• Registered: 2007-10-14
  • Posts: 9

Topic: Water leak, seal or ???

My '74 standard has developed a bad habit of allowing rainfall to collect on the passenger side floor. After checking everywhere I could think of, I manged to be actually sitting in it parked during a medium rainfall, and the water was trickling out of the passenger foot/calf heat vent. I've been sopping it up with a towel, and a decent rain will allow enough water to get in to soak a bath towel in very little time. I've checked hose connections at the fresh air box, firewall, etc and everything seems to be connected correctly. There's no other rain intrusion in the entire car, just rain water trickling down from the passenger side vent.

I'd appreciate any and all ideas if anyone has any.

Thanks,
Steve

  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Registered: 2005-09-10
  • Posts: 2,336

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

When it comes to water leaks...it could be almost anything & anywhere.  If you don't have any rust issues...then the leak could be coming from the:

- fresh air-box seal
- windshield seal
- front hood seal
- door seal
- etc. etc. etc.

You need to troubleshoot it to find the exact area of the leak...we would only be guessing where it might be coming from.  It's like asking us..."How many marbles are in the jar...without showing us the jar!" wink

HTH,

- Nick

1979 Super Beetle Convertible
  • From: Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 630

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

Does the water come in when the car is stationary (long term, not temporarily stopped in the midst of a drive), or just when driving?

Like Nick said, there are a lot of places where the water could be getting in, so you'll need to do more detective work - look under the hood, window seals.  How's the outside of the heater channel, where the running board's bolt up?  Underside of the channel?

1979 Type 1 Convertible                                       1976 Scirocco (For Sale!)
1971 Type 1 Semi-Automatic Super                       1968 Type 1 Sedan
1961 Type 1 Sedan
1957 Type 1 Sunroof

Der Bugmeister's Website

  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Registered: 2005-09-10
  • Posts: 2,336

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

Just one more quick thought.  A big problem with water leaks is...the actual leak may not be anywhere near where you see it. 

Water can get in at "Point A"...then gravity can carry/funnel the water a few inches or feet until it finds a gap or a hole ("Point B") to leak thru...and then you see it.

Like Der Bugmeister said...you have to be the detective (Sherlock Holmes) to find the exact "point of entry" for the water.

- Nick

1979 Super Beetle Convertible
  • hank
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: British Columbia Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-30
  • Posts: 430

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

do you have a sunroof or rain roof as I call them up here in the rain coast?

'57 bug "BlackBerry"
'58 type261 single cab "Ruf"
'86 vanagon syncro "Syncro da Dr.Mayo"
and way too many project waiting
  • From: Washington, Indiana
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 1,425

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

The fresh air box water drain is probably stopped up causing the water to back up and run into the windshield air vent and then running down to the floor vent, and out the hole......

                                                 Yancey

Yancey's Website

  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Registered: 2005-09-10
  • Posts: 2,336

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

Yancey wrote:

The fresh air box water drain is probably stopped up causing the water to back up and run into the windshield air vent and then running down to the floor vent, and out the hole......

                                                 Yancey

Good one Yancey! smile  I've had that happen...the drain all plugged up with leaves, dirt, and other gunk!

- Nick

1979 Super Beetle Convertible
  • From: Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 630

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

Convertible???  Put the roof up!

;-)

1979 Type 1 Convertible                                       1976 Scirocco (For Sale!)
1971 Type 1 Semi-Automatic Super                       1968 Type 1 Sedan
1961 Type 1 Sedan
1957 Type 1 Sunroof

Der Bugmeister's Website

  • From: B.C.Canada
  • Registered: 2005-01-26
  • Posts: 2,610

Re: Water leak, seal or ???

Whatever it is the paper tube in the A pillar will be shot. Need to replace it for defrost.

jim

'71 SB(DD only 79K(now 84K miles) & '78 FI Westy (project)
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915