Volvo 480 Club Europe

Just noticed after going to my car to check the rear boot seal, which I'm pleased to say isn't leaking, found that the interior carpets are damp.
Driver side, feeling all over the carpet is damp, not soaking (We've had quite a bit of rain) so suggests seeping water getting in.

Before I start pulling apart all of the carpets and seals is there a common place to start on this one to check, my instinct is the door/window seal seeping down and around, or a drain being blocked?

Thanks in advance for pointers before I start pulling things apart!

Honest advice?

Pull the interior out. Firstly it'll give you a chance to thoroughly dry the interior, but it makes it SO much easier to trace a leak.

Front carpets can still be a boot leak! Water can run through from the back and end up in the front wells.

Cheers for the reply, yeah, I did wonder that.

I've got the whole rear out anyway (Boot, rear seats, rear centre console, etc) so that's not a problem so I'm certain it's not running down from the rear.



So I think I'll pull back the carpet from the front (I've got the panels already removed there too) and see where I get to.

Further tips:‎

For front footwells being wet with rain, I'd suggest checking that the two drain tubes in the front scuttle (where the wipers, fan and triangular fusebox/relay box live). These tubes get really full of gunk and leaves over the years and can get completely blocked.‎ Squeeze them a little, pull them out, clean them and reinstall-- it will take you 10 minutes. 

If it is wet with coolant, that's a different matter, and is likely to be the heater matrix in the centre console, in front of the two storage boxes & ashtray.‎

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 16, 2019 5:54 pm

Further tips:‎

For front footwells being wet with rain, I'd suggest checking that the two drain tubes in the front scuttle (where the wipers, fan and triangular fusebox/relay box live). These tubes get really full of gunk and leaves over the years and can get completely blocked.‎ Squeeze them a little, pull them out, clean them and reinstall-- it will take you 10 minutes. 

If it is wet with coolant, that's a different matter, and is likely to be the heater matrix in the centre console, in front of the two storage boxes & ashtray.‎

second both of these as been there with both, for front scuttle seals I just removed the small flaps with a knife to prevent future issues.

you can always taste the liquid, I'm not suggest you drink it!!! but dab a finger on it and if it's sweet then it's proabbly NOT rain water

not killed me (so far) and had numerous leaks from various car heaters/radiators etc over the years