Holes In Footwell Floor

[RP1983 4]

Hi all

 

I've been sorting out a few bits of rust on my 205 and removed the carpet to check the floor and found this.

 

 

 

I'm guessing there is meant to be a plate over these holes like on the passenger side but would like someone to confirm this?

 

Does anyone know what the holes are for and also would they let water in as I've got a lot of unexplained water in the drivers footwell.

 

Any advice appreciated.

[stu8v 68 1 Cars]

Yup there the ok sort.

[RP1983 4]

Luckily yes, I was expecting worse to be honest but its pretty mint to be fair.

 

Should I just plate back over them?, looking at the spray there used to be one on there...

[GilesW 41]

Use tape. Metal (foil) tape if you prefer.

[stu8v 68 1 Cars]

Use tape. Metal (foil) tape if you prefer.

 

What he said

[RP1983 4]

Cheers guys, that's even better news then.

 

Are these uncovered holes likely to be the cause of the unexplained water would you think?

[GLPoomobile 958]

Unlikely, unless it's that pesky anti-gravity water.

[dave richards 26 1 Cars]

or if it had been driven through a ford

[stu8v 68 1 Cars]

Doubtful, more likely sunroof or around bulkhead IMHO

[davey sprocket 14]

Or heater matrix?

 

Does it only fill up when it rains? Is the engine using coolant?

[RP1983 4]

Pretty sure its not coolant and I never noticed the engine using any at all and there was quite a lot under the underlay type stuff.

 

I've never noticed anything wet before today, it was all hidden underneath, to touch the carpet was dry but the under side of the underlaylay was soaking. It's only in the drivers footwell area which after finding the holes made me think they could be a possible cause even if it does defy the laws of gravity lol.

 

I've dried it all out now so I'll get the hose on it and see if I can find any obvious leaks elsewhere. I'll cover the holes anyway and just have to keep an eye on it if I can't find anything else.

 

Thanks again

[SurGie 54]

Looks to me like the sunroof's at fault, notice the rusty sub frame bolts, my non sunroof after 20 years were like new yet my other sunroof 205 has lots of rust around them bolt ends.

 

A ford or such like wouldn't leak water in them holes as there would be some sort of air lock stopping it coming in.

[Cameron 16]

Foil tape FTW.. although gaffer tape will also do the job perfectly well.

 

It's totally normal that the underlay is soaking wet and it takes a very long time to dry out, so tracing leaks is difficult. The best thing to do while you have the carpet out is to either wait for it to rain or give it a really good going over with a hose, then you'll be able to see where the water is coming from.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Exactly. The underlay locks in water like a sponge, so that water could have been trapped for yonks, and it wouldn't have even had to be a severe leak, just enough over time to soak the unerlay.

 

The carpet won't be wet unless leaked on to from above. It has a waterproof backing, which is why most owners won't even know they have a soaking floor until they lift the carpet and find the broken up remains of a sodden, mouldy underlay.

[RP1983 4]

Yeah that is exactly what has happened in my case I'm just glad it doesn't appear to have caused any extra rust to deal with as I've seen some nasty pics of 205 floors and was dreading finding out what lurked beneath the carpet.

 

It's raining now so all may well be revealed now it's pretty bare, failing that I will get the hose on it and hopefully find the problem so it will stay dry in the future.

[DamirGTI 342]

Windshield rubber seal around the bottom side corners used leaking on all my 205's .. dripping down the footwells .

 

A dab of silicone stuffed in between the glass and the rubber (on previously cleaned surface with acetone) all around the joint always worked for me ...

 

The holes on the floor pan are for injecting the wax into the chassis legs and chassis leg stiffeners .. so , while you're there you might as well do a waxing treatment then reseal the holes with gaffa/foil tape as advised .. (water can't come inside from there , it's made to do the opposite , while injecting wax from above the excess wax will drain out on the bottom underneath the floor pan on two similar holes on the chassis leg ends ..)

 

Damir

Edited September 17, 2012 by DamirGTI

[RP1983 4]

Thanks for the info mate, I was just about to post back saying it appears to be the windscreen and you've already answered the question before I could ask it.

 

Interesting to know the purpose of the holes also and I'll definitely look into doing this wax treatment you talk of. Any recommendations on a particular product to use to do it?

 

Cheers

[SurGie 54]

This is what ive used on my overhaul project, it gets into every corner or crevis, it says it lasts a few years between recoats. Ive used it inside the sills and every other unreachable areas/cavities. It says it good for clean steel and rust, especially welded areas where rust starts more than any other areas.

 

http://www.bilthamber.com/cavity-waxes/dynax-s50

 

As advised, it will leak onto the floor, so use some news paper to protect the drive or garage floor.

[DamirGTI 342]

Dunno which good product brands you have there in the UK , most of them i can't even found here cos over here we mostly have German made stuff like Wurth , Dinitrol , Standox , Glasurit , Teroson etc. .. all very good and kinda pricey chemicals .

 

So id say go for the best which you can buy for the sake of job quality/protection .

 

I mostly use Dinitrol and Wurth , if you have access to an air compressor id recommend buying schutz spray gun with long flexible spray hose which utilise 1 litre screw on cans for applying cavity wax .. this way you can treat the furtherers and otherwise unaccessible/seamy closed bodywork places .. if not , buy in rattle can form but look for the can with the longest possible spray hose .. so that you can reach as deep as it goes inside the chassis legs . And all the other enclosed places if you like such as sills , floor stiffeners , door bottoms , insides beneath the outer wings etc. (wherever on the bodywork you see a coin size rubber plug with orifice -> spray the wax inside ! .. and make sure the rubber plug don’t falls out after a treatment ..)

 

Dinitrol , very good quality protection no matter which cavity wax you choose :

 

http://www.dinitrol.co.uk/classic_cars.aspx

 

Damir

[matt.f 16]

Most Wurth products are good,i use them daily at work

[RP1983 4]

Thanks again for the suggestions and advice, I found a guy on eBay selling some of the wurth stuff for what seems a good price so I'll give some of that a try