puddle behind passenger seat

[robbo86]

not sure this is in the right place, but i cant think of where else to put it

ok,. my 318 for some reason when it has been raining a lot, gets a nice puddle under the carpet behind the passenger seat and i want to get on top of it before it causes the floor to rust. cant figure out where it is coming from becuase the carpet above it is more or less dry to the touch, its only when you peel it back you find the puddle, any ideas anyone, the rubbers around the door are good, not cracked or split or anything, so what do you guys think

[deane30]

Hi there,
Same thing was happening in mine in exactly the same place. i took it to the dealer and they did a water test on it. turns out it was due to the plastic membrance behind the door card being ripped.

I haven't had a chance to replace this yet (i just haven't take my car in the rain the last 3 weeks) but am definatly planning on doing it soon

Dean

[DanThe]

Hi there,
Same thing was happening in mine in exactly the same place. i took it to the dealer and they did a water test on it. turns out it was due to the plastic membrance behind the door card being ripped.

What a load of rubbish!
The door has drain holes, its not meant to fill up with water.

robbo, have you checked the big round steel grommet in that area of the floorpan? Is the front passenger footwell also wet?

[robbo86]

no only behind the passenger seat, dont think the front carpet is wet but then i havent checked i think i have had a look at the drain holes and they all appear in order. how do i got about cleaning them out, any ideas

what steel grommet? whats it for, dont recall actually having seen one..... sorry if i appear really thick but i am toally confuzzled now

[dazleeds]

pull up the rear carpet a bit
and youll see a round plate in the floor, check the condition to see if its rusted etc or maybe come away from the floor?

also have a look at the lining on the rear piller to see if thats damp or under back seat
if it is then id say the rear sunroof drain connection has rusted and water will go down the rear pillar under the rear seat and can end up in the rear footwells

[E30BeemerLad]

I'm sure I've seen someone with this problem before and it turned out to be the seals on the rear pop out windows.

Obviously, that would be a load of smelly brown stuff if you've got a 4dr

[ian332isport]

What a load of rubbish!
The door has drain holes, its not meant to fill up with water.

It is a reasonable diagnosis. I had it on my car many years ago. The membrane was not ripped or damaged as such, but it wasn't stuck properly along the bottom edge. When it rained, it dripped down on the top of the window motor, splashed on the inside of the membrane, and then ran down and out into the car.

Ian.

[DanThe]

Sounds like a freak occurrence to me!

I didnt bother to re fit the membranes in my car as they came off in many pieces, the car lives outside in the rain and the carpets are dry as a bone. Its been that way for over 2 years now. I did fit new outer weather strips all round though

[robbo86]

Its a four door so no rubber seals around the rear pop outs..... will inspect the plastic membrane deeley on the off chance

this sunroof drain connection, where is it, any way to check it......

[daimlerman]

Ask your rear seat passengers to wear a nappy! As this is a 4 door,is the door seal damaged?

[agent006]

[quote="ian332isport"]It is a reasonable diagnosis. I had it on my car many years ago. The membrane was not ripped or damaged as such, but it wasn't stuck properly along the bottom edge. When it rained, it dripped down on the top of the window motor, splashed on the inside of the membrane, and then ran down and out into the car.

Ian.[/quote]

Mine does this too. The membrane is meant to seal the door so the water goes out of the drain holes.

[tailoutcharlie]

door drain holes can easily be blocked too. mine were, it was rank. coathangar shouls do the trick.

[robbo86]

never got round to checking the bloody seals, drain holes etc, one of the slide bolts on my calipers was bent when i went to change my brake pads i cant nnow get the calipers back on, cant get hold of the bolt either so now i have no car...... grrrr

[robbo86]

ok car fixed, and after a pheasant took a stroll out in front of my car (dont ussualy see them around where i live) i know they work as well..... still no more clued up about this puddle behind the passenger seat as i havent had the time (or more the inclination) to do it, but i have penned it into the calender to have a car blitz this coming sunday so i will inspect it more thorougly then

[ProToZyKo]

I have the same problem, i think it was couse my trunk took in water, i fixed the trunk i think it has stopped, haven't noticed anymore water, maybe that could be same prob?

[Aleksandar]

Check the front carpet, it is possible that the water is entering at the bulkhead/fusebox area, making its way down. And EASILY over to the rear. Sadly, I know this from my experience...

[euan]

i had same leak in an old e30 turned out was coming in from scuttle and ended up in a puddle behind pass seat so sealed it all up and solved leak then sold it on haha