NEEPS

Julie

Every time it rains water collects between the door and sill of my car and builds up to the point that it runs over and into my car footwells. All four doors are affected, more so if the rain is driving from one side or the other. I have to open and shut the doors every now and then on a wet day to prevent it from building up to the point where it can spill over into the footwells even more. The seals and rubbers appear to be in good condition and we can't find any blocked drainage holes in the doors. The angled seal at the bottom of the door which prevents water from being driven upwards into the car is also preventing it from draining away. I am 100% certain that the water isn't entering the footwells via any other route as I have seen it come in over the door sill when I go around corners and there are tide lines and trickle lines which are a dead giveaway.
We haven't had the interior door panels off to see if there is anything finding its way in through the exterior lower window glass seal yet. Before we do, has any clever bod got an idea where else to inspect first?
It would probably be helpful to mention it's a Seat Leon 1.4 S (52 plate) in case anyone is familiar with that model or has had a similar problem.
The damp smell from the carpets is driving me bonkers but it would be a stupid reason to change the car when it must be curable.
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Lord_Azrael · Neepster Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 372 Location: Alves

That's not good, especially on such a new car. I would imagine it is most likely a fault with the door seals, If it had been an older vehicle, I'd put it down to seal wear but, as it's newer, maybe they weren't fitted correctly when the car was built.
I suppose your warranty is well out by now, otherwise I'd say take it to the dealer and complain.

I've just found this on a Seat site:

Waterleaks have been a "Leon Issue".........

I beleive there was a design change to the door seals. Your car is pretty recent though.....check the chassis number via the "windscreen aperture" ....if it is blah...blah...blah...MZ1R....followed by 5 numbers, it is a 2001 spec model.

If it is blah... blah...blah...MZ2R....followed by 5 numbers then it is a 2002 spec model.

In saying that, I have no idea when the seals were revised.

Looks like it's a common issue, maybe you need the revised seals.
The forum details are here:
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/i...=142cb8ee5b60b84ef1a085b4c3eafd9b
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Julie · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject:

Thankyou, that sounds promising. I have noticed that there is a design change in the shape of the newer models so maybe mine falls into the former, problem category. I will have to get Gordon to look for these numbers and investigate but I'll get him to look at the Seat link first.
This car was an ex demo model that had been supplied to Alan Milne in Elgin, by Seat. As they had already purchased two demo models already they gave it to the MDs wife - a non smoker who only pottered to the shops in it. I got a 3mth old car with 1500 miles on the odometer for a couple of grand less than the list price. I reckon it would be quite likely that Seat would supply an older spec model to a franchise to save money, don't you?
Wot a clever you are

I'll let you know how it pans out.
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Smooth Hound · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:17 pm Post subject:

or you could drill your own drainage holes in the bottom of the doors

misteralz · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject:

There should already be some there, Mr. Hound.
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Smooth Hound · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject:

oh, i thought julie said ironworker had looked for some and couldnt find any, agreed though there should be, which is why i suggested making their own

IainC · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't suggest to start drilling holes in a 7yo car

We've a Leon as well but never had an issue with water coming into the passenger compartment, did have (or rather still have) an issue with it coming in the boot, but that's due to the repair that was made on it after someone did a hit and run on it a while back.

Have yet to find the exact point its coming in to silicon it up.

It could be that even if the rubbers are okay, that they aren't sitting properly in the right place, and that is containing the water rather than directing it away.

Smooth Hound · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject:

i was just saying what i would do if water was collecting in my doors, a doors just a door, it can be fixd or replaced in the future, but if the floor etc rots ,then it would be alot worse. thats what i would do anyway

IainC · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

Just sounds like the water is getting on to the wrong side of the seal to me... could be more of an issue at the tops of the door, rather than with it at the bottom IYKWIM.

Sassinak · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:15 pm Post subject:

As I read it, the water isn't collecting IN the door, but UNDER the door, between door and frame at the bottom and then flowing under the door edge onto the floor.
Can you clarify this for us Julie please because the two problems would have completely different solutions

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