Water in the passenger foot-well

[UKPhilTR7]

<font face="Tahoma">Over the last few weeks here in the UK the rain has been coming down and my car has been outside for most of this. The carpet is up and today I noticed that there is a small pool of water in the passenger side foot-well. I think this may be coming in from the fresh air vent as I have now got the air scoop on and think it might be coming through that way.

Has anyone come across like anything like this before and know if it is due to the air scoop being put back on?</font id="Tahoma">

[busheytrader]

Phil,

I'd be very surprised if it's the air scoop unless you have any unsealed holes in the bulkhead underneath it. Rainwater runs out the bottom of the air scoop where it fits against the bulkhead.

If you had a DHC I'd immediately suspect the front corners of the hood. Since you don't, how about the seal at the bottom of the windscreen and the door cards? Blocked drain holes in the doors or ill fitted door cards help water run over the door seals.

Adam

TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, Green Stuff, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AllyCat 5 Spokes. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

[Debpazvin]

Same problem with mine when I had it. The passenger door card had been refitted and the interior trim was tucked under the door. A plastic lining is supposed to let the water run through the door and straight out the bottom-because it was tucked under it was diverting the water into the car. Using a strong black bin liner and letting the bottom trim hang down has solved the problem.

1980 Premium TR7-1 of 400 made
.

[FI Spyder]

I'm not sure about your likely non A/C heater but my A/C heater has a drain hose in the bottom that drains any water out of the heater (also condensation fron A/C core?). This drains out the transmission hump onto the top of the transmission. I don't have a picture of it but in this picture you can see where I'm protecting the plastic drain hose by putting it in the plastic container to balance the heater on the box.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[busheytrader]

So that's what the spongey stuff in the heater is supposed to look like....

I bought a second hand unit to rebuild and most of it fell on the floor.

Adam

[Rich in Vancouver]

I have the same water problem with my FHC but in both the driver and passenger footwells. Sometimes after a rainy weekend there is 1/2" of water in the footwells. I know it's not the winshield as it is brand new and sealed up tight. The door seals appear to be fitting OK and I can't see that amount of water getting past them when the car is sitting still.
Any ideas?

Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[Tom M.]

Rich check the circular plates in the passenger foot wells, they can leak. Water can splash up from under the car into the interior. If you get water when the car is sitting still this probably isn't the problem.

Tom M.

[Rich in Vancouver]

Thanks Tom,
That isn't my problem. They are sealed up so tight
not only will water not get in, it won't leak out!

Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

I have had this same leak after a rain. Here is my answer!



Since I installed this Frost KingVinyl Foam Weatherseal, 3/4"W, 5/16" (1/4"?) Thick, Self Stick tape, I have not had any water leaks and the car is much quieter now with the top up and the windows closed. Home Depot, before you ask! Lay down a light bead of super glue before you install to make sure it sticks.

Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay

[gaz]

a long shot if none of the above suggestions pin point your problem have
a look in your engine bay where the bulkhead meets the inner arch and flitch panels etc. right down the seem you may have a hole there or around where your steering shaft goes trough the bulk head (upper steering joint) just under the brake servo if this has leaked in the past could be a couple of rusty holes somewhere round there
or always favourate is under the finishing panel bottom of winndscreen alsorts happen underneath that thing but you say you had a new windscreen so that would have been picked up then you would have thought .......

It rides again.....

[FI Spyder]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by busheytrader</i>

So that's what the spongey stuff in the heater is supposed to look like....

I bought a second hand unit to rebuild and most of it fell on the floor.

Adam
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

As did mine (the thicker stuff). I replaced the foam you see with a black high density foam I picked up from a craft store. The thick stuff I replaced with charcoal foam so you can't see it through the dash vents.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[john]

Ukphil

i agree with Deb here, check the door cards there should be a piece of vynal hanging lose under the door.,

[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John

[Rich in Vancouver]

I found some dampness on top of the inner sills under the dash so I am going to remove the trim panels in front of the door to see if it is coming in there. Possibly from the door w-strip?

Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[Maki]

After 21 years with my car I have seen most leaks! However, the one into the passenger side footwell foxed me the most. I eventually traced it to the foam around the heater pipes that come through the bulkhead.
This can be checked by hosing the car and then checking the foam from inside. The foam will hold back the water for a while but eventually gives in and allows water in. You may see a fine dribble that routes itself to the floor.
When I wash the car now I take care not to allow too much water down the top bonnet vents and thus down the bulkhead. The air scoop seems to aid this by holding up the flow of water enough to allow it to come into prolonged contact with the foam.
This was what happen with me yours may well be different, believe me I tried all sorts before I traced it to that little piece of foam.
The only thing is they cannot be bought as a separate item, however it may be posssible to fashion something yourself. The only problem is to fit anything it is out with the heater, not a job done in ten minutes!
For now I have some industrial tape over the foam and this stops any water for a long while.

[FI Spyder]

Foam around the heater pipes is an interesting point. On an A/C setup there is quite a large area of foam. The original had what I would describe as a canvas rubberized barrier on the bulkhead side of the foam. When I replaced this crumbling foam with regular (thick) foam I glued a piece of thick tough vinyl to it to present a water proof surface to the engine compartment. I smeared some silicone around the edge before I put the heater back in to be on the safe side that water wouldn't leak into passenger compartment.

Also would like to point out that the air scoop has a break in the bottom rubber seal to allow any water caught in it to drain out into the engine compartment.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra