I'm screwed. Here's my story.

I was in St. Louis driving around my neighborhood after an intense storm. On a left hand turn, i felt my feet get splashed with water - which really freaked me out. I drove to my parking space and locked it up. I came back to take a closer look about a half hour later and the fan was running. (it NEVER runs that long after).

The next morning the battery was drained. I had it towed to my Audi Shop and here's what they're telling me. I'm not really a car guy so my lingo is going to be rough -

Water got in through a hole in the ECU box, the non-factory hole was for a power wire i sent through the ECU box. I installed a grommet with the wire - it seamed like a very tight fit at the time. The water apperently went through the whole in the ecu box (which is under the rain sheild and the hood) and crept through the firewall where it collected in various locations.

They have to replace some remote boxes/circuits, and they've found rust near or on the engine harness itself. He said the parts wouldn't be much but the labor for having to potentially re-solder/wire the components could take 10 hours +.

I told him to halt work on it until i could check up on the forms and go take a look for myself. I thought going through the ECU box was common, maybe i needed to seal it up better than i did - *sigh*.

Anyway, if it's NOT the ecu box, then i can make an insurance claim. If it is, I'm far out of warranty for this kind of problem.

maybe i'll get lucky and they wont find as much damage when the take a better look on Monday - cross your fingers...

Milez

 

hmmmm to be honest it sounds like a lot of water made its way past your rubber grommet. I think there is a more underlying problem. Ive seen it before, but if youve ever replaced your front windsheild it is possible that your leak is comming from your windshield. Some times the glue window companys use are garbage and it looses its seal.

I really find it hard to believe that, that much water made it into your car from a hole maybe 1/2 an inch and sealed with a rubber grommet.

 

Perhaps it's more likely that i incorrectly placed the long plastic shield that covers the battery and ECU box? If the rubber seal around that wasn't tight, i could have exposed a factory opening somewhere.

I'm going to take a closer look tomorrow. I'll report back.