After heavy rains and car washes my 2000 2.7T's front and back passenger floors were drenched. I could tell it was leaking out from behind my dash. So I went on the internet to find solutions, i emptied the area below the battery (it was clogged but there was no water so i didnt feel good about it).

I sprayed the hose on my windshield and more water started leaking in. After more research I concluded it had to be getting in through the cabin air filter. Sure enough it was drenched. I removed the filter and sprayed more water to see if it was leaking in around the black plastic case that holds the filter, it wasnt doing that either.

I did find out what was happening though. Beneath the windshield is a small "gutter". This gutter diverts the water to the sides and keeps it away from the filter. What was happening is that one of the windshield "clips" was stopping the water and making it fall directly into the filter which then would leak into my car.

To solve this problem I slid the clip about 3 inches to toward the center of the hood area. This makes the water fall behing my battery.

My question is - is it ok with the water falling behind the battery area? And also has anyone else every had this happen? Ive had this car for 2 years and have never changed the windshield. Why did it start happening?

Thank you

 

There is a recall on this issue. Do not let more water get in there. It will ruin your transmission control unit.

 

dont let more water get in where - my cabin filter area or behind the battery?

could you give more details on the recall, like when it was issued, ill check the carfax i have from when i bought it

 

Well, had a pretty heavy rain last night and my car did not leak any water. It looks like that took care of it.

 

check with your local dealer on the recall but the first thing you should do is pull up the carpet on the passenger side front and see if any water is laying around the box for the trans controller. also pop the plastic box open and be sure no water got inside. It is located under the carpet in front of the front passenger seat. If water got into the box clean and dry it out then use some dielectric grease on the plug that plugs into the controller to help stop any corrosion that has started.

Dont put this off or it will get real expensive!

 

Alright I'll be sure to check that on lunch. Thanks.

 

ok, i ran out there quick and pulled up some of the carpet. I found the TCU, and there was also no standing water underneath the carpet (i looked under the carpet the day after it happened and there was also no water under the carpet) It seems as though no water leaked under the carpet, it just ran down on top of the carpet and wasn't enough to over saturate the carpet.

Also when i lifted up the carpet i noticed a large area of foam (its part of the underside of the carpet) a few inches in front of the TCU, this is wet. It looks like this soaked up a lot of the water, as opposed to it getting below the carpet.

But i am still going to open the TCU box and take a look. Ill be leaving work early today to look into this as it is all i can think about haha.

 

Ok the TCU was in a black plastic case and the wires running into it were encased in rubber. Opened the case and there were no signs of water getting into the case, there was a part # sticker that had not been wet, and no signs of moisture at all. It seems that I am in the clear.

Thanks for all of the info.

 

This is a typical problem for most of the cars of the Audi/Volkswagen group. Myself and others have the same experience with the Q7 (http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX?14@@.f0e3b53/445).
See www.LeakingAudi.com for my experience (which you will recognize) and the link to the class action suit around the problem of leaking draining tubes.