Leaking Doors?

[PeterS]

Well...unfortunately when its not a safety issue manufacturers play the old economic cost of a recall versus bad publicity & loss of goodwill game.

The unfortunate thing is that often a recall happens at the end of the day - but only after a lot of customers are seriously pissed off and a lot of bad publicity incurred. I imagine the work required to fix this problem is reasonably extensive (and therefore expensive), and probably could cause leaks on a car that doesn't yet have them, if not carried out carefully.

The result - IMHO it will take a lot before a recall would be carried out - or if someone complained to Anne Robinson

I think the right thing to do would be to be open about it and contact customers to at least inform them (as was suggested by Taurean) as to what to look out for. This would remove the FUD and restore some goodwill.

Peter

 

[Mosser]

I think they are right not to recall them unless its a safety issue because if they start fixing cars that dont need it, its ultimatly going to drive up the cost of the cars,

And if people have got the fault i'm sure they are going to make their dealer aware of it.

 

[Taurean]

Well guys just had my car back nearly two days now and have had the right sort of weather to test the modifications, ie, WET!!!!!

And low and behold it still leaks, but not like before. Before I just had damp carpets, now I have a PUDDLE!!!! but only in the near side rear of the car. I phoned up the dealers who did the mod's to be told that the earliest they could get my car in again was 4/3!!!!! At which point I got very sarcastic and said if it takes 24 hours to create a puddle, by the 4/3 I will be driving in full scuba gear!!!!

At which point they offered to take my car in for assessment on Monday. Lets wait and see how episode 2 turns out. I think I will reserve a scuba set. Is there a law about driving in goggles??? ohhh and an oxygen tank on my back, ha, ha!!

 

[OrbNet]

Hi

Try covering the car in sudsy soap with the fan turned on, you will easily find out how leaky the door seals are. Quite funny when you get a bubble covering one half of the car.

-- OrbNet

 

[Gnig]

I aquired my Cupra on Saturday, it rained all weekend and on going out Sunday afternoon for a quick run out, my mate who sat in the rear remarked about water leaking in when the door was shut!. I checked on my return home, it appears the water is getting in between the door seal as alot of you have already mentioned. I will mention this to my dealer and see what remedy they come up with.

My driver's seat also has an anoying squeak! Anyone experienced the same?.

Graham

 

[JonesDonhue]

My passenger seat has the squeek. Have found that by adjusting the seat height (using the ratchet-action lever) the squeek goes away (for a while). Highly unscientific and not a permanent solution. At least mine is not the drivers seat

Lee J

 

[pugwash]

just read the above thread on the leaky doors, i got my car in dec 2001 and i can say, i dont (at this time ) seem to have the problem. has for a possible recall on the car ,forget it ,some time ago a family member in vauxhall read a letter from their insurance company saying it would be cheaper to pay out on any negligence claim then to recall thousands of cars.

also has anyone noticed a post on this thread by the guys from amestht or any other seat dealer to aggree or refute any problems with water leaks? IS THEIR OR IS THEIR NOT A TSB ON THE DOOR LEAKING PROBLEMS? or has seat uk knobeled them??

 

[Taurean]

Hi everyone, just keeping you posted with regards to my repair of leaking door.

As you may remember it came back worse than when it went, I phoned today mid afternoon to see how they where getting on only to find out that they hadn't touched it and would need the car for about a week when they do!!!!. Also if anyone does put there car in for the remedy check your door pads, especially the hard plastuic bottom parts particularly around the areas where they would likely pry it away from the door, as mine has become severely scarred and as a result the service manager is going to get a piece of my mind. (That is of course if I can spare any!!! )

With regards to a safety recall, let me just pose this question to you all out there. If you get to a stage where there is a volume of water swilling about the rear footwells what will happen if it just happens to splash UP!! right at the part under the seat where the wiring is for the seat Airbag???? Surely this isn't 'safe'??


Any body else get any thoughts?

 

[Taurean]

Just like to pose a thought to everyone out there with leaking door syndrome.

If the seals need modifying to allow water to run out of the doors and down the sills, why can't they leave the seals alone and just drill a couple of holes at appropriate places under the door, painting/sealing adequately to prevent rust. This would ensure that all water drains out the doors as opposed to just when it gets to a certain level and I think would also be cheaper than the time required to perform the Seat bulletin recommended modifications which if it takes 3 days could work out expensive, also it would maintain the integrity of the environment seal Seat have designed on the car to ensure the weather/noise doesn't get in.

Also by the fact that it drains away immediately and not gets to a level means it won't splash over the back of the speakers and cause them any damage especially considering if you have replaced them with expensive uprated items.

Does anybody out there agree that this is a feasible cost effective solution, and if not reasons so that I can think further to get a better conclusion that is currently being offered, as I do not like the fact that water has to stay in my door at all!!!!

:devil: :devil:

 

[Mosser]

I believe you cant do that because the seal is on the outer edge of the inner door, this means you would need to drill the holes on the outside of your doors to let the water out !!!

 

[Taurean]

Mosser,

You are correct there is a seal at the very bottom edge of the door but this is not the problematic seal.

The seal that is modified is the one on the edge just round the corner from the bottom of the plastic door panel. Also if you follow where it will land it seals up against the seal at the top of the sill just before you get to the carpet of the vehicle.

The place where I suggest the holes should be is at the very bottom edge, ie, in between the two seals. This is for two reasons.

1) Neither seal needs modifying and therefore the design integrity remains and

2) It is the lowest part of the door where water will accumulate and therefore no water should remain in the door at anytime. Not the current situation where it only drains as it reaches a level or swishes anywhere near the drainage holes.

