Wet centre/near-side back seat after the rain...

[slipd]

Hey guys,

After some quite heavy UK summer this year, my centre/near-side back seat has started showing signs of water marking, ala Turing shroud... see picture below.



...you'd have definitely felt it if you'd have sat on it 

It appears quite localised to the 'join' of the base of the seat, and the back. I've sprayed all the rear rubber door seals with silicon spray but I'm a bit stumped if it's not that. My car has a factory fitted sunroof, but I don't think it's that? Can't rule it out though. All the seals look good. I'd have thought there would have been some sign on the roof lining if it was the sunroof but apparently the roof lining is pvc backed?

I've completely taken all of the seats out now to clean etc, try and locate the source of the leak.



^^ That all looks nice and clean right?

The only viable, permanent damage so far is on the back of the bench seat:







One thing to note is I've noticed that when I lift the tailgate, after rain/washing etc. there is a lot of water running off on the near-side, right on top of the light cluster. Not a huge amount of water but enough to splash the contents of the boot.

If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated 

Thanks.

Edit: An update.

Okay, more updates...

So I had to refit everything for my MOT on Wednesday, which sailed through thankfully, but we've had rain again and not having had the chance to remove the rear seats again until today, this is what I've discovered >







The water seems focused mainly on the near-side. The carpet was damp and let me soak up a lot of water just using paper-towels. There was a light spray of water in the spare wheel well but nothing major.

I removed the near-side light cluster thinking the water might be getting in from behind there and I was surprised to there was no foam seal, like there is on the mk3 between the light and the chassis? Is that normal? I think I've mentioned it before but after the rain/washing the car, when I lift the tailgate up for the first time there is a lot of water run off, is that normal? It's usually enough to wet whatever's near the back of the boot.





Everything looked clean behind the light cluster but I'm a bit concerned about the lack of a seal between the light and the car. Is that normal?

I'm back to taking the seats out now

Any ideas?

[Dave_d]

I'm still sticking with my guess at your rear sunroof drain

[slipd]

I did post this here before didn't I? I thought I was going mad for a while earlier! Search doesn't seem to work on this forum and I couldn't find my first post in my forum profile...

Thanks for getting back to me, again

So, any ideas on removing the side-boot carpet? I can loosen the bit round the light cluster but after that it looks like you need to remove trim.

[theminty1]

the seal for the rear light cluster is on the light cluster itself just the same size as the hole in the paints work. What i did was put gaffa tape over the hole with there the light cluster is ans try again with the hose.

See the black plastic thing beneath the hole in the bodywork where the connector goes thro' thats where the water was coming in with my car

[slipd]

Thanks! I'm going to start to take out the quarter panel carpet so I can get a better view. After a bit of drizzle today the base of the carpet below the light cluster was soaked...

Question, how do I remove all of the side carpet in the back, near side? From the tailgate/rear light, to the rear door plastic? I'm sure its fixed somewhere behind the plastic trim where the bottom of the tailgate touches... but where do I start though?

[theminty1]

you need to remove the bit of plastic that runs across the opening to the boot. Start at the bits that go up each side. Once that has been removed it then exposes plastic push in buttons. You also need to remove the chrome strap loops. You will not be able to remove the whole side carpet without removing the bit that the parcel shelf sits on, but you shouldn't need to go to that length i didnt and managed to find the leak. Just push it back to the side. That should be enough