Fixing my footwell leak

[docbob1]

Connectors should certainly work. But T6 has very limited access to the area, I assume due to extra electrics. If I could have done it by hand and held the two pipes to put a connector in, I would have as I have some 8mm connectors. However, access so limited I had to extract tube through side panel to be able to grasp it to insert connector tube. Maybe the T5 and T6 have quite different access? Don't know as never owned T5 and mine has a shed load of extras added ( not posing, bought it on a snowy Feb day in 2019 and as it had been pre-registered, no doubt claimed it's sale in last quarter for 'bonus' from sales numbers wanted it shifted (got £6000 off fully loaded price). I spent sometime changing gear with paddles as I thought they were for radio volume/selection! Shows how much I was interested in the high end extras. Having said that, a great bonus to be able to paddle shift in Norwegian mountain passes.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Connectors should certainly work. But T6 has very limited access to the area, I assume due to extra electrics. If I could have done it by hand and held the two pipes to put a connector in, I would have as I have some 8mm connectors. However, access so limited I had to extract tube through side panel to be able to grasp it to insert connector tube. Maybe the T5 and T6 have quite different access? Don't know as never owned T5 and mine has a shed load of extras added ( not posing, bought it on a snowy Feb day in 2019 and as it had been pre-registered, no doubt claimed it's sale in last quarter for 'bonus' from sales numbers wanted it shifted (got £6000 off fully loaded price). I spent sometime changing gear with paddles as I thought they were for radio volume/selection! Shows how much I was interested in the high end extras. Having said that, a great bonus to be able to paddle shift in Norwegian mountain passes.

There was very heavy downpours yesterday. A little confused as footwell now very dry to the touch and no signs of leaking but oddly the area by handbrake was very wet again. I couldn’t work it out. No sign of leak at all.

 

[Perfectos]

Here’s a photo of the front floor pan, might explain the wicking effect of residual water , the low point is right next to the hand brake

 

[docbob1]

Nice photo of floorpan, explains why the last area in my van to dry was where I had pushed the paper rolls through the carpet as water would naturally pool there. I had same as you, footwells dry but in gap between seats it would be saturated. Now fully dry, paper rolls absorbed nothing over last 24hours. Just as well, hasn't stopped raining for a week!

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Nice photo of floorpan, explains why the last area in my van to dry was where I had pushed the paper rolls through the carpet as water would naturally pool there. I had same as you, footwells dry but in gap between seats it would be saturated. Now fully dry, paper rolls absorbed nothing over last 24hours. Just as well, hasn't stopped raining for a week!
to me

Just occurred to me. Did you ever put the diesel heater on as part of drying out?

I might try ten minutes to warm van up with the dehumidifier inside…

 

[docbob1]

Nice photo of floorpan, explains why the last area in my van to dry was where I had pushed the paper rolls through the carpet as water would naturally pool there. I had same as you, footwells dry but in gap between seats it would be saturated. Now fully dry, paper rolls absorbed nothing over last 24hours. Just as well, hasn't stopped raining for a week!
to me

Just occurred to me. Did you ever put the diesel heater on as part of drying out?

I might try ten minutes to warm van up with the dehumidifier inside…

Certainly did! Had engine on with blower at max heat to footwell area+ aircon, diesel heater on 10 and a domestic fan to circulate air further directing it towards seat bases. Boot lid open a couple of inches to allow the humid air to escape having passed through the van picking up moisture. This was on for 3hrs!!
Didn't get many MPG though!!

 

[WelshGas]

Nice photo of floorpan, explains why the last area in my van to dry was where I had pushed the paper rolls through the carpet as water would naturally pool there. I had same as you, footwells dry but in gap between seats it would be saturated. Now fully dry, paper rolls absorbed nothing over last 24hours. Just as well, hasn't stopped raining for a week!
to me

Just occurred to me. Did you ever put the diesel heater on as part of drying out?

I might try ten minutes to warm van up with the dehumidifier inside…

Shouldn't use the Parking Heater for very short periods. Should always be run upto temperature before switching off.
Eberspacher recommend an hour and also running it for an hour a month, minimum, to keep in good running order.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Shouldn't use the Parking Heater for very short periods. Should always be run upto temperature before switching off.
Eberspacher recommend an hour and also running it for an hour a month, minimum, to keep in good running order.

