water in bulkhead

[the stripler]

Hi folks
Found about 2 inches of water in bulkhead today which was a panic moment..so syphoned it off . Luckily no damage done.
I'm aware that you can buy covers for the scuttle area but this won't stop water getting in completely. So I was wondering surely there must be a drainage plug in there somewhere. Can anyone advise where it is as mines is obviously blocked.
Also the covers??? I have the part numbers from forum but which franchise do I go to for them.....Seat or Audi
Thanks for any advice

 

[mcdonald]

It's under the battery.

To remove the battery:
1. remove bolt in front of battery
2. disconnect negative pole
3. disconnect positive pole
4. disconnect ventilation tube on side of battery
5. remove battery

Make sure that when you place the battery back the nagative pole has been disconnected for appr. 10 minutes otherwise some functions might not work. In my case opening/closing the windows with the remote didn't work.

 

[the stripler]

So..does leaving battery disconnected for over 10 minutes ensure everything works when reconnected?
Cheers
Gary

 

[RadCordy]

When you get to the duckbill valve remove it if you dont you will have a flood after very heavy rain and damage the electrics inside the footwell.
I have previously owned 2 B5.5 Passats and suffered floods (the plastic covers are useless as the Passat had a full length cover and the water and the gundge still got through to block the valve!) I tried cleaning and replacing the valve only to suffer another flood come Autumn.
You have been warned!

I had an A4 that did exactly the same!

 

[the stripler]

So where exactly is this valve???
Can say I'm overly impressed with this design

 

[julianat57]

So where exactly is this valve???
Can say I'm overly impressed with this design

Hi, it is a rubber bung that has a duck bill type opening to allow water to escape and not allow fumes in. The duck bill bit gets stuck together and does not allow the water to drain. On my A4 there were two, one under the battery and one under the brake servo. When I noticed water in the Exeo, I had the battery removed and found only one drain under the servo, but it really needs the battery to be removed to gain access to do a good clean up. I am paranoid about this, having had all the trouble with the A4 (all covers fitted) and check for water every week in the Exeo, a check made much easier without the covers. Of course removing the bung would allow drainage but with the possibility of fumes coming into the car and could start corrosion....Julian

 

[julianat57]

I ran both Passats for a few years with the valves removed I had no trouble with fumes, what is the corrosion comment directed towards?

Hi, it is a hole in a piece of steel designed to have a rubber grommet which keeps the water away from the edge, in my humble opinion.

 

[the stripler]

It's under the battery.

To remove the battery:
1. remove bolt in front of battery
2. disconnect negative pole
3. disconnect positive pole
4. disconnect ventilation tube on side of battery
5. remove battery

Make sure that when you place the battery back the nagative pole has been disconnected for appr. 10 minutes otherwise some functions might not work. In my case opening/closing the windows with the remote didn't work.

Right...gonna give this a go tomorrow. Cars beet sat for 5 days in heavy rain at times and the bloody thing has about 2 inches of water in it again.....this is poor design.
Anything else I should know guys

 

[the stripler]

duck bill valve removed....pain in the ass of a thing...it doesn't take much to block it does it!!!!!

Thanks for the advice guys

gary

 

[GTRACING]

Hi All.
Just warning .... I checked under the battery today and found 2-3 inches of water in the bulkhead , read this thread to solve, luckily I have got away with a flood.
So it may be worth just checking , it has only took a week of heavy rain for the bulkhead to fill.
Regards GT .

 

[Tonyuk74]

Just check it on a regular basis.

 

[Mrski1]

Having read about this common occurrence for the Exeo, I think I am going to have to have a look under the battery and fit the covers as well!

 

[Tonyuk74]

I dont have the covers and never had an issue with them blocking. Im not saying it doesnt happen, i know it does as iv seen a number of a4s and passats that are blocked. With out the covers its easy to see if u have any standing water in there. Im sure u can reach the plug that bungs uo from the nearside of the engine bay. Stick your hand above the steering rack and have a good feel round. I usually just pour a bucket of water and make sure it runs out. This washers most crap out at same time

 

[d4]

Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Had my ST since August.

Popped round to see my dad this afternoon to help with his leaky B5.5 Passat. Bulkhead full of water so was clearing out the duckbill valves. Whilst he was putting the covers back on thought I'd have a quick look at the Exeo and had a good couple of inches in that too!

Went for the compromise of the suggestions on here and trimmed 10mm off the bottom of the valve under the battery. Valve under the servo is trapped by what looks like a brake pipe so had to make do with just clearing that.

Definitely worth checking if you haven't already.

 

[okedave]

Ive had to sort out my first flood this week, and have now removed the duckbill valve. I was wondering how people dried out the floor of the cabin after?

 

[mty12345]

Ive had to sort out my first flood this week, and have now removed the duckbill valve. I was wondering how people dried out the floor of the cabin after?

I used a wet dry vac to get most of water then left a couple of these in there every night until dry. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3pk-Dehum...589328?hash=item3cf42c6a90:g:XQYAAOSwv-NWUxxC Those are scented, but if you search on ebay they do some cheaper unscented ones

Just remember not to drive off with them in there, or they spill all the water back out when they tip over and then you're back to square one

 

[okedave]

Thanks for that Matty, how many nights did it take?