safulop

My S4 takes in some water when it rains. I find water collected in a floorpan channel under the carpet on the left side of driver's footwell, right next to door sill forward of e-brake lever. This is the only wet area. It clearly has nothing to do with the sunroof or the usual firewall issues, so I am at a loss on this one. The carpet appears to get wet slowly from soaking up the water on the floorpan, not the other way around (i.e. water is not traveling down through the carpet).

Anyone seen this before?

-Sean

safulop

The water enters when the car is parked, so it has to be a drip-down type of entry.

jpitman2

Take all the carpets out, dry the floor thoroughly (or lay newspaper on the floor - drips will show up well), get good bright light in there, and spray water on specific areas outside until you see something.
jp 83 Euro S AT 53k.

stevedavies

I had the same symptom. Turned out to be water entering between window glass and outside scraper. Water splashed on motor then managed to leak into car between moisture barrier and car door. Water then ran under carpet into the floor channel and collected there.

DR

IF you have a sunroof, don't completely discount it, check the front driver's side sunroof drain...if the drain tube has gotten knocked off it will leak in that area (there is a ruber type hose attached near the top that runs down inside the a-pillar.

With Sunroof open, stand beside the area where the driver's front fender and door meet...make sure your feet are slightly under the car in that area. Slowly pour some water in the recessed area near the front opening of the sunroof on that side.

If the water comes out and gets your feet wet, it is probably OK :-) If the amount of water coming out there is less than what you poured in, check inside and see if you have more water there.

safulop

OK, I sat inside the car during a rainstorm and discovered that the water is entering the driver's door somehow and then spilling out from the inside of the door panel onto the doorsill and on down to the floor by the e-brake lever. The window seals look good so I am stumped, I was planning to get my bodyshop to take apart the door and trace the leak. But now yesterday there was another huge downpour and the car is bone dry inside. I've never heard of an intermittent water leak on a car, so this is a new one for me.

Thanks for ideas,

Sean

safulop

Update: this water leak has dried up. I believe it was caused by incomplete closure of driver's side window. Now when I close the window, after it stops, I give the power switch one more click and push it towards the outer seals with my hand. I can always hear a tiny "brrp" as it moves a millimeter more when I do this. Apparently this makes all the difference, because it was letting water inside the door. I still may have it torn apart to see, I have to put the little nuts inside the door handle cubby hinge to secure that, and I believe this requires removing the door panel.

-Sean

Mrmerlin

The window may need to be adjusted if you have to help it,
or the window guides may be worn out,
this will require door panel center trim removal.
its easier to replace these guides if they are worn,
they are not very expensive though the bolts usually come loose and cause the problem your having,

the trick is to position the window then tighten the guides these guides run on the center tube inside the door

To fix the arm rest only the arm rest needs removal.
tighten all of the screws you can find on the armrest .

NOTE fit slightly larger OD washers to the bolts of the armrest you need 6 washers per side,
this will spread the load and make the armrest less susceptible to failure or cracking.

However from your info i would suggest to remove the door panel and make a fresh vapor barrier,
you can use a good clear shower curtain found at the dollar store,
I use brush on adhesive from Weldwood ,
NOTE make the water drip panels first,
cut a piece to attach to the top of each opening then cut it so it dangles inside the door about 1 to 2 inches .
Then cover the whole door cut out around the wire harness and the door handleso the plasctic will fit smoothly to the door frame.

Also while your in there lubricate the door handle lock mechanisim use a long term oil for this..

Also check the rear door edge light housing ,

remove the boot and see if the wires are corroded on the rear of the housing inside the door,

once you fix this put some dielex grease on the connectors,
then add a dab of silicone RTV to the boot and cable so water can not enter the rear of the light

and dont forget to do all of these repairs to the other door as its probably in the same condition

jpitman2

If the window needs help to fully seat home I suggest, while you are fixing the water barrier under the skin, you look up the window glass adjustment in the WSM. there are two bolts at the top of the tube that adjust the glass position fore/aft in the door. There are two bolts from one of the nylon guides that adjust the glass sideways/laterally in the opening - ie move the top edge into or out of the car. I forget what the other 2 bolts do. Basically, loosen all off some (until you can slide things by hand), run the window up and down until it easily seat fully at the top and front/rear edges, tighten all up, and check. Watch out if you buy new nylon guides - they are handed, and I have 2 numbered for left side (MOULDED part numbers), but one is a Right side. If you replace these, the verical tube needs to come out, so you should check the rubber at the base while its out.
jp 83 Euro S AT.