Crikey an hour. May do 30 mins. We hardly ever use it - fair weather campers - but does still work. I think it had periods where we haven’t used it for 4 years.
This looking good after 24 hours. About 200ml. I think for £35 the dehumidifier was not a bad shout.

Really hoping today is last day of drying out. Then I can wash the van and put it back where it sits for the winter. I will be checking on it this year. I’m mildly relieved that the slightly bumpy texture of floor is swollen chipboard and not rusting metal.

 

[docbob1]

Crikey an hour. May do 30 mins. We hardly ever use it - fair weather campers - but does still work. I think it had periods where we haven’t used it for 4 years.
This looking good after 24 hours. About 200ml. I think for £35 the dehumidifier was not a bad shout.
View attachment 101635
Really hoping today is last day of drying out. Then I can wash the van and put it back where it sits for the winter. I will be checking on it this year. I’m mildly relieved that the slightly bumpy texture of floor is swollen chipboard and not rusting metal.
View attachment 101636

Impressed with dehumidifyer, that volume is the equvalent to 340 litres of pure 100% 'steam' being extracted. I may get one to use in van over winter from time to time as it stands out in all weathers.

 

[Perfectos]

I’m mildly relieved that the slightly bumpy texture of floor is swollen chipboard and not rusting metal.

You can remove that strip easily with a trim tool, the top simply presses into a channel. Refit by simply pressing back into the channel.

get something heavy to place on the swollen area, it will assist in recompressing it whilst it is damp. (only when it’s damp) & will further assist drying out below the panel / carpet

 

[Lambeth Cali]

You can remove that strip easily with a trim tool, the top simply presses into a channel. Refit by simply pressing back into the channel.

get something heavy to place on the swollen area, it will assist in recompressing it whilst it is damp. (only when it’s damp) & will further assist drying out below the panel / carpet

View attachment 101684

I pulled it up yesterday to have a look and aid drying. To be honest the lumpiness is very slight, pretty subtle. Being left for 6 months will probably benefit it. I don’t think it’s falling apart or damaged as such. I’ll leave the strip off for the winter.

 

[docbob1]

The dehumidifier arrived as I was fixing. Hopefully it’ll help.
CUQOO Compact 500ml Mini Air Dehumidifier with Ultra Quiet Technology – Upgraded Portable Air Dehumidifier for Damp, Mould & Moisture | Perfect for Home, Bedroom, Garage, Office, Caravan & More https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BH4MRRCK/?tag=vwcalifornia-21

View attachment 101638

Bought one of these and ran it for 24hrs in what appeared to be a fully dried van (no moisture on under carpet tissues I had inserted for 2 days) Got 300ml in 24hrs!
Great gadget, thanks LambethC, will leave in place running for a week and see how long before it is really dry. `cheap as chips' to run, 20W.

 

[WelshGas]

Bought one of these and ran it for 24hrs in what appeared to be a fully dried van (no moisture on under carpet tissues I had inserted for 2 days) Got 300ml in 24hrs!
Great gadget, thanks LambethC, will leave in place running for a week and see how long before it is really dry. `cheap as chips' to run, 20W.

Don't forget the vehicle is not airtight, so the dehumidifier will take water out of the air in the vehicle + the incoming air, via heater vents, door seals etc:. Warming the interior will allow the warm internal air to carry more water vapour, so the humidifier will be more effective, but also increase the internal air volume/pressure to increase thus decreasing the inflow of outside air, BUT when the heating is turned off and the vehicle cools down then internal air volume/pressure will decrease drawing external air into the vehicle which may have a high humidity content. This can happen with the change in ambient temperature between Day & Night.
So the fact that the humidifier is collecting water doesn't necessarily mean you have a wet interior, it might mean you are trying to dehumidify Leominster and the locality.

 

[docbob1]

Don't forget the vehicle is not airtight, so the dehumidifier will take water out of the air in the vehicle + the incoming air, via heater vents, door seals etc:. Warming the interior will allow the warm internal air to carry more water vapour, so the humidifier will be more effective, but also increase the internal air volume/pressure to increase thus decreasing the inflow of outside air, BUT when the heating is turned off and the vehicle cools down then internal air volume/pressure will decrease drawing external air into the vehicle which may have a high humidity content. This can happen with the change in ambient temperature between Day & Night.
So the fact that the humidifier is collecting water doesn't necessarily mean you have a wet interior, it might mean you are trying to dehumidify Leominster and the locality.

