Water Leak into front footwells.

My wife found a small patch on the drivers carpet that was very wet, when the carpet was lifted, both footwells were soaking. So i had to set about looking for a leak. I've done a soak test on the windscreen rubber, and sure enough there is water coming in. However, the windscreen area appears to be dry.

It looks more like the water is coming in under the bonnet via the heater hose grommets, or possibly where the speedo / wiring is located. (I'm not sure if there should be a blanking plate sealed there at the moment, so will have to look into it. At the moment that area is open.)

I may have to pull out the parcel shelf to find it?

I had the same problem when I first got my Elf. Again I did the soak test on the windscreen rubber and it leaked but the area around it seemed dry, but I piped some clear rubber sealant around the seal all the way around, and lo and behold it cured the problem! But you might want to check the rubber blanking gromits that are actually in the floor - any sign of perishing and that may be your problem. Driving in wet weather would force the road wet upwards.

Jase

There is another common source of leaks into the footwells that is difficult to track down. If the car has been fitted with cover sills, it is common for people to seam them completely without leaving any drainage points. Water then finds its way into the sills, usually through a poor join at the bottom of the A-post where the doors hinge, and has no way out except the cross-member. Dry it all out, then spray a hosepipe round the door gaps, and look for water coming from the cross-member joins - it can take a few minutes to find its way through.

The solution involves grinding away a section of lower sill seam and opening it out to provide drainage, and sealing the bottom of the A-pillar too. However often the sills will be rotting inside by now, and it may involve new sills done properly.

i had a similiar problem with jvg some time back and it was water running down the heater pipe 'til it curves into the heater and gravity takes over. easily solved with the rubber gasket that fits under the plate that bolts to the bulkhead to hold the front end of the hydro pipe (there is a similiar gasket under the master cylinder plates too)

good luck with it