Wet Driver's Footwell

[paul.h]

2004 2.2 HDi VTR hatchback (not new model).

 

With the recent heavy rainfall, it has been getting in to the driver's footwell and soaking the carpet. It seems to be coming in at the top of the left foot rest and runs down the carpet. I have checked the aircon drain pipe and it is clear so do not think this is filling up. I can not find an obvious drain from the windscreen/bulkhead area and water poured here comes out around the back of the wings.

 

Has anyone else had a similar problem ? If it is not a simple fix I will be taking the car to the dealer since it is still under warranty but would like to know if this is a one off and the probable cure.

[kfk]

Take it to the dealer theres a bulliten about water running down the windscreen and through the wiper spindle grommet before dripping into the heater airbox intake and then running inside the car.

[paul.h]

Thanks KFK.

[sandyf]

Many thanks for this info. I have just discovered the same problem with my 04 C5

2.0L VTR Estate. Still under warranty and is anyway going to Dealer next week to sort out Multiflex/ECU problem with A/Con / Blower system so will get them to look at this too,thanks again

[paul.h]

Took the C5 to the dealer last week, problem cured by putting sealant under the top edge of the plastic scuttle (?) that runs along the bottom of the windscreen. Will have to wait for wet weather to see if this has cured the leak. The service manager was not aware of a bulletin on the wiper spindle grommet giving a leak.

 

Whilst there they also lowered the engine oil level slightly, since for some reason this had gone up over the last few months and was flashing max on the dash.

[citroeneddie]

Does anyone know if this wiper grommet leaking problem applies to the new look C5?

[paul.h]

Last night we had the first heavy rain since the sealant was applied along the scuttle where it contacts the windscreen and as you may guess, the rain has come in in the same place, above the driver's left foot rest.

 

KFK, please could you give a bit more information on the wiper grommet fix, my dealer had not heard of this when I first took the car in. On the car there is a grommet on the left wiper where it goes through the middle of the plastic scuttle but on the right (driver's side) wiper there is not one.

[Brevelay]

I had this problem and after several visits with my 2004 HDI Estate old shape they removed and refitted the windscreen which fixed the problem and they replaced all the carpets

[paul.h]

I think the problem is now sorted. I removed the wiper grommet and filled the outer edge slot with black sealant before putting it back. So far it has not rained in over the last 3 weeks. The grommet does not fit central in the hole in the plastic scuttle and was quite loose, probably why rain can get past. To make the job easier I removed the wiper arm (puller used).

 

Citreoneddie,

this may apply to the new C5 since this also has the same wiper spindle grommet.

[citroeneddie]

Thanks for the info Paul.

[paul.h]

Looks as though I wrote the last note too soon, lot of rain last night and some has got in the footwell again at the same point. Trip back to the dealer to be arranged.

[paul.h]

Finally sorted this with a few mods. It appears the car has been designed so that if water gets under the windscreen plastic scuttle or through the wiper grommet, it goes straight into the car air intake which lets it run into the car.

 

Bit hard to describe but the air intake is a plastic box clipped to the opening in the bulkhead. The front of the box has a mesh which slopes forwards towards the bottom. The bottom of the box is level/slightly sloping down to the bulkhead. The grommet is above the mesh. Hence any water which falls above the box goes inside and runs to the back and then through the bulkhead. The airconditioning unit is held to the other side of the bulkhead with a foam seal - the water runs to the foam seal which is not watertight and then down into the car and your feet.

 

Few things here which could have designed out the problem - the box could have sloped down to the front so water drained out, the box could have had some drain holes, mesh front could have sloped backwards towards the bottom so water could not have got in the box, better seal of the scuttle, wiper grommet not positioned over the box (as left hand drive).

 

Problem sorted by:

- lower edge of foam seal covered in silicon sealant so any water getting this far goes into the air conditioning system and leaves by the proper drain.

- drain holes put in the bottom of the box and a wall of sealant put at the rear to stop any water going straight passed.

- lot of sealant put on the box to bulkhead seal in case any water runs down from above.

- a metal plate put under the wiper spindle/grommet. Fastened to the wiper left hand bolt and bent under the spindle and going over the top of the box so any water going through the grommet goes on the plate and runs off further forward and not in the box.

- sealant covering the large joint along the bottom of the space below the wiper unit just in case any water was getting in here.

- sealant put in the ends of the plastic channel that clips to the bottom of the windscreen in case water gets in and runs out over the box,

- scuttle refitted with sealant the full width of its front edge against the windscreen and then pushed back into the plastic channel.

- wiper grommet sealed to the scuttle and internally filled with grease. The wiper unit itself needs some adjustment so the spindle is in the middle of the grommet but this will have to wait since it needs removal of the scuttle again. It may need the cross bar bending slightly since there is no adjustment in the fixings.

 

I took some pictures and if I can find out how to attach these will do so later.

 

Of these the important ones were sealing the scuttle and the plate below the wiper grommet although a modified box could have prevented the problem if Citroen would make one.