is a secondary drain underneath there in the form of a rubber tube with a 'hat' top. The tube is about 6" long & is very narrow & can get blocked. (1 each side) If the drain bags leak the water accumulates underneath the plastic bin, but has to get to about 3mm depth before these tubes will work. And because they are so narrow they can silt-up. Someone who works with MR2's daily reckons the tube is there to prevent the possibility of exhaust gasses into the cabin. He punched his out, I yanked mine out with pliers.
The above may be irrelevent to your current issue. https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=68883.msg818349#msg818349 ....see post 3.
To check you will need the carpet lifted away from the sill area, & the car hosed or water poured over to spot the entry point. One pointer could be the electrical plugs on the side of the footwell. Mine had signs of having been damp.
I had litres of water both sides. I took the whole carpet out to dry...it takes some time because of the soaked wadding.
This stuff is well thought-off.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x75ml-WURTH-RUBBER-GUMMI-FIT-PFLEGE-CARE-STICK-DOOR-SEAL-RESTORER/273804466766?hash=item3fc0049a4e:g:eJ0AAOSwMBtc3VMK
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on March 9, 2020, 16:13The above may be irrelevent to your current issue. https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=68883.msg818349#msg818349 (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=68883.msg818349#msg818349) ....see post 3.
Well found. I recall reading that.
I've got this problem at the moment.
Took the carpets up the find a lot of rusty patches which I've had to sand down to the bare metal and repaint.
Had a split steering shaft seal I replaced (needed a new UJ anyway) - no luck
I have traced the leak down to some seam sealant under the dash - but not manges to seal it from the outside yet despite and attempt. I might need to take a front wing off.
Pics to follow.
Unlucky....been leaking for some time then. I haven't read of that problem before.
I hadn't owned mine for long before I discovered it was wet, & no rust to speak of.
(https://i.imgur.com/8EyNbzC_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium)
https://m.imgur.com/a/exyjU8b
If you trace it up to the left of the seal.
Quote from: AndPow68 on March 9, 2020, 15:37Hi
My 06 roadster (hardtop fitted) has recently decided it wants to be a swimming pool. The drivers side footwell is absolutely saturated below the carpet so I've resorted to driving in flippers. This affects the carpeted areas below the pedals, below and behind the seat. My guess is torrential rain has impressed from points unknown and is holding in the sound deadening / insulating matting below the carpet.
I've checked the side air intake vent drains and they are free and clear. I flushed the inside of the sills below the intake vents with a hose and warm water and rodded them through to clear all the compacted debris and muck and observed water running freely through the drain points at the base of the sill. I lifted the carpets behind the drivers seat and I saw no water ingress whilst flushing. The issue only appears to be affecting the drivers side footwell. Having sat in the car for an hour when it was tipping it down I couldn't see any obvious ingress via the roof or door seals. What am I missing? Are there any other obvious places I can check where water is known to ingress on a roadster. i.e. Blocked drains, missing seals or bungs. I'm at a loss and could really use some wisdom and guidance from the forums gurus and the initiated alike.
Many thanks in advance
Andrew
I had an issue where the drain pipe that the water runs down, to the vent drains, was not fully connected to the underside of the canvas. I'd do a water pour test and water would trickle out onto the floor.
Unfortunately, it was also pouring into the cavity under the bins! It then sloshed forward during spirited driving, especially braking. It then soaked and trashed the carpet. New carpet time.
Have a look in the bins, take out the pull out end sections if they are present. Then you should be able to feel the drain pipe I speak of.
I believe the rubberised bonded section just broke down over time, so this may be a more common failure unfortunately. :(
Thanks for your replies all. I'll take a look this weekend and get the rear bins out and carpets up. I'll take some photos as I go and feedback on any issues I find.
Cheers.
Quote from: AndPow68 on March 10, 2020, 11:46Thanks for your replies all. I'll take a look this weekend and get the rear bins out and carpets up. I'll take some photos as I go and feedback on any issues I find.
Cheers.
Links for pictures...
