P38A Another odd water leak

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ElliottG

Member
Posts
33
Location
Oxford
Hi everyone, I know this subject may have been covered several (hundred) times but I'm struggling for what to even google for!

I have a 2001 Range Rover Vogue, Petrol V8.

It came to me with an odd leak, goes into the back of the passenger footwell and the carpet there is soaked through. I've looked at the obvious (drainage pipes etc). The leak comes through an electrical port near the back of the footwell. I assume this is a diagnostics port of some sort.
After clearing drainage pipes didn't work I actually put in the time to take the glove box out and other plastic trim to see what was happening. This is where my ignorance shows through, behind that lot on the upper left is some kind of large(ish) fan and a very wide diameter square plastic pipe from the fan to the lower right corner. This pipe is very very loose and not sealed. I now believe the water is some kind of condensation? And the pipe should be carrying air and perhaps the water down to the bottom right and out of the footwell but as there isn't any seal it just leaks through.

My problem is that I'm not really familiar with cooling systems/fan systems in the car and I don't even know what this fan and pipe I'm looking at are and hence I can't google for it!

So if the lovely members here know what I'm on about hopefully you can point me in the right direction? or perhaps I'm heading down the wrong path and there are other drainage pipes I should be looking for!?

Really appreciate the help,
 
Now then!
Do you have Aircon on the beast and does it work?
Secondly, they can leak from the panel below the windscreen.
If the water is coming from the fan above the passenger footwelll upper panel then it's quite likely that the pollen filter cap or the screws in that area are letting water through to the fan. It involves removing the long plastic strip from below the window and checking all the screws in that area.
Be careful as the tiny clips that hold the plastic strip can break!!!
Gently gently approach needed here. ;)
 
Hi, excellent to get some advice. I did actually check the pollen filters first time round. But I was checking to make sure they weren't clogged up and never through to check the condition of the seal! Genius idea sir. I shall have a look this weekend, I remember the screws were very rusty and worn so could be a source of issue.
The beast does have Air Con and I'm even lucky enough to say that it works! Makes a nice change from the last RR I had.

I'll check these covers as I said, in the meantime anything else you think I should put on my sunday "To check" list. The fact that this pipe is so lose makes me want to replace it, but as I'm not sure what the pipe or fan are I can't find a replacement one to order.
 
That little pipe carries condensed moisture from the air con process out of the vehicle and on to ground. Mine leaks right where you have a leak . Does yours leak only when the air con is on?
 
I do believe it is at its worst while Air-Con is on, or rather when the air-con is working its hardest. It is a large amount of water for condensation, but then I'm only guessing that. You wouldn't know what that pipe is called/how to find it? I always user rimmerbros for parts and I can't find a pipe like this (large diameter and square hard plastic) on their site. Means I can check pollet filter covers and replace this pipe to see if it solves the issue!
 
ElliottG said:
I do believe it is at its worst while Air-Con is on, or rather when the air-con is working its hardest. It is a large amount of water for condensation, but then I'm only guessing that. You wouldn't know what that pipe is called/how to find it? I always user rimmerbros for parts and I can't find a pipe like this (large diameter and square hard plastic) on their site. Means I can check pollet filter covers and replace this pipe to see if it solves the issue!
Click to expand...
Sorry, I'm in the USA and I have a spare parts car out in the pasture so I can't help you source one.

I can tell you that it can dump a good amount of water.
 
Western Slope Rover said:
Sorry, I'm in the USA and I have a spare parts car out in the pasture so I can't help you source one.

I can tell you that it can dump a good amount of water.
Click to expand...

Well I appreciate the help non the less! Sounds like issue one to solve. Just need to know how to find it, the hoses/pipes I can find are all engine bay related (Top Hose, Bottom Hose, Manifold return hose, and so on). Shall continue googling until I find it an update the post :)
 
ElliottG said:
Well I appreciate the help non the less! Sounds like issue one to solve. Just need to know how to find it, the hoses/pipes I can find are all engine bay related (Top Hose, Bottom Hose, Manifold return hose, and so on). Shall continue googling until I find it an update the post :)
Click to expand...
Perhaps you can replace it with something from the hardware store or home supply.
 
