'03 Allroad question

[JLaBoon]

New to Audizine. Hello all....I've got an '03 allroad. I've done a little research with no luck. I've got a small leak coming in the underneath the glovebox on the passenger side. It only happens if there is a constant, steady rain. I do most of my own repairs, but for this I took it to my local mechanic who specializes in VW's and Audis but he had no interest in looking for a leak. Any insight to what it could be?

[happy2B5]

Make sure your wiper cowel is pressed in place along the windshield. I know it sounds simple but this is why mine was leaking. Water gets in and travels down the cabin air filter area. Check your pollen filter. Bet it is wet. Also check that whole area. Make sure the foam "gasket" isnt just a crumbled up mess. Search c5 audi rain tray leak. Even just google it. This is not an uncommon issue for these cars. Also check your roof drains. Doubt its them but never hurts to verify.

You want to get it sorted because the comfort module and tcu (if automatic) is under the passenger side footwell carpet. Expensive parts to replace. Make sure your carpets are dry. Even pull them back and see if it is wet underneath. Foam padding, etc.

Also could be your battery tray at the firewall. Make sure the drain plugs arent full of leaves and debris and doing their job of draining. Pour some water into that area under battery. You should see come pouring out from under the car. Also open you sunroof and poor some water in the sunroof rails. Again you should see it come dripping out at the door jamb and at rear fender/bumper.

[JLaBoon]

Thanks for the insight. I will be checking on those things promptly.


I had to fix my sunroof drains last year. My back passenger floorboard was getting soaked.

The comfort module and tcu are exactly why I'm concerned. I had a mechanic tell me how expensive those are to replace.

I just replaced a CV axle that had been keeping me from driving it for a couple of months. Drove it two weeks and now my alternator went out. I'd hate to know what I'd do with my time if I didn't have to work on this car. When it's right, it'll be worth it.

Thanks again

[JLaBoon]

So an update to my leaking dilemma. You were right on both accounts. I pulled my battery out and it was full of debris underneath the pan. Also, as simple as it was to find, my molding at the bottom of the windshield does have some slight separation on the passenger side which is the side that was leaking. What did you use to bond it back together to the windshield? I assume clear silicone caulk would work?

[happy2B5]

Ha! Glad I could help. What did your pollen filter and housing look like?

I pulled my wiper cowel all the way off. It just is supposed to snap/click in place in the groove. I cleaned all the grime out of the body u channel and the lip of the plastic wiper cover that snaps into that groove. It helped but still did not 100% seat properly. On the passenger side too. So I did use very sparing amount of clear silicone. Just enough to hold or allow it to stay pressed in place. Figure if I ever decide to buy a new wiper cowel it would be less of a pita to clear out a little clear silicone vs gobbing it on.

Mine hasnt leaked since I did that a few months ago.

Did you pull your carpets back on passenger side to make sure there is no puddled water. Its funny, if you do you will notice audi accounted for this some by covering the comfort control module in plastic and the tcu is also in a more permanant plastic housing. Bandaids to the bigger issue.

Pic for reference of control module location and plastic. Lol! So i peeled back the passenger carpet. Interesting enough seems audi sort of planned for water intrusion. The comfort control module is already covered in plastic? *


Lol, rather than fix the root cause, lets put a band aid on.

[SteelyS6]

Ya it's definitely a design flaw, fixed the passenger side on my S6 last year and now the drivers side is wet. My Allroad also needs a new cowl piece as well