Quote from: StuC on September 11, 2017, 22:04Just got back from collecting Banana from Steve.
She was very poorly and letting in water quicker than a sieve. The cabin would get saturated after a heavy downpour. Driving would often have sloshing of water in the foot wells after rain. The bins were almost totally dry and I had checked the drains were working properly. So the likely suspect was faulty body seals.
Steve has had Banana whilst we went on holiday, as I use her as a daily driver.
Problem was quickly diagnosed as a faulty hood bag drain pipe, which was then filling the space under the bins!! Which is not dissimilar to the 'hood drain bag pipers' from bonny Scotland! s;-) ;-) s;-)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170911/0ab7b0619a5760ca6393a78086fda4fc.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170911/b1f94b7eccbc820d1e8165b0f7cee50b.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170911/b71f1424d1f6b51afc1e7937135f0d4e.jpg)
Anyhoo, Steve offered a low cost solution to fix the vulcanised joint, but then I decided it was time for a new hood. To compliment my new carpet and nvh panels, which were minging.
Kudos to Dean from Rutland, for the hood he offered. Absolute minter!! Cheers. [emoji3]
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170911/5dfe95a6d944bb4f5ddbc58c3528aa09.jpg)
Steve then grafted,, like only he does, to put Banana back together!! I sliding paying attention to the electrics that had been near the water, to avoid future problems. It's that attention to detail that I love about him.
Thanks very much Steve. I don't know what I'd do without you!!
Quote from: StuC on September 12, 2017, 18:45Just to back up Steve's knowledgeable post...
Some pics of the bag on its own.
Looking from the rear of the car.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170912/b97f7031044933bcda86eb2591cd1d74.jpg)
From the underside
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170912/a164a3b9f78e3b8719c9f07728b155f5.jpg)
Upside down from the outside
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170912/8d40846bd0143736a24d74bb4d2ee558.jpg)
👍🏻 Much appreciated
Quote from: StuC on March 9, 2020, 20:55I had an issue where the drain pipe that the water runs down, to the vent drains, was not fully connected to the underside of the canvas. I'd do a water pour test and water would trickle out onto the floor.
Unfortunately, it was also pouring into the cavity under the bins! It then sloshed forward during spirited driving, especially braking. It then soaked and trashed the carpet. New carpet time.
I believe the rubberised bonded section just broke down over time, so this may be a more common failure unfortunately. :(
I've got this too. My hood was replaced at huge cost shortly before I got the car & I wonder if the work put strain on the pipe exiting the bottom of the drain bag.
I couldn't detect precisely where the leak was. I tried applying some tigerseal by finger & it didn't work, - it was very difficult to apply all the way around, & I suspect it was the area facing the side of the car that was leaking.
Attempt 2 has worked so far. I cut a vinyl glove & opened it out wide. Used some insulating tape (only 'just' stuck) with a long tail, & fed it round the back of the pipe. I put a big blob of Tigerseal onto the glove & laid it in the palm of my hand & drew it round the pipe using the long tail. Then pressed the glove & Tigerseal all around it.
A minor leak like that should not cause a problem, IF the bin drain is clear, but better to fix, so I did.
To get a good look at the area you'll want the seat out,- remember the seatbelt warning switch under the seat.
The footwell area will be easier to check with the seat out anyway.
As a check, I removed the rear stowage bins today. Dry as a bone on both sides.
Poured warm water into the round drainage plug/tubes in the stowage bin floors and drained fully. So unlikely to be ingressing from the rear and tracking forward via in the under carpet wadding.
Checked the area under the steering wheel. Bone dry around the steering wheel boot and towards the centre console part of the dash. No obvious dampness felt towards the right wing either but will be removing the wing side footwell kicker trim and footrest and lifting the carpet and plastic type sheeting below the foot pedals. If it is not raining I'm going to hose the front right side of the windscreen and see if I can observe any water ingress below the scuttle panel and dashboard and wing.
Sorry I blethered about left side above....didn't read properly. Good that your drains are ok.
@AndPow68 good job on checking the drains. Encouraging to know they are in good nick.
