scuttle drains

[bops6]

Was talking to a chap at the weekend who used to have a 3.0tdi c6. It died from getting water into the electrics because the scuttle drains were blocked. Is this a common issue and if so where are the drains so I can check mine

[Doctle Odd]

The drains are in the plenum chamber (the box where the battery goes) one is under the battery tray the other is under the servo. You need special tool VAG #675B or a wire coat hanger to clear them

[Hex69]

Is this a common issue and if so where are the drains so I can check mine

ROFL......

This is the most common issue affecting VWs & Audis (& Skodas) from about 1995-2005 built on the same platform.

Do a search on Plenum Chamber on here to find the sheer number of threads on this.

[Guest 2]

search wet carpets too


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[Brycie]

To be fair, it's not that often that you see it affecting an A6, or at least I've rarely seen talk of it on here, it's nearly always A4 & Passats that is being debated on the plenum chamber issue.

[bops6]

Thanks for the pointers, coming from the b5 chassis which I know suffers this i was surprised that the c6 still had this problem.

[_Tazman_]

Having had to tackle this myself, it was a real swine to sort out ( properly ! )

I'd really begin by stripping out the passenger side of the car 1st ( pass' seat ).

Then the side panels of the centre console ( you can then peel back the carpet & access the A/C drains, these DO block if you are unlucky

Then, remove the scuttle panel & put to one side.

Next, locate the 4 no' drain bungs & thrown them away, don't bother unblocking, there is a TSB from audi & you don't get more road noise. The design is such that they retain water. Then clean the whole scuttle panel, this is easier said than done.

I partially dismantled the heater blower, and also found the CRTITICAL drain for this was blocked, if you see the "S" shaped drain pipe, simply remove & cut off the end, it won't block in the future.

I would also then remove the plastic funnel drain above this & clean out ( mine was FULLY blocked, and this was a 1 owner 45k car, whom never checked this ! )

I also undid both sides of the loom that goe back into the car & clean the foam, then apply silcoset silicone to waterproof these.

Next, inside the car, admire the 15litres of water that have soaked up in the foam under the carpet ( you WON'T feel the damp, there is a liner between the foam & carpet ).

The ONLY giveaway you may have problems is that after you wash the car, you "may" see water dripping just infront of the rear n/s wheel, yup, this is leaking from the foam underlay, via the floorpan !

Then aquavac the lot & leave to dry for a day ( I used some towels also ). A good time to check the bluetooth / tel module in the black box, mine was dry.

Then clean the floor pan & also check each of the A/C drains.

Also, change the 2 part cabin filters, mine were disgusting & typical AUDI FSH ( never touched !! ). A good time to clean the inner part of this plenum ( oh, don't try to remove the plenum in th scuttle area, the A/C pipes get in the way, I tried in vain ).

If you don'd do these checks & "assume" your sctulle is clean, one day the tel module fills up with water & your MOST ring breaksdown = Zero sat nav, radio etc....

If this is as bad as the A6 has been to me, I'll be happy at that...

After putting it all back together again ( except for the carpet inside ) I did a VERY thorough water test, NOW'T got inside next time... so you are assured your car will not flood.

I also forgot that the scuttle panel has a silly gauze on the lhs ( drill this out & make it full bore, that way the water doesn't "lay" ).

Hope this helps & be prepared to swear a bit !

[bops6]

Wow! !! That reads like a horror story
That's more than expected, if blocked i thought just rodding them through was suffice.

[gupsterg]

Having had to tackle this myself, it was a real swine to sort out ( properly ! )....

Your info sounds alot like what happened to me ... Link:- The most Lemon Audi A6 Avant strikes again

@Bops6 I would say what me and Taz have done is the last step if you keep getting wet carpets/water issues....

Which I think you are not?

In the engine bay you will see the cover to the plenum tray... remove the rubber strip, lift black cover...

Attachment 19812

Left to right in there you will see the left elec.box> Brake Servo> AC.intake>v50 pump>right elec.box...

There is one drain located under the brake servo... this can only be accessed by removing the servo or removing the wheel arch lining then a cover to the power steering chamber then rod from below...
Second drain is in between AC intake and right elec.box just above the V50 pump... I did remove my plenum drain there... it's like a flower petal opening not straight through...

Besides the plenum drains the AC has three... one on the air intake chamber two then lower down accessible on a ramp in the gearbox tunnel, the piping is viewable in the interior behind the tunnel trim...

I'll add pics later... but I don't think you need them at present?

There is a channel system below the plenum chamber for the drains to drain, see my linked thread...

[_Tazman_]

Bops, part of the problem comes mainly from NOT washing the car corretly & allowing mud / crud to accumulate around the scuttle panel, as this dries up, it will leave a residue of mud, this builds up over time, till the drains block SOLID, then the water beings to find other ways into the car, primarily down into the main plenum, when normally the small drain copes ( it's only a 8mm dia hose ), however from here, it soaks the cabin filters, then once they are full, the water THEN finds its way into the pass compartment ( just the design, the drivers side is ok )...

then over time the foam just sucks up the water & you'll never know until this literally is at full capacity...

moral of the story is to keep the scuttle clean of leaves / crud, yes, even leaves can just about get in there too...

it's just a bad design, end of really...

The work only took me a day or so, but I know it could have caused thousands in replacement parts ( namely the MOST ring )..

bit like CHECKING your washer hose ( whilst the pass carpet is up, I also permanently fixed the hose connector there, YES< there is one right next to the telephone module & this can separate in cold weather if your washer nozzle freezes.... so the fix is to overlay some heatshrink tubing with glue & bond the 2 unions togethor )... but that's anothert story...

also, check the n/s tailgate washer hose for the TSB mod, as if this leaks water, it will literally destroy all your Nav unit in the n/s boot cavity !

Audi, I still love it tho'