I agree that the air in van will exchange with external air, so had closed all the air vents that were practical to do. I will see if volume of water decreases as week goes on. I understand how these de-humidifyers work so as ambient air temp falls they become less efficient (principle is condensation onto a cold surface in de-humidifyer) so quite a few variables to take into account!

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I was surprised when mine unexpectedly got very wet by the handbrake last week when it had been raining but not leaking.

Looking at that picture of the floorpan, with rubber bungs in it, I wonder if I had somehow sucked water up into the van!?

 

[docbob1]

Likely it may have been still water in carpet and 'gravitated' to that region. I noticed as I dried the van out the handbrake and under passenger seat area could be wetter than elsewhere. Perhaps you are lucky and drivers side roof drain has come off also!!! I certainly hope not. It doesn't seem to occur unlike passenger side but worth checking drivers footwell area for damp.

 

[BeachyBird]

Found it!
View attachment 101263
Already bleeding a little but got good access by removing glove box.
Neither can be pulled. I think there must be a 3rd part/tube/connector as neither of these will come together. No slack. I’ve been routing around trying to locate anything else that might of fallen off the brown tube.

Hi we have the same problem T5.1 2015 noticed today done as per your instructions and guess what brown tube not attached but for the life of me I can not see any think to attach the brown tube to I have tried to take a picture. Can you offer any advice.

 

[BeachyBird]

Update, just had huge deluge and protracted rain and no further water ingress so in my case it was the downpipe parting from elbow, only a push fit so not surprised!!

This is a great thread and thanks for this detailed explanation it has helped me find the same problem on my T5.1 BUT I have found the brown drain pipe attached to nothing but cannot see the plastic elbow to attach it plus my rubber grommet into the scuttle area has a corrugated pipe running through it and no obvious space for anything else any clues am I missing something
I will attach a pic

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Hi we have the same problem T5.1 2015 noticed today done as per your instructions and guess what brown tube not attached but for the life of me I can not see any think to attach the brown tube to I have tried to take a picture. Can you offer any advice.

View attachment 102454

View attachment 102455

Yes that is a bit baffling. It does look like the grommet is connected to something else. Is it easy to get at? Is that definitely the drain grommet? Looks a little different but it’s in the right place. Have you had any work done? A radio or alarm fitted? I was wondering if someone connected the wrong thing.

I just went back on this thread and this was posted of the inside of the A pillar.

There are other pipes running down the A pillar. Could someone have connected the wrong one? Weird.
All I can suggest is to disconnect that black tube (and see what it is) and connect the brown tube. Then pour water down roof drain (syringe is helpful) and see if this fixes your problem.
Then you need to work out what that black tube is.
All our vans are different ages so things can be different.

 

[BeachyBird]

Yes that is a bit baffling. It does look like the grommet is connected to something else. Is it easy to get at? Is that definitely the drain grommet? Looks a little different but it’s in the right place. Have you had any work done? A radio or alarm fitted? I was wondering if someone connected the wrong thing.
View attachment 102466
I just went back on this thread and this was posted of the inside of the A pillar.
View attachment 102467
There are other pipes running down the A pillar. Could someone have connected the wrong one? Weird.
All I can suggest is to disconnect that black tube (and see what it is) and connect the brown tube. Then pour water down roof drain (syringe is helpful) and see if this fixes your problem.
Then you need to work out what that black tube is.
All our vans are different ages so things can be different.

Thanks for your reply we are just sitting here talking it over and have come to the same conclusion, that when we had the tow bar fitted they have used the grommet to feed a cable through from the battery removing the drain tube and just left it can you believe.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Thanks for your reply we are just sitting here talking it over and have come to the same conclusion, that when we had the tow bar fitted they have used the grommet to feed a cable through from the battery removing the drain tube and just left it can you believe.

Wow
Sounds possible.

 

[NickFoster]

I hope I’ve found our van leak problem. Not the brown to black down pipe which has caused other people leaks (you can see in the first photo it’s all dry and sound). However, you can see the round black grommet in the second photo which was half pushed in when I looked. It’s behind the plastic cover protecting the windscreen wiper blades on the nearside. I pulled it back through (long nosed pliers) and it’s sitting properly now. It drains from the roof down the nearside A pillar and should drain forwards down through a hole above the wheel arch. Before it was draining inside the bulkhead straight through to the carpet and central well. It’s rained since I fixed it and water is draining forwards as it should do.