Water in driver and passemger footwell

[parkheadlad]

Hello
Just recently bought my first A8 last Thursday and it did not take long to encounter my first fault.
I was driving the car at the weekend and after 5 mins driving I noticed that my my left shoe was getting wet!!! Further inspection revealed that small amounts of water was dripping from the upper footwell area behind the central console. There was minimal water on the carpets which seems to indicate to me that this is a recent problem. I also checked the passenger footwell and the part of the footwell rising from the floor area was all damp (the horizontal floor area was dry) but the covering foot mats were dry. I cant be sure if this problem was there when checking out the car before buying it.
I also noticed that when turning left or right I could hear water sloshing behing the central console - a bit disconcerting!
Since purchase last Thursday I have:

• Washed the car
• Filled the screen wash reservoir (was nearly empty)

Also it has been raining.
I am sure the water is not screenwash or coolant. Can this be due to blocked drain holes either for rain water or for the A/C system? Are these easy to get at to unblock.
Any advice would be greatly be appreciated.

[Brycie]

Do a search for plenum chamber, and check out some of the similar threads lower on the page, such as 'water in footwell'. Be prepared for a lot of reading, but if you've not had any electrical problems, you may have noticed in time to address the issue before the water does any damage to the car's electrics.

[Quattromatt]

You know I almost commented at the end of your last thread with a 'welcome to A8 ownership, and see you soon' but thought that would be too cynical.

Anyway, the fault is most likely blocked evaporator drains, which is pretty common on these.

A good guide to solving these here:

audipages Unclogging the A8 Evaporator Drains

It looks a lot worse on the images than it actually is. Have a good read. As stated above, time is of the essence. If the electrics aren't damaged yet, they may not be far off.

[parkheadlad]

Thanks quattromatt - have been doing a lot of searching. An update to my original thread - I have now noticed that when I turn hard right, water comes spewing out from behind the central console on to the floor area and to a lesser extent, when I turn hard left, water splatters on the area where my left foot is resting. I have put a tray on the floor of the passenger footwell and when driving home today after a day of rain, I managed to collect about half a pint of water in the tray ! I did a series of hard left turns in a car park to empty the 'reservoir' of water lurking behind the central console.
Haven't had time to check drain plugs etc and really need to get it sorted quick before it blows the electrics. I am tempted to book it into my local Audi dealer as further water damage would be much more expensive.
Is there a good site to show you pictures/diagrams of the engine bay etc as I assume there is no Haynes manual for the A8.
Wish it would stop raining!!!!!!!!

[Brycie]

Have you checked out this thread in particular? It's for an A8 specifically & the OP did find the cause of the problem & a solution by the sound of it - may be helpful for you.

SUPER URGENT NEED HELP!!! Ignition Key Defective A8 D3

[parkheadlad]

Thanks Brycie - great link! Seems very similar to my problem. Will take the plunge (forgive the pun!) this weekend and hopefully my limited knowledge and DIY skills (get nervous when taking off trim ie may break it or not get it where it should be) will solve the problem. Will keep you posted.
Cheers

[parkheadlad]

Worked for a few hours this weekend on the problem and I think it has been solved. Managed to unclog all the drain holes including that difficult one deep down in the plenum chamber - it was a relief to hear all that trapped water eventually set free on to the ground.
Tackled the interior leak by removing both central console trims to reveal both of the orange drain tubes - they were clogged up with muck and preventing water flow. Now they are well and truely cleaned. Floor mats and trims are now hanging up to dry and both footwells are now beginning to dry.
Looking good so far but the real test will be the next big downpour - fingers crossed.
Thanks all once again.

[fiddler3]

I had exactly the same problem with an A6 that I had just bought a few years back which had a rubber tube extending blow the centre of the bulkhead well car to drain water away. The Audi garage should have carried out a modification to remove a small section of the fibre cowling to stop the rubber hose being restricted but did not do so. However, it was under guarantee so I was all right in the end.The problem was so extreme that it flooded the control unit under the passenger floor carpet. it is possible that the tube needs relieved and/or reaming out to remove any silt build up or leaves in the well to let the water drain away properly. You need access to underneath to do this with the car elevated on ramps for example. A pencil or metal skewer would be sufficient.