Footwell carpet removal problem (W126)

[Shiskine]

Fell victim to clogged up drain channels in the scuttle/wiper recess and now need to dry out the driver's side footwell.

I'm trying to remove the heavy foam backed carpet and can lift the rear of the mat no problem but struggle where it goes round the accelerator pedal.

I was being particularly careful so didn't use too much force but wondered if I'm meant to detach the bottom of the pedal to get the mat out.

Do I need to do this or is or is there a stud securing the carpet to the floor, or do I simply need to pull a bit harder?

 

[ianrandom]

Shouldnt be anything securing it other than the pop stud at the seat end of the mat. Just pull it around the pedal and you should be fine.

 

[Shiskine]

 

[Scott_F]

It will be easier if you remove the accelerator pedal from its mounting on the floor. There is a plastic spring clip that holds it in place and the bottom of the pedal has a groove where it sits over the floor mounting when you come to re-fit it.

 

[Shiskine]

Got the mat out okay in the end. Had a good look at that clip so may remove the pedal when I come to put the mat back.

I've left it out at the moment just to check that my clearing of the drain channels has indeed stopped the water. What's the normal route in for the water in such cases?

 

[219]

I'd remove the under-dash panel above the footwell and check where the various cables etc pass through the bulkhead . It wouldn't be the first time an alarm fitter or mechanic has poked something through and destroyed one of the sealing grommets .

I have removed the carpets and refitted them just by lifting the rear and sliding sideways at the front to clear the accelerator . Good luck with it .

 

[Shiskine]

Update: Having got everything dry, I ran the car for a week or so with no carpets just to ensure no more water was getting in. Everything seemed okay so the carpets went back in.

However, following the recent snow, the I've noticed the main carpet section is damp again on the driver's side only. The scuttle drains are definitely clear but were undoubtedly clogged with snow and/or ice at various times throughout the cold snap. (Snow prevented access to my garage)

What I can't figure out is when the water got in. That main floor mat with all its foam can absorb quite a lot of water before the carpet feels wet so if it was the snow and ice, it's taken weeks for the effect to be felt. Either that or it's a damaged grommet and road spray is getting in through the bulkhead.

Are there any other known routes for water to get in?

(My exhaust is blowing so I had it up on a ramp this morning and took the opportunity to have look underneath and couldn't see any gaping holes ...!!)

 

[Shiskine]

Just read the thread about leaking windscreen seals to will check that tomorrow. The glass is quite badly shot blasted suggesting it's an old screen so the adhesive may have given up as was the case in the thread I read.

I don't own any welding rods or similar so what else could I use to rod any drain channels?

 

[fatdazza]

For cleaning drainage pipes I bought a piece of net curtain wire from homebase (the hollow metal coiled stuff with white plastic coating about 3mm in diameter) - it is flexible enough to go around bends but stiff enough to push down the drains (i.e. it is not like pushing rope!).

I had a problem with water in the drivers footwell and it turned out to be a poorly fitted windscreen (it took 8 months for the problem to manifest itself) so don't rule that out.

Water leaks can be a real pain in the @rse to find so good luck.

 

[Shiskine]

Thanks for that. At each end of the scuttle are a number of drain holes. Do I just poke around through all of them or is there one particular channel I should clean?

 

[fatdazza]

With mine, I got out the watering can, and "watered the windscreen". Then check to see if water collected in the scuttle. It should drain freely from the drainage holes. If none drain freeely, feed the curtian wire down the hole, pushing and pulling to make sure it gets all the way down until the water flows freely.