Water in passenger sill and footwell.

[Nobafett]

My 172 I bought last June has started to develop this issue over the last few weeks. When driving I noticed that there was sloshing coming from the passenger side of the car under braking, accelerating etc. Further examination showed that the sill was full with water. It was getting in when stationary. I researched and found out about the drainage holes, 3 I think. I managed to unblock these and loads of water poured out. Problem solved I thought. I noticed at the time that the passenger footwell was damp, but assumed it would now dry out.

Anyway, with all this rain we’re having, everytime I get in the car, which is parked pretty much level, I can hear sloshing water for a minute or two before it drains away when driving. The passenger footwell is now wetter than before too.

So my question is how is water getting into these two areas when the car is stationary, can it transition from one to the other potentially? Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Nick.

 

[Mr Underhill]

My 172 I bought last June has started to develop this issue over the last few weeks. When driving I noticed that there was sloshing coming from the passenger side of the car under braking, accelerating etc. Further examination showed that the sill was full with water. It was getting in when stationary. I researched and found out about the drainage holes, 3 I think. I managed to unblock these and loads of water poured out. Problem solved I thought. I noticed at the time that the passenger footwell was damp, but assumed it would now dry out.

Anyway, with all this rain we’re having, everytime I get in the car, which is parked pretty much level, I can hear sloshing water for a minute or two before it drains away when driving. The passenger footwell is now wetter than before too.

So my question is how is water getting into these two areas when the car is stationary, can it transition from one to the other potentially? Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Nick.

Mine came through the door card. Telltale signs are water sitting in the rubber with a line of water dripping into the footwell.

The solution was to take the door card out and reseal it with Butyl tape. That wouldn't explain why the sill is filling up with water though.

Have you checked under the washer bottle?

 

[Nobafett]

Many thanks for the rapid reply. Does it get into the sill from there then too?

 

[hopgop1]

Are the jacking points on the sills crushed? Might have blocked a sill drain off that way.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Many thanks for the rapid reply. Does it get into the sill from there then too?

That's the bit I'm unsure about. I can't recall my sills ever getting filled up.

Some holes are at the bottom of the door panel - near the UCH - that's quite a vulnerable area.

Water can reroute if there's blockage around there, water can access the sill.

As above, are sill drains not blocked?

 

[Nobafett]

The sill drainage holes were blocked but I sorted that and loads of water came out. Still getting water in it though when standing still. Could water be transitioning from the sill into the footwell as it fills up?

 

[Nobafett]

Just had loads of heavy rain again so thought I’d pop out and check. I think it may be the door card as suggested above. Are they easy to get off? Any walk throughs on here?

 

[Mr Underhill]

Just had loads of heavy rain again so thought I’d pop out and check. I think it may be the door card as suggested above. Are they easy to get off? Any walk throughs on here?

Not exactly a walkthrough but it might help. Not too difficult. Just take your time.

Restoring Little Bluey - my 182 FF ClioSport in Racing Blue

Love that (y) Couldn't agree more with making it your own rather than keeping it factory, IMO you will enjoy it more and ultimately thats what its there for!

cliosport.net

 

[Nobafett]

That’s great. I’ll have a go later if this rain ever stops!! Thanks.

 

[Nobafett]

Just a quick update on this in case anyone else has the same issue.
I had a combination of the door seal letting water in and also blocked drains in the sill which I think contributed.
Anyway, both rectified very easily and not had a drop in the footwell since. Completely bone dry which is a massive relief.
Thanks to all that helped diagnose.