[V8] Phantom water leak

[Bob]

Tom, 

Near the front door lower hinge is a drain tube that I believe is for the sun roof drain. They can get plugged and water will back up or a joint connection can fail and water may go where not wanted. You may want to pour water down the tube in the sunroof opening, small funnel would be needed, and see where it goes. These drain tubes have been cleaned out with a "Bow-don Cable", the cable that is used on your lawn mower throttle adjustment. These cables are flexible yet stiff enough clear a blockage. You can try compressed air but keep it low so as not to blow something apart. Water should not build up in the rain tray, there should be a drain or it should run to the sides. The Audi's of the late 1990's and 2000's had the battery under the rain tray and are notorious for water over flowing into the interior because a drain hole under the battery would plug up with dirt and leaves. You can't see the drain hole unless the battery has been removed. You may have to actually let a garden hose run slowly in the rain tray and see if it fills up or where its draining to. 

Bob 



----- Original Message -----

From: "toml99" <toml99 at todomundo.com> 
To: "v8audi" <v8 at audifans.com> 
Sent: Thursday, March 2, 2017 8:40:30 PM 
Subject: [V8] Phantom water leak 

Hey, the 5-speed's had a very occasional water leak since I got it. Never really got the floorboard carpet wet, but the base of the drivers side footrest/Kostal cover has been wet/funky at base of footpad. Decided today to dig and found it wet behind the rubber insulation behind that/wires were wet! Took the intact raintray off(split the brittle thing in one tiny spot) and my only guess is it's getting thru the seemingly intact rubber boots on the big 3 wire bundles, but they're up on a high spot/can't see how water would get up there.....all drains were clear and vacuumed up any debris I found near the never removed heaterbox(next project). Wondering if anyones had similar. I caulked the hood cable grommet years ago thinking it was culprit. Windshield was done "recently". There are 2 big drains on passenger side behind AC box and one was plugged/doesn't look totally intact, but would assume that would have leaked on other side? Ran water thru them and came out under car. I build custom showers for a living so if need be, will be "waterproofing" everything under that tray if need be....just wondering if anyone's had a similar leak.....On a side note, what's gonna happen when all our raintray's rot out? Mine(being a california car and first time I ever removed entirely) was REALLY brittle. Kind of like a roof(right Ron!), eventually it needs replacing, and since that's not an option? Guessing all the holes need to be "resealed" and we live with whatever weepage happens. Less than happy day in Audi world.....Only car/truck I've owned with a "raintray". Tom 
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