So I lifted the drivers side footwell carpet and removed the saturated wadding in front the seat Water was seen to have pooled towards the centre console side of the floor. I think I may have found a possible area for water ingress though as the underside of the plastic coated wadding below the foot pedals and specifically the brake pedal was saturated. I ran my hand up under the wadding towards the dash. This wadding was soaking wet below and above the steering boot (suggesting a leak from above? and I can't see how such large volumes of water would ingress vis the boot.
I have taken some photos if I can work out how to attach them as they could indicate something obvious that I'm missing. I used a hose to soak the windscreen, scuttle panel, roof and door seals for about half hour and saw no ingress at all 🤯
I still intend to take the drivers seat out this weekend take photos and dry the foot panel completely.
Any progress? It would be interesting to see if you have the same issue as me.
I've applied some tigerseal to the seams I could reach in the void below the windscreen but it doesn't appear to have helped as the is still water this morning.
They could be either because I didn't seal the but that was lacking or the seal I applied didn't sit as it's impossible to get in the clean the surface properly.
I went through the trouble of taking the front wing off (plus headlamp and bumper) but it didn't really help.
My only next idea is to cut the sealant on the inside further along until I get to the source of the leak as at the moment it's just coming out the end
No haven't had a chance to remove the seat and carpet as planned, however, on Friday evening I left some folded separated sheets of heavy duty kitchen towel under the plastic coated wadding below the steering boot and foot pedals. Only the sheet to the right side of the steering boot between the brake and throttle pedals was saturated from the heavy showers over the weekend but this appears to have stopped excess water pooling within the drivers footwell. The bodywork seals under my dash, which I could see and touch appeared to be intact and dry. The saga continues until I either find the problem or it never rains again!
Have you taken the front plastic cover off under the bonnet? I was working under there today and noticed what looks to be a drain pipe sticking out 2-3cms about halfway down on the passenger side. Could this be a drain for the scuttle area? If it is, not sure what would happen if it blocks?
Always worth taking this cover off occasionally to apply lots of grease to your steering UJ and check the rusty pipes you will doubtless find.
Just a thought, no actual knowledge (as usual) though!
Quote from: AndPow68 on March 15, 2020, 16:17No haven't had a chance to remove the seat and carpet as planned, however, on Friday evening I left some folded separated sheets of heavy duty kitchen towel under the plastic coated wadding below the steering boot and foot pedals. Only the sheet to the right side of the steering boot between the brake and throttle pedals was saturated from the heavy showers over the weekend but this appears to have stopped excess water pooling within the drivers footwell. The bodywork seals under my dash, which I could see and touch appeared to be intact and dry. The saga continues until I either find the problem or it never rains again!
The corner of the seal is dry??
Hi
Top down man
I removed the frunk covers and had a good look around whilst I was at it I removed the windscreen wipers, cleaned and rust treated the wiper mechanism spindles and nuts. I removed the scuttle panel and removed all the accumulated muck and leaf litter below. The scuttle well that houses the wiper mechanism appears to be well sealed from what I could see. so can't see water ingressing into the car from here.
I greased the UJ whilst I was there and gummi-pfleged all the rubber seals I could see and reach between the frunk bay and the interior cab. Not to sure what pipe you refer to on the passenger side but I didn't get a chance to remove the spare wheel bin.
I did, however, notice two tears in the steering column boot but can't see how water would ingress here in such large volumes when the car is stationary. In addition I only noticed the tears when I pulled the boot down towards the steering rack. When the boot is compressed I couldn't feel or see the tears from the outside. I'll get my mechanic to fit a new one as I have nothing to lose by replacing it. Can't see how the footwell plastic coated wadding above and to the right of the steering boot would get so wet from a leak here though.
mr9
The corner of the seal is dry??
There's a yellowish white coloured flexible sealant on the inner seams in mine. This sealant is dry and doesn't leave any residue when touched. There's no obvious cracks in it. I could send a photo if this helps but I don't know how to attach or upload images to my posts sorry.