Water leaking from dashboard into passnger ftwell (not rain)

[wreckxxx]

Hi

I have the RS4(B5) and noticed my passenger footwell mat was damp about a week ago, but put it down to the girlfirend spilling something and thought nothing more of it as it dried out and did not leave a residual smell.

HOWEVER, I've just come back from a long jaunt (300+ miles) in 28+ degrees C heat without a drop of rain and have noticed that my passenger footwell is soaking wet!

I can see liquid (I assume water as it has no smell or taste) dripping from under the dashboard next to the centre console into the passenger footwell.

I have the AirCon on all the time at present, could it have gone pear shaped? Is the heat exchanger matrix in the dashboard on these beasts? Could it have sprung a leak/not draining condensation etc?

This is definitely not related to recent rain as the car has not seen any in weeks. I did run (slowly) through a ford/river that was about 10 inches deep a few weeks ago, could the car have pooled it somewhere and is now shedding it into the footwell when I accellerate/brake?

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. (Audi are over £100/per hour at my local dealership so if it's something simple I'd rather sort it)

[Virdee Autos]

Just to make sure check for any water in the bulkhead, but like you say, it hasn't rained so shouldn't have accumulated

If it's the heater matrix, then check your water level, as that should have gone down. Plus you should have the antifreeze stench inside the car.

A/C drain should be outside the car, so very much doubt its that.

[wreckxxx]

Thanks

Just checked the car again after it's been sitting for a few hours and there is definitely no stink of anti-freeze, but it is very wet (hoping the gizmos under the seat don't drown). Water level looks ok, but did not have a reading before so I can't really tell if it has gone down

Will run it again tomorrow and see if it refills the footwell/paddling pool.

Jim

[bigandyw]

Best way to check for antifreeze is to touch it and dab it on your tongue, if its sweet, its antifreeze!

[grizz]

I had a internal water leak on the rs6 , The drain for the A/C had become dislodged , The water leaked onto the passenger side foot well .

[derdle]

Long shot here....if you've been using your washers to get rid of the 'orrible bugs, maybe they are leaking badly enough into the scuttle AND the drain from there is blocked so water is coming into the car?

Like I said - a long shot.

Paul

[yorkie]

Sounds to me like the drain for your aircon evapourater is blocked, if it was coolant you would smell/taste it.

I have always been amazed how much water drips from the aircon, specially at the moment when the air is very humid.

When I first got the car I though it had a coolant leak but the technician told me it was the drain for the aircon and "the passenger footwell would be full of water if there wasn't a drain".

Having said that you should check the drain holes in the scuttle first as if they are blocked it would only take one of the torrential downpours we have had lately to flood it.

Having said that my money is still on the aircon drain.

[wreckxxx]

Thanks all

I think you are spot on with the A/C condenser drain, there is still no odd smell and the coolant is not low. I've sweated it out (literally) with the climate control off all day and it has not leaked at all.

Anyone know how to remove the bits of the passenger side of the dash to get at the drain and un-clogg it? Is there another way to get at the drain from the engine bay?

Jim

[yorkie]

I would try and poke a wire (carefully) up it from underneath first.

It sits behind a heat shield on the passenger side of the transmission tunnel.

To get to the box the evap unit sits in is a big job requiring removal of the dash (unless you know someone who knows a little trick ) as well as the glove box and center console.

All in all about 6 hours labour I think.

[wreckxxx]

Wow.... 6 hours sounds expensive for something as trivial as a blocked drain I suspect I could get a stage on remap for the price Audi would charge.

Don't suppose you'd care to share your little trick would you?

I've been trying to get at the connecting pipe (from the evap box to the bulkhead) from under the dash in the passenger footwell to see if I can just remove it, clean it and re-fit it, but I cannot get any of the damn panels off the dash. Off to see if I can find a manual that'll give me a clue on how to get in there.

I've not got ramps so getting under something as low as the RS4 is gonna be tricky.

Jim

[yorkie]

I'm not 100% sure about the trick as it was an Audi Technician that did the job for me "on the side".

Apparently the reason it is a dash out job is that there is an alloy brace which should be removed and can only be removed after the dash.

I was told it can be "bent out of the way just enough to gain access" if that helps.