I think we've cracked it. Took the side panel off and found the pipe. It's bent almost double on itself - no where close to as straight as the one in the image above.

I took the hose clip off, cut a slot in the side of the pipe and pushed it further up the tube on the heater box. Got it a little bit straighter.

Then ran the AC full blast with tje doors open for half an hour or so while I pottered around doing a few other bits and bobs. Nice big puddle under the car but nothing inside. Left the glovebox out for easier access/monitoring for the next couple of days.

I'll keep an eye on it and report back.

Just went back to check my email as it said free delivery on orders over £30.

Teeny tiny small print at the bottom says free delivery not available on bulky items and specifically mentions tool boxes - sorry chaps!

Do you live on the moon?!

The nearest store to my house is 10 miles away which isn't too bad but I do at least get delivery as an option.

Just had an email from Halfords with a couple of discount codes:

HALFSTRG - 50% off metal tool storage

BHTOOLS15 - Extra 15% off all hand tools.

Codes are entered at the checkout but can't be used with a Trade Card (I tried). Codes should be good until 30/05/2017

Found this picture online and added a nice red circle:

Is this the AC drain pipe inside the dashboard that you described yesterday? If so, it's helpful to know where it is and what it looks like before I go looking for it!

Sorry Marty, you posted at the same as I did. I'll check the tops of the drains tomorrow, as you and Richard suggest.

Does the lower end of the big black pipe I showed attach to the heater box?

I couldn't see any evidence of the water falling on the pipe from elsewhere so I believe it's flowing in from where it attaches at the lower end.

So, I think the AC drain vents are fine. Drove the 50 or so feet across the work car park and over the workshop pit. Checked the drain vents and they looked like this:

And:

They were flowing pretty freely and dripping on my head but I stuck a finger in each one anyway, found some dirt but nothing too bad. A little water came out of each but not a lot.

Checked the pollen filter and it's completely bone dry - it's definitely not coming in there.

I then drove home and when I parked I got a small flood of water surge in to the footwell. I've been driving around with the panel below the glovebox removed for easy viewing.

The water is coming from the bottom of this pipe:

If I push/tip the pipe even more water comes out. It's pretty cold and completely clear which makes me think it is the AC drains even though they appeared clear.

So...with this in mind, is there any other way that the AC water can make its way in to this pipe?

I tried removing the pipe as it doesn't seem to be fixed with any screws but there wasn't enough wiggle room to get it out. One end attaches to the box that the fan motor screws to but I'm not sure what the other end is attached to. I couldn't see a way to remove the box the fan motor is screwed to.

Hmm...I'll start by giving them a squeeze first then. If it seems like there's an internal blockage I can look at puffing air up them - I don't mind having to clean the interior if I can be sure the issue is gone.

It hasn't rained since late Saturday and I've still got water pouring in. AC drain vents are definitely next on the list.

If I were to pull it over a pit at work and get an airline to the outlet - would blowing air up the drain pipe cause damage to anything?

Tbh, I have been working on the assumption that the AC drains were clear. I nearly always get one or two streams of water when I park and Fiona gets embarrassed when I crawl under the car in public to make certain it's clear water from the AC and not something more serious :P

Figured it was worth asking if the AC water was able to make its way in to the vent pipes just in case though.

I now have a better idea of where my water is coming from. I just took out the black plastic panel below the glovebox and had a prod around.

There's a plastic pipe that I assume supplies air to the various vents around the car just above the panel, almost directly above the OBD socket.

If I move that water pours out from where it joins the next section of pipe. I think the black panel under the glovebox presses this section when installed, releasing water.

Hoping that it's just filled up with water from the leaking pollen filter housing and needs removing and emptying. Had a look through RAVE but I can't find mention of the vent pipes in the "heating and ventilation" or "air conditioning" sections.

Would a blocked AC drain cause water to fill this pipe or would that water go elsewhere?

Just been out on my lunch break to open the windows and sunroof to take advantage of the sun today and dry out any residual moisture and found the carpet is absolutely sodden again :(

Bugger.

Gilbertd wrote:

RutlandRover wrote:

I think I figured out how to adjust the glovebox to adjust the panel gap though, so that's now a new task fore when the rain stops.

I'd be happy to see how you do it, as you know the fit on mine is pretty crap too.

I had no luck with improving the fit. The screws I found did adjust the gap but I couldn't make the glovebox close with a good gap. I settled for a bad gap but a closed glovebox.

If you'd like to try with yours, the adjustment screws are right next to the catch on each side, inside a semi-circular cutout. It's a bit of a pain to get the screwdriver to locate properly with the glovebox still installed.

Fingers crossed, looks like the leak is solved and the carpet feels dry now. I think next weekend I'll tackle the carpet on the driver's side. It's nowhere near as soggy but I know I've had a little bit of moisture on that side.

I really do wish the sporadic rain would stop. It makes this process so much longer than it should be.

Went back out and flipped the seat up on to the rear seats and started going at it with the wet vac. Not much came out from the top but I lifted the carpet and went at the foam from the bottom. Got it to a stage where I can no longer squeeze water out by hand. Luckily it's only wet on the edge by the door, it gets drier the further inboard you go so I don't think the whole carpet has to come out.

Then it started raining again! Packed it with tissue under the foam, closed the doors and headed inside for a cup of tea until it stops again...

Managed to strip down the scuttle panel and replace the plenum foam this morning.

Found this on the passenger side:

Didn't get as far as removing the panel above the driver side to see inside the pollen filter housing on the side - I think it needs the wiper mechanism removing.

Cleaned up all the mating faces of scuttle panels, windscreen etc and put them all back. Replaced all the missing screws (several missing along the bottom of the scuttle panel and the A-pillar trims. Filled all the screw holes near the pollen filters with silicon before putting the screws back in and siliconed around the pollen filter covers. It looks like I need to get 4 replacement plastic clips for the lower windscreen trim too, some are missing.

Then I moved inside and stared removing the glovebox to get a better look inside the dash to try and find where the water was coming in.Grabbed a jug of water and started pouring over the windscreen. I couldn't see any new drops coming in so I think it's sorted.

This was about the time heavens opened up again so I couldn't continue with the plan hoover up as much water as I could. Left large bundles of tissue paper covering the carpet weighed down with the rubber floor mat in the mean time.

I hate the glovebox in this car! Tried putting it back in and it wouldn't close. Was in a rush as it was pissing down with rain but managed to get it to a state where I can smack it hard to close. I think I figured out how to adjust the glovebox to adjust the panel gap though, so that's now a new task fore when the rain stops.

Ah, I'm not going mad then. I had a pretty thorough look through and couldn't see it.

I imagine the entire centre console has to come out to get the carpet out from under it - assuming the carpet is one piece front to back and left to right.

Just been out on my lunchbreak to pick up some sealant from Halfords.

No steaming of the windows and all the electrics appear to work :)

I never have any issues with wading either - I've had muddy water well up the sides of the doors before with no problems. And no, these cars don't appear to float :P

Which section of RAVE has the instructions for removing the carpet? Wanted to see just how much of the interior had to come out to get to it all, besides the obvious seats.

I think I'll look at taking the carpet out a little later in the year, once I'm certain that I've fixed the leak.

I certainly wouldn't want to go to all the effort of pulling it out, drying it and putting it back just find it still gets wet the next time it rains.

Ordering a wet vac today, Amazon Prime should get it to me tomorrow.

I'll also see about commandeering the other half's hair dryer :P