What's under the carpet in a 1996 A4?

[FrenchAudi]

Yesterday I took my wife to the local hospital in pouring rain, and parked up in the car park.

Her appointment was for 4 pm but we didn't get to leave until nearly 6 pm.

While we there there was a huge downpour with howling wind which we could even hear inside the building.

When we finally got back to the car my wife asked why the passenger window was open - it was all the way down.

I must have accidentally pressed the passenger window switch on the driver's door when I was getting out. When you lock the driver's door (no remote locking), the front windows wind back up if they are open - but only if you hold the key in the lock position for a couple of seconds, which I obviously had not done.

The dashboard was completely covered in rainwater, the oddments trays and other hollows on the centre console were full to overflowing, and there was a huge amount of water on the seats and the floor. I was amazed that everything electric seemed to work, and drove back with my a*se on the soaking wet seat, still in really heavy rain.

Today, thank the Lord, it was sunny, if quite cold (for here, about 16º), so parked the car in the driveway and mopped the seats and floor as best we could with kitchen paper, and let the sun and breeze into the car for as long as it lasted.

The carpet, apart from the removable mats in the front, does not come out easily, and I don't fancy removing it as it probably won't go back nicely. There is every possible thing, including the front seats, fixed over it, but it is just starting to feel a bit less damp on the surface.

So I'm wondering - what is under ithe carpet? Is there any chance it will dry out underneath at this time of year without taking it all up? And if it doesn't how long will it take to rust through the floor?

I'm toying with the idea of driving over to Morocco to dry it out in the Sahara.

[FLAPPERJACK76]

Sound deadening is under the carpet. It really can hold a lot of water in the sound deadening. If you have ac turn it on and this will remove the moisture and run around with it on for a few weeks. Or get under the car you will find grommets in the floor pan take some out and it will work it's way out. As for rust very unlikely.

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[Crasher]

Normally about 18 gallons.....

[SpeedJunky]

Normally about 18 gallons.....

Like has been said, the sound deadening stuff can hold a hell of a lot of water, I have had a similar experience. You can't squeeze it out, it doesn't drain. Best way I got rid of the water in the sound deadening material was to lift the carpet and get a cheap fan heater from b and q, set the heater off pointing under the carpet. Took a full day pretty much to dry it it, but it does work. Take care with position of the heater so it doesn't overheat.

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[FrenchAudi]

I have been parking the car in the sun with all the doors wide open and it is certainly a lot less damp, just hoping I can get away with it I suppose.

What is the electric nestbox for, at the front of the picture please?

[FLAPPERJACK76]

Convenience control unit. Door locks electric windows mirrors etc.

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[FrenchAudi]

The control unit with pump for my door locking, interior light delay, etc. is in the RH side of the luggage compartment. Convenience unit is not in the list of component locations in my Bentley manual.

[Crasher]

The control unit with pump for my door locking, interior light delay, etc. is in the RH side of the luggage compartment. Convenience unit is not in the list of component locations in my Bentley manual.

that is because yours is very early, the incompetence unit moved from the right rear corner where it used to overheat and moved under the left front carpet where it became the incontinence unit...

[FrenchAudi]

That's a small relief, thanks.

Maybe I'll take it out of its strange foam insulated packet to keep it cooler. It can't be difficult to make a better support for it than an elastic band.

If that's progress I'm glad I only have old cars

[Sam]

Before you put everything back together again, park nose down on an incline to ensure all the water is brought into the front footwell(s).