PASSENGER FLOOR MAT SOAKING WET

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
Think it is time to take the car to a specialist. I have poked/prodded/airlined the drain hose, absolutely nothing. If I put the ac on full blast there is nice strong pressure coming down the drain hose, I don't believe it is blocked. I can't work out how water is getting into the passenger vent, all very strange and annoying.
Dry wherever you can and then hose it or leave in rain without having ac on (if its not a daily), If its back you know it isn't the ac then.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,119
One thing you can get a specialist to try is a smoke test to see if it's escaping anywhere.
Biggest problem with these type of issues is that they can be time consuming.
 

4200_GT

Junior Member
Messages
29
Ok, think I am getting somewhere. I concentrated too heavily on the passenger side drain as that is the side the drip was coming from under the glovebox. While the passenger side consistently drains no matter how how long I put a hose pipe over the area, the drivers side is not draining at the same rate. Within in a few seconds it is filling up with a large pool of water, which rises above the scuttle panel. I guess this is finding its way in through the bulkhead somewhere. This would explain why the passenger mat is only soaking wet after a protracted period of heavy rain, and why when I did the hose pipe test the other day only a small drop entered the passenger area. I have put paper towel down along the bottom of the inside windscreen and there was no evidence of water, so think I can discount the windscreen for now. Going to give the drivers side drain a more thorough clean out, and hopefully this saga will be over.

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4200_GT

Junior Member
Messages
29
Pulled the wheel arch liner back (no need to remove the wheel). Located the drivers side drain pipe and blasted water from a hose. Bits of muck floated to the surface and I picked them out of the drain holes. Drain now draining at the same rate as the hose pressure and is no longer overloaded. Will monitor, but hopefully this has fixed the issue. Thanks all to your helpful advice and suggestions.
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,180
Pulled the wheel arch liner back (no need to remove the wheel). Located the drivers side drain pipe and blasted water from a hose. Bits of muck floated to the surface and I picked them out of the drain holes. Drain now draining at the same rate as the hose pressure and is no longer overloaded. Will monitor, but hopefully this has fixed the issue. Thanks all to your helpful advice and suggestions.
Awesome, and glad to hear...
 

4200_GT

Junior Member
Messages
29
Well I wish this had a happy ending, but afraid not. Raining heavy last few days, water still dripping from under the glovebox and water pooling in the passenger side vent. I have run out of ideas. I have removed the scuttle panel about 4 times now, pollen filter and housing dry, fan motor housing dry. I confirmed this by pulling the grommet/plug for the fan motor under the glove box, dry. Both driver and passenger water drains are draining nicely and not backing up at all. I just can't understand how water is getting in through the bulkhead but especially the passenger side vent when the water isn't backing up and the natural points of entry - fan motor housing / pollen filter housing are dry. AC drain hose is completely dry, and blows nicely with fan on, so can't be blocked.

Time for a specialist. :(
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Looking at this pic of mine with the dash pad off I’m wondering if the windscreen is leaking into the heater channel???
108693
I had a leak in mine from where the a pillar meets the bulkhead, behind the wing, but that came through much lower down than the dash vents
 

4200_GT

Junior Member
Messages
29
I am thinking the windscreen has something to do with it. It is an original Maserati printed screen, so unlikely that it has been replaced. Will have another look in the morning. The fact the passenger blower has water in it, when it is a closed system, suggests it has to be coming in via one of the upper internal dash vents.
 

4200_GT

Junior Member
Messages
29
I think we have a winner.

Wet on the inside of the screen by the sealant, this water then drips down into the windscreen vents into the passenger side vent, and either leaking from the tubing or excess going down behind the glove box. Only logical explanation for water to be pooling in the passenger side vent itself. Will try the soapy water and airline trick in a bit to see if I can get it to bubble up. 108742108743108746
 

4200_GT

Junior Member
Messages
29
So I bit the bullet and took the car to a reputable windscreen fitters with a workshop in order to remove the screen and refit. Was advised there was a possibility of breakage but they would do their best. Luckily the screen survived. Their assessment was that the screen was likely replaced at some point by an incompetent. They said it was one of the worst jobs they had seen in a while and that the fitter had dropped the screen down smearing the mastic instead of laying it carefully. I have the remains of the mastic as a memento, compared to the other mastic beads in their bin this was an absolute shambles. Awaiting a downpour to confirm this is the end of the leaking debacle.

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