vtraudt

Just found water leaking into the passenger side footwell.
Coming through the cabin air filter.
Water is running UNDER the bottom of the windshield; that plastic cover strip running across the bottom of the windshield lets the water run underneath.

I assume it is supposed to run down the windshield, over the plastic strip and into the battery trough.

How can I seal it up?

I found a couple of 'shark tooth' sheetmetal clamps (I assume the edge of the plastic strip is supposed to go between the teeth to hold it down).

Can I use silicone to glue it down and seal up?

SloopJohnB@mac.com

When did you have the windshield replaced or bodywork done?
Either one should be warranteed, but if you just bought the car this could be signs of either and you can have it fixed by a competent windshield installer…you may have to have the windshield removed and the area it mounts on any holes or corrosion/rust repaired.

vtraudt

Bought car like this.
It is not leaking through the windshield; just the bottom plastic strip.
Water not running over it, but under it.

vtraudt

Is that plastic cover really supposed to be the only seal against the water running down the windshield (and guide it over the cabin air filter)?

Other VW/Audi have a separate plastic cover over the cabin air filter as extras insurance again water running into cabin air.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Hard to tell without looking at car in person, sorry.

Huskerbob

IIRC on my A6 I had water intrusion. The water was getting into the fresh air box not from the top but from the joint between the 2 halves of the box.

Look where the filter sits and you will see a joint that has a foam gasket. This gasket fails and lets water from the battery tray area into the box so even if the plastic cowling is properly seated above the box you will still get water in the cabin.

Get a box of Moretite Weatherstripping and Caulk. It is a rope style caulk that comes in a roll available at a hardware store. Push this into the joint between the two halves of the box and I think your problem will be solved.

Water in the battery tray should drain out through drain holes located there so clean those out as well.

vtraudt

Nope: my water comes in from the top. Clearly runs underneath the plastic windshield cover and right into the (no cover) cabin air filter (and into the cabin)

Battery tray drain is clear, no water there.

Huskerbob

So the windshield cowling at the lower edge is not securely afixed? Silicone?

vtraudt

Correct. How is it correctly installed and securely held in place and SEALED?

Ghetto fix: fill with silicon, push and clamp/hold/weight down?

Huskerbob

Is the cowling lose at the bottom of the glass? Can you lift it or slide it? On a VW Jetta TDI there is a groove in the body that accepts a lip on the back of the cowling clear across the width of the windshield. Is there such a groove and lip on yours?