Water in drivers footwell

[McSaab]

Hi, I have a lot of water in the driver's footwell - the sound deadening sponge underneath the carpet is saturated. Have been into the aquarium, and dealt with drain and a few leaves, and cleaned out pollen filter (which had some more) - car has been parked underneath a large tree in last couple of years.

Next step is to dry out, and blow out AC drains, but air is coming out of both of these when heater is running. Last night had a look on driver's side and no sign of internal leaks from this area - insulation completely dry at pipe joint.

Stripping out today to dry out properly - I am unconvinced the leaf issue is the problem - has anyone got other ideas? Windscreen leak? This was not a good job when done a few years ago - there is a small area at driver's side corner of screen that is white under the screen - I take that as failure of the sealant.

thanks
MC

2003 9-5 Aero estate manual

[sgould]

I would start with the windscreen.  Is it clean water?  The heater matrix can leak. The door seals can leak too.

I assume that you have no sunroof?

The talcum powder test is the easiest.  Put some where you think there might be a leak.  Spray water on from a hosepipe, then look for traces where the talc is wet or shows runs in it.

[Audax]

I have seen a car with some water ingress from inside the A pillar before, customer didn't want it investigated so no idea where it was coming from. I'd also check the rear foot well to make sure it's not coming in somewhere from there and getting to the front.

[McSaab]

Many thanks to both of you.

sgould -
Clean water - lots of it. I am ringing the water out of the deadening material. Both front footwells affected (as I discovered this morning). Coolant level has been fine over the years, so that hopefully discounts the heater matrix. No sunroof.

I will try the talc test, but amount of water is ridiculous at the moment, and have run out of newspapers for the mo. I am presuming this has been going on for some time - it may have been more difficult to demist last winter, but I don't use on a daily basis, so didn't think that much of it. I have a UV lamp, so might try that if I run out of options.

Door seals are a little perished, but nothing split or hanging off.

audax -
I have the seats unbolted, to release the front footwell carpet sections. Will have a look in the back. I was at one point hoping that it was the floorpan end of the AC drain pipes, as the drivers side connection was pretty weak into the grommet leading out of the car, and wet around there. Then had a look at the passenger side, and unfortunately this area was bone dry. Saturation is worst nearest bulkhead on both sides - the deadening material with a 'hard shell' in the pedal box area is soaked underneath, so this also needs drying out before I can progress. Are the rear footwells slightly higher then? Car has been parked more or less level for years.

Might take a while to get to the bottom of this...

[Audax]

If it's the passenger side too I would remove the glove box and run a hose over the front of the car and windscreen while having a good look around. Try and keep the TWICE module dry, it's in the passenger foot well under the seat.

[idlerider]

I had the same problem with a 6-series BMW - turned out to be the windscreen seal. The screen had been badly fitted at some point, allowing water to collect behind the seal at the bottom corner. Eventually (despite the car being fairly new and sound) it rotted away part of the body aperture lip, allowing rainwater to pour in behind the dashboard and onto the floor. To fix it, they had to remove the screen and trim and build up the lip with weld.

I'll also be keeping a close eye on my Saab, as it's the same model and year as yours!

[McSaab]

Ok thanks Audax, will have a go with hose tomorrow. Discovered the TWICE, and many other boxes - have taken out seats, but stopped at rear carpet as I now have a boot full of bits. Impressed with the simplicity of the rear seat squab retention!

Wet (soaking) behind drivers seat under carpet, but dry behind passenger.

If it does end up being the windscreen, it might have been going on for a long time. Was replaced about 5 yrs ago.

MC

[McSaab]

Idlerider - I remember it as the quickest windscreen fitting I have ever encountered - about an hour. They broke the nice clip for pay and display tickets. When I had a windscreen done on my previous 9000, the local (Oxford) indie was insistent on me choosing a particular fitting firm, which might have been National Windscreens, but cannot remember as over 10yrs ago. Insurance company wouldn't let me choose second time around. Have got a very good ex-Saab bodyshop down the road in Derby, so they might have an opinion if it comes to that.

Does the amount of water tally with your experience? The windscreen was frozen on the inside on Thursday morning. I have been squeezing water out of the insulation into a baking tray this afternoon.

[idlerider]

McSaab - sounds exactly the same situation as the one I had. I even considered replacing the passenger seat with a diving board!