wet front footwells and non start after rain.

[bene30jane]

car does not start after a heavy down pour, it fires up, abit lumpy then stops running, has anyone come across this?, also is wet in passenger front footwell, is leaking in from behind the dash, any ideas where from?..... thanks.....

[podi]

hey m8 the wet on the passenger footwell is prob the heater matrix i had this problem and it went away once i changed the matrix..

dont know what the starting problem could be should be some one on here that knows

[TouringTash]

car does not start after a heavy down pour, it fires up, abit lumpy then stops running, has anyone come across this?, also is wet in passenger front footwell, is leaking in from behind the dash, any ideas where from?..... thanks.....

do a search for footwell with the technical section, read through the titles and you'll find the answer fella

[TouringTash]

as for running issues engine?, mileage?, auto?

if its only become wet in the footwell after raining, I doubt it'll be the matrix, if it is I have one for sale but its most probably down to a blocked/disconnected drain.
Has yours got side skirts?
If you lift the carpet out in the corner is it solid on the floor?
Check the drain holes and water routes to make sure its all tickerty-boo.

[TouringTash]

is there much/any water in the engine bay anywhere. Which side is the water collecting in the footwell?

[HJG-E30]

A simple check to see if it is your heater matrix is to taste the water with the tip of your tongue. If hideuously sweet then it's antifreeze, which means it's most probably the matrix.

[TouringTash]

i fear he may of drowned.

due to all my e30,s having sunroofs I have found it prudent to carry a snorkle in each one.

[bene30jane]

i've not drowned lol, its not the matrix, as its only after a down pour, there is no carpet in the car as i removed it as it was soaked.... the engine has done 6000 miles since a full rebuild and fires up but dies straight away, this is only after heavy rain too, when you look under the dash, (behind the dashboard) you can see traces of water coming down from above where the glovebox/wiring are bolte to the bulkhead.... the floor is solid as i keep cleaning the water out, and yes it has side skirts, i put a tech 2 kit on, but did do proir to fitting this....

[TouringTash]

just got some shots of one I'm fragging.

note the hole where the bonnet release cable comes through up and right from the rusty stud. That should have a long rubber grommet sealing it.


The big square hole with rounded corners is below the fuse box and has a ton of cable coming through also should have a bung/grommet sealing it.


Thats a dumb close up of the cable release entry


Inside view of cable release entry


cables entry hole


I would say its either entering via the front screen seal, is this OK and all metal strips joins are tight? All the way round the screen.

is the sunroof sealed well are the drain hoses all ok?

Is the rubber seal correctly seated along the top rear of the engine bay?

Are you coming to the Ashford meet? weather permitting
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=177855

the guys going may be of some help I'll ask them to stick their noses in.

May look terrible but with the rain at the moment is it worth at night tarping it up or thick poly sheeting and good tape?
Would give you a fighting chance to dry the car out.

[Brianmoooore]

The section of bulkhead where the glove box bolts in place is double skinned. The skins go upwards, where they split forwards and backwards to form the bottom of the area under the scuttle panel. If (when) the sealant along the place where they split fails, then water that gets in through the scuttle vents goes down between the two skins, and typically rots through the rear one by the fixing studs for the glovebox.