How is water getting in my car?
Discovering a leak isn't hard – you'll usually discover it in the form of water in the footwell of the car. But diagnosing how it got there is notoriously hard.
Water will always pool in the lowest area – typically, you’ll find water leaking into car passenger side – but it can run along wires, travel up material/fabric surfaces and generally do its best to disguise where it came from in the first place.
The first thing you need to identify is when it happens. Is it after rain, when the car's parked on a slope? Identifying when can potentially narrow down the cause. If it leaks even when rain hasn't fallen, it's coming from somewhere within the car itself. If it only happens when the cars on a slope, it's probably a seal, or blocked drain tube...
Potential causes of leaks in your car:
1 Poorly fitted pollen filter
Some cars’ pollen filters are fitted in the engine compartment just in front of the windscreen – these are prone to leaking on some models unless fitted correctly, and the lid secured properly. If there is any sign of damage to the seal, replace it.
How to replace a pollen filter
2 Damaged door card membrane
There is a membrane behind the door card – usually a sheet of either polythene or thin foam. Water can enter the body of the door when it rains, and generally drains out of holes in the bottom of the door. But if the membrane gets ruptured or torn, water can run down the membrane and soak into the door card.
If you're getting a pool of water in the footwell, check to see if the bottom of the door is either damp or has evidence of water staining. If it does, whip the door card off and check the condition of the membrane. The door cars (or inner trim panels) are secured by clips and screws. Use waterproof tape to repair any tears.
3 Perished car door seal
The rubber seal around the edge of the door can sometimes be a cause of leaks. If the seal gets damaged or perished, water will track down the front of the door and into the car. A visual inspection is usually sufficient to diagnose whether it's the culprit. Sometimes if the seal has become hardened, they can be rejuvenated with silicone spray or rubber restorer. If the seal is damaged, replace it.
4 Faulty door window seal
This is the rubber seal that rests against the side windows (the bit the glass rubs against) – if this isn't flush to the glass it can let too much water enter the door, and cause a leak. As with the door seals a visual inspection should be able to identify is this is a likely cause.
Are leaks a known issue with your car? Find out here
5 Heater matrix issues
If the car leaks, and smells like coolant when it gets warm, then check to see whether the liquid collecting in the car is antifreeze or water (smell it!). If it is, it could well be the heater matrix. This is like a little radiator that coolant passes through to help heat the cabin.
If the matrix corrodes, or one of the connections comes loose then it can leak into the car. They can be very difficult to access as they are generally buried away behind the dashboard, but if it's leaking a replacement is often the only fix.
6 Leaking rear screen hose
Cars with rear screen wipers also have a washer jet, and this is usually fed from the bottle under the bonnet via rubber tubing. Sometimes it'll split or becomes detached, and because it runs along the inside of the headlining, you'll be able to see and feel damp spots on the ceiling. The headlining will usually need to be removed to access the pipe.
7 Aircon leaking
Have you ever noticed a pool of water under your car after the air conditioning has been on? This is perfectly normal. Sometimes, however, the drain tube can become blocked and the water finds its way behind the dashboard and into the front carpets. Try not using the air con and seeing if the problem persists.
8 Sunroof seals
One of the biggest causes of in-car leaks is the sunroof. They are by design intended to leak – the seal is not usually totally waterproof – but there will be a channel around the sunroof aperture which allows water to flow down drain tubes either mounted in some, or all of the corners.
Often a leak that only occurs when the car is parked on a slope can be attributed to the sunroof drain tubes becoming blocked. To test, open the sunroof and pour a small amount of water into the drain tube. Does it go down straight away, or does is drain very slowly or not at all? The water may even pool in the drain channel, run across the headlining and either drip out of the courtesy light or even run down the A-pillars and into the carpets.
To fix it you need to find where the drain tube goes, (usually down the A-pillar) and disconnect the end and blow through it with an air line – be aware that a surprising amount of filthy, smelly water may come out!
9 Windscreen seal
This applies to the front and rear screens. If the rubber surround becomes perished, or is fitted incorrectly, water will come into the car. Have you recently had new glass fitted? Having the screen refitted with a new seal should cure it.
What to do once you’ve found a water leak in your car?
There's not a huge amount of point in drying out the car until you identify the leak, although a damp car will go mouldy very quickly, and you could find yourself driving about in a car that smells like a compost bin.
So once you've found and fixed the leak, remove as much of the affected trim as you can and mop up the water with a microfibre cloth, or kitchen roll. When you've got it as dry as you can either use a plugin dehumidifier or one of the standalone units intended to prevent damp.
Some people swear by leaving a tray of cat litter in the car. It may take time to dry the car completely, though, so whenever you drive the car have the air-con on (with the heat turned up) to help.