The Air con drains vent either side of the gearbox.

Climb under and give them a squeeze, be prepared for a gallon of **** down your armpit though, if they're blocked! ;)
 
For the square air pipe on the heater. You could try and close the gap with some foam that has double sided tape on it or something similar maybe. The air con drain pipe is joined just above the carpet above the gearbox tunnel.
 
Picture of air-con drain pipe not in correct position !! There's one on both sides of the tunnel. As others have said climb underneath the car, and make sure the outlets are clear.

Air-Con Drain Pipe.jpg
 
ElliottG said:
Hi, excellent to get some advice. I did actually check the pollen filters first time round. But I was checking to make sure they weren't clogged up and never through to check the condition of the seal! Genius idea sir. I shall have a look this weekend, I remember the screws were very rusty and worn so could be a source of issue.
The beast does have Air Con and I'm even lucky enough to say that it works! Makes a nice change from the last RR I had.

I'll check these covers as I said, in the meantime anything else you think I should put on my sunday "To check" list. The fact that this pipe is so lose makes me want to replace it, but as I'm not sure what the pipe or fan are I can't find a replacement one to order.
Click to expand...
Run a bead of silicone sealant along the top edge of the pollen filter covers, remove one at a time all the screws you can find, apply silicone sealant to the screw hole and then refit the screw.
If that and dealing with the aircon drains doesn't fix it you will need to check the drains from the heater air intake plenum in front of the windscreen, but that needs a bit more dismantling.
The plastic trim under the windscreen can be slid out from one end which avoids breaking the plastic clips.
 
I had this leak/leaks..So much so that I carried old towels with me so that I could catch the water in BOTH footwells, then when saturated I would throw them out so my interior wouldnt get all moldy.

My footwell leak was three fold..

First, the pollen filter foam gasket and cap were disintegrated and warped causing much ingress onto the filter and then into the fan and onto your feet. Reseal with silicone caulking or similiar.

Second, the coarse foam filter on the middle of the windshield cowl disintegrated and was letting in all kinds of leaves and stuff into the lower cowling area. This accumulation of muck gathered around each of the pollen filter housings and side drains and pooled water on to the lower rubber gasket of the housings. Which leaked, ALOT. Replace center foam filter, clean out leaves and junk, remove both housings to reveal bottom rubber gasket, seal with silicone or similar.

And finally the trickiest one.. the metal sub cowling that is near the bottom of each side of the wind screen and attached to the body of the car. There is a gasket behind this panel that you cannot see until you take it off, and to no surprise, it disintegrates and eventually leaks. Clean everything off well, seal with silicone or similar.

Good Luck
 
Last edited:
Grrrrrr said:
That foam doesn't last long. Dopey uses aquarium foam to good effect and I think Datatek might have switched to metal mesh?
Click to expand...

Indeed it does not.. My replacement lasted about 3-4 years so far but is now slowly starting to disintegrate again. I was soon thinking about a new replacement material. Aquarium foam sounds great! I might try to work in some metal mesh in there too.. I noticed that while driving through sleet and heavy snow that the foam would take a beating and get stretched out. Thanks for the ideas
 
I replaced the foam with thin perforated alloy sheet I cut to size and sprayed matt black, works a treat and will never need replacing. I also fitted behind the 2 openings ate either end that normally have no protection, I had trouble with mice getting in through the slots.
I can post photo's if anyone want to see what it looks like.
 
Datatek said:
I replaced the foam with thin perforated alloy sheet I cut to size and sprayed matt black, works a treat and will never need replacing. I also fitted behind the 2 openings ate either end that normally have no protection, I had trouble with mice getting in through the slots.
I can post photo's if anyone want to see what it looks like.
Click to expand...

Yes, please!
 
I had a leak/leaks for a few years, tried everything, eventually replaced the plastic screw plugs for the plenum plate and added silicone to the naff gaskets supplied with them, bingo, no leaks now for well over a year! I found it hard to believe that such a lot of water could get past these little plastic buggers but it certainly does...(did :) )
 
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