5th Gen Cabin Water Leak

fp_bb8 · Post by **fp_bb8** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 4:36 pm

I've got a water leak in the front of the car on both driver and passenger sides. Already checked the sunroof drain hoses and bonnet cowling are clear and drain properly.

I've managed to identify on both sides, it is caused by the grommet that goes from inside the cabin to the underside of the fender, which is passing a bundle of wires through. There is a small stream of water pooling at the bottom of the grommet, and down the side of the panel; I believe it's the the circled area in red in the attached image (not the sunroof drain grommet):

Digging through parts diagrams, and I've not found this particular grommet. Does anyone know the part number?

nalla · Post by **nalla** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:54 pm

Hi, I had exactly the same problem with mine, a few years ago, passenger side, just after I bought the car. The previous owner had just had a new windscreen fitted, as part of me purchasing.
Asked the company to re-fit it, which they kindly did. Still leaking.
No sunroof on mine, so took to my local garage. They were pouring water over the windscreen, roof etc. to find the leak.
It was the grommet you mentioned.
They put some rubber mastic around, fixed, no problems in the last 16 years since.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 7:41 pm

The grommet you've shown there is on a wiring loom rather than on the sunroof drain.
It's possible that it comes pre-supplied on the loom, which is why it doesn't have a separate part number?

fp_bb8 · Post by **fp_bb8** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 8:34 pm

Yes, after asking around, it seems it is part of the loom. I looked up some pictures of the loom to confirm. Damn.

Now the plan is to seal it with some silicone. Just need some dry weather.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 9:06 pm

Polyurethane sealant much better than silicone

fp_bb8 · Post by **fp_bb8** » Fri Apr 05, 2024 10:49 pm

wurlycorner wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 05, 2024 9:06 pm
Polyurethane sealant much better than silicone

What makes PU better? Genuinely curious, never had to seal anything before!

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun Apr 07, 2024 9:10 pm

It just is, for cars.
Sticks better, stronger, doesn't use acetic acid as the thinner (not something you really want on your car) etc.

fp_bb8 · Post by **fp_bb8** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 8:17 pm

Picked up some Tiger Seal from Halfords, dissasembled the front end, and went around the grommet with some sealant (after wiping out any latent water). So far, it has held up to the the rain, so fingers crossed it is solved.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Tue Apr 23, 2024 2:48 pm

Awesome - yep, tiger seal is decent stuff.
Way more appropriate than silicone.

nitin_s1 · Post by **nitin_s1** » Wed Apr 24, 2024 4:19 pm

Did you have to take out the front wing to access the grommets ?