P38A Arghhhh - footwell sound deadening soaking

Hi again,

I’ve a couple of pressing jobs to do on the P38 and I happened to lift the carpet in the drivers footwell to find the foam sound deadening was absolutely soaked.

it’s been dry here forever so I’ve no idea how long it’s been wet or from where.

I’m not even convinced it’s water -it feels kinda sticky, has a faint odour and a hint of a yellow colour.
-I’m worried it might be something more sinister.

amazingly, there’s no sign of corrosion on the floor pan or the wiring so I should be grateful, and I did have a leak from the pollen filter which I sealed up last summer so maybe it’s just moisture that’s got stuck there and can’t escape ?
Anyone have any ideas about what it might be / where I need to look ?
Thanks again

Bob

Heater matrix o rings would be a good place to start looking.

brianp38dse said:

Heater matrix o rings would be a good place to start looking.

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I was kinda dreading that…
I may have to prioritise the VCU, one corner of EAS playing up and an ABS sensor going ‘open circuit’ while sitting idle for 3 weeks (Low voltage perhaps ?) as she’s due her MOT and we’ve some trips pending -assuming I can get the problems fixed !

Check for damp in the footwell heater vent. Matrix or O rings. Just done the O rings on mine without removing the dash.

Also, you can link the two rubber heater pipes together in the engine bay to stop it getting worse with some copper 15mm elbows and a bit of straight. Has your coolent level dropped, even a bit made a mess in mine. Sweet smell with the blower on hot was my give away plus wet in that vent.

That would all explain the coolant loss !
Someone has done it previously as the pipe is cut and ‘handy’ holes drilled in plastics.
Need a long driver, I don’t suppose you happen to know the size of the head ?

Flossie said:

Also, you can link the two rubber heater pipes together in the engine bay to stop it getting worse with some copper 15mm elbows and a bit of straight. Has your coolent level dropped, even a bit made a mess in mine. Sweet smell with the blower on hot was my give away plus wet in that vent.

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just bypass the heater matrix ? Might work as a temp fix…

awkwardbob said:

just bypass the heater matrix ? Might work as a temp fix…

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Yes. The screw might have been replaced with an Allen bolt, best have a look first, thread is m5.

I used genuine O rings, £9 the pair iirc.

I found cutting the ducting the worst part, it's pretty tough stuff and access to cut it wasn't the best so the hard part has been done for you. A morning's work.

Flossie said:

I found cutting the ducting the worst part, it's pretty tough stuff and access to cut it wasn't the best so the hard part has been done for you. A morning's work.

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did you have to drain the coolant to do this ?
No biggie as was going change the rad hoses and water pump anyway

I would remove the ducting(lower part) and get a torch up there with the engine running to confirm its O rings just incase its matrix or even the alloy pipes going into it. Cutting the ducting is awfully close to those pipes and they might have been nicked by the saw, I was super careful but still slightly caught them, no harm done though. Plug the clocks back in before you start it just incase it upsets something

awkwardbob said:

did you have to drain the coolant to do this ?
No biggie as was going change the rad hoses and water pump anyway

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I just drained the rad. Bin bag cut open wedged under the plastic vent housing and hung out the door let's any water from undoing the matrix run outside. I barely had any though.

awkwardbob said:

did you have to drain the coolant to do this ?
No biggie as was going change the rad hoses and water pump anyway

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Viscous fan LH thread on a diesel, RH on petrol

Flossie said:

Viscous fan LH thread on a diesel, RH on petrol

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so I bang the big spanner anti-clockwise (like a normal nut) to undo ? Ie. Towards the battery

-petrol 4.6 l

Yes.