If a hole of sufficient size was put in this area with a plastic trim which had angled vents (angled towards the back of the vehicle - such as the ones used to direct air from the dash onto your side windows for demisting purposes) this would allow the water in the door to escape but would not allow the water sprayed up from the wheels to enter the door in return.

I have just dropped my vehicle off for episode 2 of the repair, and I intend to speak to the dealer tomorrow and put forward my suggestion.

Based on this more detailed explanation does anybody else have any critisicms to give (Like Mosser), so that we may end up with in the end a working solution to resolve this issue once and for all. Instead of playing car ping pong with the dealers as it is frustrating for us (owners) but I would also believe frustrating for dealers as they are not earning the correct revenue when doing warranty work.

PS - thx for the input Mosser, hope the above clarifies where I am talking about.

 

[Mosser]

Yup!, i see what your saying, i was under the impression that it was the second set of seals, but then i would expect more water to come flooding out if it was, so you are probably right there!, but not sure about the hole drilling, cant see Seat ever agreeing to that as a fix, just imaging the press from that one!!

 

[ARPUC]

Wet carpet's !!!!

Hi All,
Does the Toledo suffer from this problem?
Or is it just the Leon.

Brian.

 

[bensaud]

From what I have heard Toledo's do suffer from the problem, and the Toledo V5 is had for 3 weeks let water in so that confirms what I have heard

 

[Taurean]

I think you will find in a previous response to this thread I identified that the dealer I was using for the modifications commented that they had had more Toledo's back than Leon's so the problem is severe in both product ranges.

 

[Taurean]

Hi Guys,

Another update on my fixing of leaking doors.

Attempt no. 2 along with advice from Seat technical, apparently the technical bulletin that was published a few weeks ago via this site is not elaborate enough. My dealer after speaking to Seat found out that all the holes where clips or wires go through the Alloy inner door panel also have to be sealed as well as round it.

However, this being done. We had a couple of dry days so no change. First period of wet weather and low and behold WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! runniing down the sills inside all but the drivers door (most used therefore drains more often).

Earlier you may have found that I commented on drilling/cutting holes in the lowest part of the door near/but not next too the lower edge of the door nearest to the door skin. This is what most other manufacturers have designed into their doors. My dealer re-iterated Mossers statement and wouldn't see Seat going for it.

However, drastic problems can sometimes require drastic resolves.

Anyway if this job is done right, ie, via a dealer with full bodyshop facilities I don't see what the problem is. Any painting can be undertaken and the paintwork warranty maintained. Surely this little extra cost is worth it instead of paying for cars to come back 2/3/4, etc times until the situation finally goes away per car.

Seat please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS - my dealer is talking to Seat Technical before he undertakes anymore bulletin reworks as he has had multiple returns (not just mine) and is losing money as Seat only pay ONCE (apparently - BUMMER!!!)

Lets hope answers are forthcoming soon.
:devil: :devil:

 

[Syphon]

Dare I add to this already massive thread?!

I too have become a victim of the leaky door syndrome.

My car is one month off its first birthday and today I notice the water running down from the plastic trim at the bottom of the front passenger footwell. Happy I was not :devil:

Call to the dealer as soon as I got home. "We will need it for about a day, give you a courtesy car and it will all be sorted". They have said that it is usually the front doors that leak and they will only fix the leaking ones.

Is it worth me insisting all the doors get done? What are they going to do to my lovely car?! I have been reading stories of drilling etc!

Syphon

 

[SJFISHER67]

Got Mine Done Finally by Great Covert

Picked my car up on Friday night (22nd feb), from Great Covert, after having all the doors internal seals done, this is the where they remove the foam barrier strips from the inner door carrier and replace the strips with a rubber compound strip. (You can check if yours has been done by removing the light / reflector in the door and putting your finger in the hole and feeling around the side of where the black coloured door carrier meets the doors internal skin [this will be the colour of the car]) And if its rubbery then its been done, or is the right finishing.

Took the car home and over the weekend attacked it with washer, slight pressure and pouring water all over the car, left to stand for a few seconds, then opened all doors, and looked behind these door reflectors and hey presto no water.

So i say job well done by the boys at G.C. and they fixed the lights behind my dash which had gone out too and the door liner at the boot which was cracked. in one day!!!

As luck would have it also met the manager Kevin Fisher - no relation to me, but what a decent chap. Had a chat with him, and he was fully understanding of all the situation regarding my car.

So if you havent got these rubber door seals in the build-up of your doors, you need them.

Regards

Steve

 

[spacehopper]

Hello (be nice - this is my first time!). Have just found you guys whilst surfing in a foul mood after discovering the flood in the bottom of my Leon . I am not a happy bunny

I have just moved to the area and have called my local dealer (J. P Board, Bridgend) who cannot fit the car in until 12th March! Has anyone used this garage & are they any good?

I have had the car since new (Sept '01) and although I have noticed a build up of water when you open the door, this is the first time I have noticed it in the car (I guess it's my fault for moving to wet Wales & not using the car for a week!). The water appears to be under the carpet in the rear passenger footwells & I am not sure quite where it came from. Any suggestions on drying out the car (as it do not wish to leave it full of water for 2 weeks) would be greatfully recieved. :worry:

Thank you

 

[Jonno]

I have had experience in drying out my Leon (see Leaky Pollen Filter Housing)thread in Leon section.

What you need to do (it's no joke) is drive around with all windows down and direct the heater air on Hi at full blast into the front footwells. This should drive out the moisture (eventually).

An alternative is to use one of these Vax vacuum cleaners that wash carpets and mop up spills. It works wonders